CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is warning consumers to make sure they are dialing the correct customer service number for their debit and credit cards.
A new scam preys upon consumers who turn to the Internet for solutions to trouble with their credit or debit cards. The consumer may find that a number posted online leads them to a recorded message, which prompts the cardholder to enter their personal information.
“Scammers try every trick in the book to bilk consumers out of their money,” Morrisey said in a press release. “These scammers are going as far as creating telephone numbers similar to those customer service lines with the hope of tricking a consumer looking for help.”
Recently, the Better Business Bureau issued an alert that scammers are purchasing phone numbers very similar to those of actual customer service numbers used by debit and credit card companies. These scammers also place ads online promoting their number as a customer service hotline.
To avoid calling fake phone numbers consumers can follow a few tips:
* Only use the number located on your debit and credit cards.
* Look for the company’s official site and number.
* Be wary of using information and telephone numbers placed in pop-up ads online.
Those who believe they have been the victim of a scam are asked to contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 800-368-8808 or the Eastern Panhandle Consumer Protection Office in Martinsburg at 304-267-0239. To file a report online, visit www.wvago.gov.
Consumers can stay up to date with the latest scams by signing up for email alerts at http://bit.ly/WVScamAlert.