PGPD PGPD Issues Warning About Bank Text Scam

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The Financial Crimes Unit (FCU) is issuing a warning about a bank text scam that is impacting county residents in increasing numbers. This scam begins with a concerning text message from the victim’s bank which appears legitimate. Just last week, FCU received three reports of this scam costing those victims a combined $95,000.

In the majority of the reported cases, the victim receives a text message on their cell phone that appears to come from the victim’s bank. The text indicates there’s been potential fraud related to the victim’s account and urges the victim to call the bank with a provided phone number. When the victim calls that number, they speak to a person who often has additional information specific to the victim’s bank account, to include a list of recent transactions. Once the victim believes the phone call is authentic, the victim is advised to secure their money by withdrawing it and depositing the money into a crypto atm or traditional atm or by purchasing gift cards. The scammer then steals the deposited money or the numbers on the back of the gift cards.

Investigators are working to determine how the scammers are choosing their victims and how the criminals are accessing the victim’s sensitive banking information.

The Financial Crimes Unit urges all residents who receive a text or who speak to an individual urging them to move their money to immediately hang up. Residents are advised to call your bank directly with the phone number that’s listed on the back of your bank card or go to the bank in person.

Anyone who believes they too have been victimized by a scammer or has information about a scam to call the PGPD Financial Crimes Unit at 301-516-1464.

Anyone with information who wants to contact Crime Solvers may call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.) You can remain anonymous.

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Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: https://so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at https://so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at https://so.md/expungeme.