Excel Bank customers targeted

Excel Bank, of Sedalia, is warning of a scam that falsely tells its customers and others that their debit cards have been suspended and targets them for identity theft.

A recorded phone message tells people to call a toll-free number and talk to “the Security Department.” Callers are then asked to “reactivate” their accounts by entering their card numbers and PINs.

If the customer enters the information, the recording confirms it with the message, “Thank you; your card has been reactivated,” according to a news release from Excel Bank.

The calls are intended to get private information from customers that can be used to steal from their accounts.

Bank officials have not and would not call customers and ask for information over the phone, said Arlene Wischmeier, senior vice president of the bank.

“We have their information; we wouldn’t ask for it,” she said.

At least two customers gave their debit card numbers and PINs, Wischmeier said. But, the bank security measures kicked in to prevent any theft.

“We were able to stop it, and nothing happened,” she said.

Anyone who received such a call and revealed personal information is encouraged to contact the bank.

Sedalia detective Sgt. Adam Hendricks said the department has received “quite a few” calls about the most recent scam. He said the Police Department lacks the jurisdiction and the resources to work the case. Plus, it becomes a federal matter because it has to do with a bank, he said.

“There isn’t anything we can do with it here,” Hendricks said.

The callers have targeted phone numbers with the 826 land-line exchange and 596 cell phone numbers, Wischmeier said. “I know they hack through a computer in Washington, D.C., to get through” to get the phone numbers used in the most recent scam, Wischmeier said. Most calls occurred between 8:30 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Among those who received the phone calls were Cash Saver’s, Casey’s, the Sedalia Police Department, and a personal phone of Pettis County Sheriff Kevin Bond, she said.

In the spring, scam artists targeted Excel Bank using text messages, and on another occasion with e-mails. Often, the scams originate overseas (The e-mail came from France.) because police here can do little to stop them. In the text messaging scam, the messages went out about 3:30 p.m. on a Friday.

“It’s just a fluke it happened to us,” said Wischmeier, who did not know where this week’s scam originated. “It happens all the time.”

The most recent attempts prompted Wischmeier to advise customers: “You should never give your PIN number to anyone, whether it be your bank representative or your spouse.”
— Sarah Nail contributed to this story.