Banking customers across the country are being warned to be on the lookout for a high-tech scam that dupes people by making them believe they’re corresponding with their bank and then using the information gleaned from those interactions to clear out their account.
“I got a text alert on my phone from M&T Bank (saying) that a fraudulent charge had occurred,” Mike Webb of York County told WGAL8. “Reply yes if you had made this charge or no, so I immediately replied no.”
Authorities add that this particular scam involves mobile payment apps, which are becoming more popular with consumers by the day.
Webb said he instantly received a call from what appeared to be an M&T Bank customer service number. With the information the person was able to get from him, Webb said the man was able to withdraw $2,500 from his account using the Zelle app.
“I gave them my email address,” he added. “I put my own email address in there, and as soon as I put my email address in, $2,500 automatically went out of my bank account.”
WGAL8 reports the scam used to dupe Webb is the same one now sweeping the country and targeting baking customers everywhere. In every instance, the scammers seem to know such details about the victim as their name, cell phone number and bank affiliation.
“How did someone know that I’m an M&T customer and that they could text me a bank alert?” Webb asked, according to WGAL8.
Zelle’s network operator, Early Warning Services, LLC, is working with Webb’s bank on the case. In the end, Webb was able to get his money back right away because he contacted the bank immediately.
Payment apps like Zelle, Venmo and Cash App are all viewed as perfect payment tools for scammers, given that federal regulations require banks and credit card issuers to provide fraud protection for consumers who use debit and credit cards, but no such protections are afforded to users of these payment apps.
