Request for info: Robocall Phishing Against Local/Regional Banks

Published: 2012-11-12
Last Updated: 2012-11-12 18:35:17 UTC
by John Bambenek (Version: 1)
9 comment(s)

Last week, my wife got an automated call from a bank with only a local presence that her debit card was deactivated. The call went to her cell phone.  She wasn't a customer of that bank so it was easy for her to discard the call (I am a customer with my commercial accounts).  It seems they simply wardialed every phone number with the right area code and three digit exchange in the area of that bank.

Looking to correlate data, the attack isn't new or particularly novel, but curious if it has been seen this month in other areas of the United States.  Please drop a line with some details if so.

It goes without saying, if someone calls you asking for personal information, ask for a call back number and/or tell them you will call the customer service number in the phone book.

Thanks!

--
John Bambenek
bambenek \at\ gmail /dot/ com
Bambenek Consulting

9 comment(s)

Comments

I can't say if it's new or novel, but I certainly have heard several friends in the midwest complain about this over the past couple of weeks.
We had seen a slight uptick where I work, but it came through as SMS messages to cell phones asking them to call.
Just noticed that you are in Illinois too, John.
Yup, central Illinois bank in this case... like I said, just trying to correlate data to see what the rest of the nation is seeing.
Since last June there has been a lot of Phishing e-mail trying to get people's ADP (the payroll people) information. At least in our case, they had a much better than usual database of active e-mail addresses so there was an enhanced chance of some employee having their personal data stolen. It took ADP until November to semi-publically notice.
No! Why ask someone you don't trust for a callback number? Instead, just hangup and call your bank directly if you feel the need.
I've received several robocalls from "cardholder services" over the past couple months. As I'm in north Virginia, my robocall count has been extremely high due to the recent election so I probably missed a few in the noise, but there were definitely several in September.
@Greg
You are correct the issue here is authentication. Safest way here is to hang up and call the known good bank numbers or stop by their office.
Like cepheus, my wife and I both received SMS messages from local numbers with directions to call to reactivate our cards.

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