ALBANY — Residents statewide are being warned of a scam targeting cellphone users in an attempt to steal their information.
Scammers are posing as banks and other financial institutions. They send a text saying a customer’s account is compromised “due to unusual activity,” but the message is an attempt to trick the recipient into sharing personal information.
Scammers often seek a person’s credit card number, bank account number, or social security number, according to the state Division of Consumer Protection. The scheme is known as “phishing.”
The message usually asks the users to confirm their account information, make a payment, or claim a prize. It may also ask the users to click on the link inside the text, which directs them to a phony website that looks like the financial institution’s website, or it may install harmful software onto their device.
“We urge all New Yorkers to take extreme caution if they receive any type of correspondence from a financial institution requesting personal information or that an account has been compromised,” said State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen in a news release. “Even if a text message or website looks valid, do not provide any information without confirmation. We want to remind people to contact their financial institution first and to check statements regularly to ensure…
