WASHINGTON -- The American Bankers Association announced last week that con artists have been fraudulently using their name as part of an identity theft scam.
The callers purporting to be from the ABA are falsely telling consumers that their personal financial information is on the Internet and ABA is calling them as a courtesy. Sometimes the scammers do not ask for personal financial information during the first call, but simply recommend that the person call their bank to make the calls look legitimate; they then request the information during a follow-up call. The calls have been reported in Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania so far. ABA is working with law enforcement to find the perpetrators and stop the phone calls. ABA advised consumers:
o Never give out your financial information to anyone unless you have initiated the contact;
o If you have already responded to this type of call or email by providing your personal financial information, contact your financial institution immediately;
o Inform the ABA about fraudulent phone calls and e-mails that use ABA's name by sending an e-mail to alert@aba.com.
