LCBT warns about robocall debit card fraud (From the 4-1-2015 County Press)

[William Gavette]

LAPEER — Lapeer County Bank & Trust is warning both their customers and the general public about fraudulent “robocalls” being made to Lapeer-area residents saying their debit cards have been compromised and asking for debit card information.

LCBT is aware of “hundreds and perhaps thousands” of automated calls that were made to Lapeer-area residents in the evening hours on Monday.

 

The bank has posted the following information on their website under the heading Debit Card Fraud Calls:

“LCBT customers, please continue to be on the alert for automated calls claiming that your Debit Card has been locked. The Automated call will instruct you to follow steps in order to unlock your card. One of these steps is to enter your 16 digit debit card number and/or pin information. Don’t do it. It’s a scam!

“Share your card information, and you will open yourself up to fraud. Neither the Bank nor the Fraud Center would ever call asking for your card or pin information.

“If you have already mistakenly given out this information, call the bank immediately at 810-245-2950 to have your card blocked. After hours you may call our Fraud Center at 800-411-8498, where a live person will be on the other end to assist you.”

Sharon Skirke, Security Officer at LCBT said, “The recent rash of fraudulent calls is incredibly concerning, but we want our customers to know that their accounts are secure as long as they don’t give out information to the scammers.”

Skirke said the scam was not targeted specifically to LCBT customers. “This appears to have been an organized phone scam to thousands of phone numbers in the Lapeer area — not just Lapeer County Bank’s customers.” She adds that, “Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. will never use automated calls to contact you. In addition, if our Fraud Center calls you, they will never ask for your account, debit card or social security numbers. If you ever question whether or not the call is legitimate, get the name of the person you are speaking to and call back at a published number.”

Skirke encourages consumers to talk to family and friends that may be aware of the scam to remind them to be cautious of such phone calls.

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