Scammers are targeting West Michigan residents once again, impersonating local banks and credit unions to drain their bank accounts.
A fraudulent text message, containing a link and claiming there is an issue with your account, might appear on your phone.
Scam Alert: Grand Rapids Police caution against a resurgence of spoofing scams.
Clicking on the link directs you to a counterfeit banking website. Entering your details there allows scammers to steal your information, warns the Michigan State Police.
The Better Business Bureau advises looking out for these red flags:
A message from a 10-digit number or an email address.
A link within the text message; typically, banks only request a simple 'yes' or 'no' response.
A bank website URL that includes extra characters.
Seniors have lost substantial amounts, but teenagers are particularly vulnerable as they tend to trust technology easily, notes Katie Grevious from the BBB.
“The concerning aspect is that banks do send text alerts for account issues if you’ve opted in. Scammers are aware of this and try to mimic legitimate bank communications,” Grevious explained.
Most of these banking scams originate from abroad, leaving the BBB reliant on foreign law enforcement for assistance, according to Grevious.
The task of tracking these criminals is becoming increasingly difficult due to their use of location spoofing techniques, Grevious added.