Lowndes County sheriff warns of fake bank fraud scam

The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a fake bank fraud scam in which callers claim someone is trying to access an account or make a suspicious purchase.

The callers may know a person’s name, address or the last few digits of an account, making the call sound legitimate. They then ask for sensitive information, including a password, PIN, Social Security number, debit-card details, online banking information or a one-time verification code.

The Sheriff's Office said some scammers may also instruct victims to transfer money to a “secure” account. It identified unexpected calls about suspicious transactions, requests for verification codes and instructions to move money to another account as red flags.

The warning advises people to hang up and contact their bank using the number on the back of a debit or credit card. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins’ message was: “STOP, THINK, VERIFY.”

Source: Lowndes County MS. Sheriff's Office on Facebook.