Nov 7, 2008 5:52 pm US/Eastern
Scammers Posing As Bank Target Melrose Customers
MELROSE (WBZ) ―
Someone calling from overseas has been targeting people in Melrose and going after their money.
The call claiming to be from
Melrose Cooperative Bank is a scam from people trying to get account numbers, and even the police chief became a target.
They're fielding calls non-stop at Melrose Cooperative Bank from people inquiring about the scam.
It's an automated message targeting everyone in the city.
"I did get called at my residence at 9:20 last night," said Lt. Mark Decroteau.
"It asks for your pin and 16 digit number. Once you give it out it's like letting a thief in the house and saying come get it," said Melrose Cooperative Bank President Jeff Jones.
The message says they're calling from Melrose Cooperative bank. They ask for your ATM card number and pin to re-activate your personal account. The scammers are fishing for information and have already gotten a couple of bites.
Three people have lost money but hundreds have been hit up in the scam.
Customers have been filing complaints and the fraudulent automated calls.
Our number is just like any residential number so the call came in over the line.
"The silver lining is they don't have our customers' information, they're searching for it," Jones said.
That's why the bank and investigators are urging people who answer the call to think twice before they speak.
Police say you should never give out any personal information over the phone. The scam calls are coming from different parts of the country but the actual money transactions are happening in Spain.
So Melrose Cooperative Bank is blocking any transactions from outside of the country.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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