Thieves are preying on gullible bank card users in Pitkin County by duping them into handing over their account information, Aspen police said this afternoon.
The scam works this way: Customers get a phone call saying their bank debit card has been compromised, and they should key in their card number.
Once they do that, the thieves begin using the number to take out cash, police said. The total amount of the take, so far, was not available today, but several people have been taken, police said.
Not everyone falls for it, however.
Police have “received extensive anecdotal reports on this occurrence from members of the community,” the department stated.
Police told people not to respond to the calls, but to contact their banks themselves to verify any charges.
No one should give out bank account information to unsolicited callers, they warned.
“Although this string of frauds appears to be linked, it is important to remember that cyber criminals are constantly developing new and improved ways to solicit account information and make fraudulent charges,” Aspen police stated.
Anyone with information about the scam can call Aspen police Officer Marcin Debski at 970-429-1822.
