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Hank Winchester: Bank scammers almost tricked me -- watch out

Scam affecting Metro Detroiters

Local 4's Hank Winchester has a warning about bank scammers targeting Metro Detroiters (WDIV)

It happened to me. Has it happened to you yet? 

I received a call last week from my bank. The caller ID on my cellphone showed my bank name. It had to be my bank, right?

The woman on the phone said she was with customer service at my bank, and that my account had been hacked. This didn’t seem like a huge shock, especially with all of the cyber hacks and attacks we hear about -- with some of them affecting local banks, hospitals and businesses.

The woman on the phone told me she needed to verify my addresses and some account information -- not actual account numbers, but rather how many accounts I had, and a rough idea of their current balances. I was a bit skeptical, but when she put me on hold, the music was the same familiar sound I hear when on hold with my bank.

She came back on the line and asked me for two pieces of information that made me nervous. She asked me for my full social security number and my mother’s maiden name. 

I paused. I didn’t want to share that information over the phone. 

I asked her what her name was, and if I could call the bank back and deal with it that way. She urged me to act immediately, saying my accounts were in “serious and immediate danger.”

My gut said no. I hung up and called my bank. They had no idea what I was talking about, but had heard this was happening here in Metro Detroit.

I asked the bank to review my account to make sure it was secure. I then contacted all three credit bureaus to make sure the freeze I have on my accounts was still valid. It was. 

I was so close to giving up critical information that could have put me at risk.

My advice to you is to stop, think, and don’t let the emotion in the moment take over your common sense. My gut told me something was off, and it was right. 

Unfortunately, we know this new year will bring lots of new and sophisticated scams. Artificial intelligence is a growing threat, and social media scams are expected to rise this year.

In the short term (as we approach Valentine’s Day), beware of romance-related scams. Last year, scammers took more than $3 billion from victims. In Michigan alone, more than 20,000 people contacted police saying they were scammed. 

Don’t let the scammers get you in the new year. And, if you do think you’ve been scammed or targeted, call police right away, and be sure to report it to the Michigan attorney general’s office. I also urge you to report the scam to me and the Local 4 News team so we can spread the word.

Let’s stay safe from scammers in 2024!


About the Author
Hank Winchester headshot

Hank Winchester is Local 4’s Consumer Investigative Reporter and the head of WDIV’s “Help Me Hank” Consumer Unit. Hank works to solve consumer complaints, reveal important recalls and track down thieves who have ripped off people in our community.

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