Scam message claims to be from bank, asks about large purchase

TIME. MY REACTION WAS THAT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER TEXTS OR EMAILS THAT I HAD GOTTEN FROM MY CREDIT UNION. THE TEXT MESSAGE THAT APPEARED TO BE FROM MEMBERS FIRST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION ASKED CHRISTINE GRAMP IF SHE HAD CHARGED $360 AT A WALMART SUPERCENTER. SHE RESPONDED TO IT IMMEDIATELY. I SAID NO, ABSOLUTELY DID NOT MAKE THESE CHARGES HAVE. I HAVEN’T BEEN ANYWHERE NEAR A WALMART. BUT AFTER SHE RESPONDED TO THE TEXT ASKING IF SHE NEEDED A NEW CARD, CHRISTINE GOT A CALL CLAIMING TO BE FROM MEMBERS FIRST FRAUD DEPARTMENT, ASKING WHAT SHE THOUGHT WERE ROUTINE QUESTIONS. BUT THEN THEY STARTED SAYING ASKING FOR MY ID, MY PASSWORD, YOU KNOW, OTHER INFORMATION. AND I WAS LIKE, WAIT. THAT’S WHEN SHE HUNG UP THE PHONE AND CALLED THE CREDIT UNION DIRECTLY. WELL, SPEAKING OF PHONE NUMBERS, DID YOU NOTICE THE PHONE NUMBER AT THE TOP OF THE TEXT WHERE THAT CAME FROM? IT WAS LIKE AN 800 NUMBER. IT WAS FROM AREA CODE 803 TO BE EXACT, WHICH IS SOUTH CAROLINA. AND THE PHONE CALL SHE GOT CAME FROM AN AREA CODE THAT STARTED WITH A NUMBER EIGHT. THERE WAS ONE FROM 833 AND ONE FROM 803. AND THAT’S SOMETHING WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON. SCAMMERS HAVE BECOME FOND OF SPOOFING PHONE NUMBERS THAT BEGIN WITH THE NUMBER EIGHT, MAKING IT APPEAR THE CALL IS COMING FROM A LEGITIMATE 800 NUMBER THAT MANY BUSINESSES USE. IF YOU GET A CALL OR A TEXT THAT APPEARS TO BE FROM YOUR BANK AND YOU HAVE THE SLIGHTEST DOUBT THAT IT’S REAL, DON’T REPLY TO THE PHONE NUMBER IN THAT MESSAGE. LOOK UP YOUR BANK’S NUMBER ON YOUR OWN AND MAKE THE CALL. THAT MAY SAVE YOU A LOT OF

It looks like it's coming from your bank, but that text message about a charge for hundreds of dollars could cost you thousands.A Pennsylvania woman recently spotted the scam just in time."My reaction was it was very similar to other texts or emails that I had gotten from my credit union," said Christine Gramp, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.The text message that appeared to be from Members 1st Federal Credit Union asked Gramp if she had charged $360 at a Walmart Supercenter.She responded immediately."I said 'no.' I absolutely did not make these charges. I haven't been anywhere near a Walmart," Gramp said.After she responded to the text asking if she needed a new card, Gramp got a call claiming to be from the Members 1st fraud department asking what she thought were routine questions. "But then they started asking for my ID, my password, other information, and I was, like, wait," Gramp said.That's when she hung up the phone and called the credit union directly.The initial text was from the 803 area code, which is South Carolina. The phone call she got came from an area code that started with an 8."There was one from 833 and one from 803," Gramp said.Scammers have become fond of spoofing phone numbers that begin with the number 8, making it appear the call is coming from a legitimate 800 number that many businesses use.If you get a call or text that appears to be from your bank and you have the slightest doubt that it's real, don't reply to the phone number in that message. Look up your bank's number on your own and make the call that may save you a lot of money.

It looks like it's coming from your bank, but that text message about a charge for hundreds of dollars could cost you thousands.

A Pennsylvania woman recently spotted the scam just in time.

"My reaction was it was very similar to other texts or emails that I had gotten from my credit union," said Christine Gramp, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

The text message that appeared to be from Members 1st Federal Credit Union asked Gramp if she had charged $360 at a Walmart Supercenter.

She responded immediately.

"I said 'no.' I absolutely did not make these charges. I haven't been anywhere near a Walmart," Gramp said.

After she responded to the text asking if she needed a new card, Gramp got a call claiming to be from the Members 1st fraud department asking what she thought were routine questions.

"But then they started asking for my ID, my password, other information, and I was, like, wait," Gramp said.

That's when she hung up the phone and called the credit union directly.

The initial text was from the 803 area code, which is South Carolina. The phone call she got came from an area code that started with an 8.

"There was one from 833 and one from 803," Gramp said.

Scammers have become fond of spoofing phone numbers that begin with the number 8, making it appear the call is coming from a legitimate 800 number that many businesses use.

If you get a call or text that appears to be from your bank and you have the slightest doubt that it's real, don't reply to the phone number in that message. Look up your bank's number on your own and make the call that may save you a lot of money.

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