BATH

Bath Savings Institution is alerting local residents to a phone phishing scam involving scammers falsely identifying themselves as the bank.

On Tuesday, local residents reported fraudulent robo-calls claiming to be from Bath Savings Institution, the bank states in a news release issued Wednesday. The calls said the recipient’s bank debit card was locked and asked for account information. This follows similar phishing scams at other area banks.

Bath Savings advises that if you get such a call, do not share any information, or call back. If you did share information, notify Bath Savings immediately by calling (800) 447-4559.

Bath Savings President and CEO Glenn Hutchinson said, “This is a scam. If you have shared information, don’t be embarrassed, let us know. We will lock your account immediately to protect the security of your information. We will also issue you a new card.”

Bath Savings assures customers that they will not be held responsible for unauthorized transactions.

Calls were made throughout the Mid-coast and Southern Maine area. Hutchinson stressed that this was not a data breach and did not specifically target Bath Savings customers.

“Fraudsters continue to try to breach retailers, financial institutions and other organizations,” Hutchinson said. “We want customers to know that we will never contact them to ask for account information. This is information we already have. Never share your card number, three digit security number, or PIN.”

For more information on how to protect your identity and your money, visit https://www.bathsavings.com/security.

Bath Savings proactively monitors customer accounts 24/7. The bank also advises that clients sign up for mobile and online banking, which make it easy for them to check their accounts frequently.

Late last week, Maine Attorney General Janet Mills reported that her office has received many recent reports of aggressive calls from scammers demanding immediate payments on supposed debts.

Scammers attempt to get you to make a payment by wire transfer or pre-paid debit card, Mills said. She warned that Mainers should be very suspicious of anyone calling out of the blue and demanding an immediate payment of a debt, especially if they require that payment by any reloadable cash cards such as Green Dot Money Pak or a wire service like Western Union.

“The names and the details of the scams vary,” Mills said. “Typically the caller pretends they are from a business that you know and are attempting to collect an old debt. Perhaps they say you have won a lottery.

Sometimes they even claim to be from the state or federal government. The caller has just enough information about you that you believe they are legitimate.

“The red flag, however, is that they want you to make an instant payment with a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer,” she added. “This is how you know you are getting scammed. Hang up the phone immediately.”

Maine consumers who have questions about phone scams or other consumer protection matters can contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division: (800) 436-2131 or email: consumer. [email protected].

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