A series of fraudulent phone calls purporting to be from North Middlesex Savings Bank are being made to area residents—bank customers and non-customers alike—regarding debit cards.
The bank, with branches in Ayer, Devens, Groton, Littleton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, and Shirley, became aware of the scam Saturday, and sent out a press release to local papers warning residents about it. According to the bank, the calls involve an automated voice informing the resident that his or her debit card has been compromised and therefore deactivated. The voice warns that, in order for the card to be re-activated, the resident must use the telephone keypad to press “1” for the bank’s security department. At that point, the resident is instructed to enter his or her debit card number, expiration date, and other account-related information.
Mary Markham, senior vice president of operations at the bank, said in the press release that the scam appears to be widespread, with calls going to residents in Shirley, Ayer, Groton, and Leominster, among other towns.
Bank spokesperson Patricia Thorpe told the Press the calls “seem to be going in cycles;” she received one herself at her home in Pepperell earlier this week.
Thorpe said that the bank is affiliated with a fraud service, which makes calls to customers—via a live person, not an automated voice—if the bank suspects fraud on an account. The service asks customers to verify specific transaction information, and if the customer is not available, leaves a call-back number where customers can talk directly with a bank representative.
In the press release the bank distributed this week, Markham said:
“The message bears repeating: never give out personal account information to anyone unless you initiate the contact. These thieves try to convince you it is both urgent and necessary for you to give them account numbers. Don’t do it.”
Markham said that consumers who get an e-mail, phone call, or text message that appears to be from their financial institution should assume it’s a scam, and should call the bank’s legitimate phone number and report the contact.
If bank customers have received one of these phone calls and have inadvertently given out account information, they are asked to contact North Middlesex Savings Bank immediately by e-mail at www.nmsb.com, or through any branch office.
Thorpe said the scam is under investigation by the bank and police.
