Apparent Phone Scammer Targets Warrick County Credit Union Customers
By: Ryan Braschler
Updated: July 21, 2012
Some Warrick County residents got an unusual text message this morning, and it looks like a scam. Eyewitness News received calls from several Warrick County residents saying they've received suspicious text messages from a source claiming to be Heritage Federal Credit Union.
Text messaging can serve many purposes. But it can also enable predators. Angie Warthan was going about her normal day when she got one of the suspicious text messages. She says she asked her husband, and they decided it was a scam.
"I went to the credit union and they said if I called the number it would ask for my account information and be able to access it," she says.
So we tried calling the number. Not even an operator on the line.
Heritage customer Jenn Carrico didn't get the text, but she's worried that if the apparent scammer can get phone numbers, then they can get account numbers too.
"It's absolutely terrifying. I would lose everything I have and all the income I get once a month," she claims.
When we called Heritage Federal, their offices were closed, but they know about the issue.
But Carrico says it may be more than just a heritage federal issue.
"From what I've observed, all of the people who are getting the texts are AT&T customers. The people that have Verizon aren't getting them, just AT&T."
Regardless of how these alleged scammers got the numbers -- people like Warthan -- and Carrico -- hope others in Warrick County will be careful.
We attempted to contact the AT&T headquarters in Nashville,TN to see if they've heard about the connection, but those calls were not immediately returned. The Warrick County Sheriff's Department couldn't confirm whether they've received calls about the issue.
Text messaging can serve many purposes. But it can also enable predators. Angie Warthan was going about her normal day when she got one of the suspicious text messages. She says she asked her husband, and they decided it was a scam.
"I went to the credit union and they said if I called the number it would ask for my account information and be able to access it," she says.
So we tried calling the number. Not even an operator on the line.
Heritage customer Jenn Carrico didn't get the text, but she's worried that if the apparent scammer can get phone numbers, then they can get account numbers too.
"It's absolutely terrifying. I would lose everything I have and all the income I get once a month," she claims.
When we called Heritage Federal, their offices were closed, but they know about the issue.
But Carrico says it may be more than just a heritage federal issue.
"From what I've observed, all of the people who are getting the texts are AT&T customers. The people that have Verizon aren't getting them, just AT&T."
Regardless of how these alleged scammers got the numbers -- people like Warthan -- and Carrico -- hope others in Warrick County will be careful.
We attempted to contact the AT&T headquarters in Nashville,TN to see if they've heard about the connection, but those calls were not immediately returned. The Warrick County Sheriff's Department couldn't confirm whether they've received calls about the issue.
