Credit union, police warn of scam

By BOB WHITE

bwhite@thenewsenterprise.com

RADCLIFF — Police and Fort Knox Federal Credit Union officials are warning residents throughout the region not to fall victim to a telephone scam which could result in an empty bank account.

According to Radcliff city spokesman Bryce Shumate, several Radcliff residents received calls Sunday night advising them to provide private account information to rectify a bogus problem with their Visa debit card and the account from which it deducts.

Fort Knox Federal Credit Union spokesman Michael Bateman said initial calls are automated and instruct people to call another number and provide account information then.

“One person did give out their account information, but the credit union was able to take care of her before she lost any money,” Shumate said. “Never give out your account info.”

The calls appear to be made at random and credit union member information does not appear to have been compromised.

“Some called were members and some were non-members,” Bateman said. “People need to know that if we call you, we already have your account information.”

Albert Moors, a Radcliff resident and credit union member, said he received a similar call and gave his credit card info before contacting customer service, realizing it likely was a scam and having his card canceled and reissued.

A phone number provided by Moors originated from a Des Moines, Iowa, area code and was out of service by Monday morning. The number apparently was issued through an Internet company that provides free, anonymous phone numbers to customers.

Customers of other credit unions throughout the country posted the same phone number online, complaining of similar scams.

Told of this Monday, Bateman reiterated that customer information is stored on a local level only and was not compromised or breached. He again noted that nonmembers also reported receiving calls.

A call placed to the National Credit Union Administration, a government agency that oversees the country's credit unions, was not returned Monday afternoon. However, a warning about the scam was posted on the agency’s Web site.

The exact origin of the calls is unknown, Shumate said, but police hope to track the number back to the scammer.

Anyone who has received a call is asked to report it to their local police department or to Radcliff police at (270) 351-4470.

Fort Knox Federal Credit Union advises anyone who has given out account information to contact its member resource branch at (270) 765-8659, Ext. 6400, or (502) 942-0254.

Bob White can be reached at (270) 505-1741.