New Phone Scam Reported In Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Scammers trying to steal money from innocent victims via fraudulent phone calls is noting new, as the crime has become more prevalent than ever these days. Around the holidays, the crime seems to increase, and when one scam is revealed, another seems to replace it.

The Better Business Bureau of Alabama is warning people about a growing phone scam that targets victims' bank accounts via a fraudulent text message, according to a WBRC report.

Scammers pretending to be with the bank’s fraud department send a text looking to obtain information on their victims' accounts, according to the report. That text message claims there are "suspicious withdrawals on your account."

The scam has been successful because the phone number that appears on the text is the actual phone number of the bank that the customer uses. The scammers ask for a reply to access account information.

The Better Business Bureau is aware of the scam.

"It will either say that you account has been frozen or they need to check on a charge, or they want to verify this charge was correct. They are basically trying to get you to call them or click a link," said BBB representative Ande Kral. "You might be nervous if you get a text message that says your accounts been locked or there’s been a giant withdrawal that you didn’t know about. And that’s how they get you."

The Better Business Bureau recommends that if you do not recognize the number do not answer the text. Call the number on the back of the ATM card instead.

See the full report from WBRC.