Robert Cox Jr.
Greensburg Daily News
Greensburg —
The Decatur County Sheriff's Department and the Greensburg Police Department issued warnings Tuesday regarding a text-messaging scam currently making the rounds in Decatur County.
"The perpetrators send a simple text message to intended victims," Sheriff Greg Allen explained. "In the message, they pose as Indiana Bank, requesting that the victim contact them."
Allen supplied one of the texts to the Daily News [sic]: "Indiana.B A N K. SBKX alert 547566.Please call 7042712186."
The Sheriff's Department, Allen explained, has received several phone calls over the last week, inquiring about the messages.
"When you call the number," he said, "they ask for account numbers, PINs, maybe your social security number and other personal information."
Allen stressed that no legitimate bank or business would ask for such information, especially after soliciting a phone call from the client.
"That's a giant red flag," he said.
Greensburg police chief Stacey Chasteen said her department's seen a handful of the bogus texts, too.
"The ones we've seen are slightly different," Chasteen said. "When the victim calls, they get an automated voice telling them they're credit card's been locked out and there's a problem with it."
The automated message, Chasteen further explained, gives victims the option to enter their credit card number or to hang up.
"We're advising people not to call, but if they do, to exercise the hang up option," Chasteen said, adding that even Greensburg police officer Lt. Wayne Shake had received one of the texts.
Allen mentioned two cases wherein intended Decatur County victims called the number and revealed personal information to scammers, only to find their bank accounts emptied.
"The problem," he said, "is that this isn't a crime unless the victim's money is stolen. By then, it's normally too late, because the money's probably already left the country, making it virtually impossible to track."
He added that, likewise, perpetrators are extremely difficult to locate or prosecute.
The Sheriff emphasized, "Never send personal information over text message, telephone or email. If you receive a questionable text message or email, contact your bank through normal channels and verify the source."
Chasteen agreed. "If you receive one of these texts, delete it and immediately call your credit card company."
"Don't give anyone your personal information. Once they've stolen your money," Sheriff Allen finished. "Once you call me, it's too late."
Contact: Robert Cox at 812-663-3111 x7011.
