Bank warning customers of scam

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009 | 9:04 a.m.

Bank warns against ‘text phishing’ scam (2-18-2009)

Community Bank of Nevada says its customers have been targeted by a second scam.

The Las Vegas bank said over the weekend that an unidentified source has been attempting to illegally obtain sensitive customer information through fraudulent phone calls.

Customers are receiving automated calls on their cell phones from an unidentifiable source posing as Community Bank of Nevada. The automated voice tells the recipient that their debit card has been “Hot Carded” due to unauthorized use. The call comes from a phone number that is not associated with the bank.

Community Bank of Nevada is advising customers to not call the number or give out any personal information.

“We want to assure our customers that their information is safe and that there has not been an internal breach in security. These uncontrollable fraudulent attempts are violating our customers and our financial institution. We take protecting our customers and fraud prevention very seriously. We ask all our customers and non-customers receiving these unauthorized messages to not respond with any customer-sensitive information and to contact the bank directly,” Bank Chief Executive Lawrence Scott said in a statement.

Community Bank of Nevada said it cannot confirm whether there is a connection betwee the fraudulent calls and a text messaging "phishing'' scam that customers have experienced and that it warned about last week.