Attorney General's News Release

February 26, 2008

Con artists text messaging local credit union customers in St. Louis area, Nixon warns

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon says consumers in the St. Louis area are receiving text messages on their wireless phones that appear to be from Arsenal Credit Union in Jefferson County, but actually are from identity thieves. Nixon says this is the newest form of phishing scam, in which con artists try to trick consumers into giving their bank account information.

Consumers contacting Nixon’s office about the new scam say the text message tells them there is a problem with their bank account and asks them to call a phone number to address the problem. The number given is phony, and it asks them to enter bank account, debit card or credit card numbers.

Nixon says the consumers getting the messages may or may not be customers of Arsenal Credit Union, and are customers of several different cell phone companies. He says the contact is coming from thieves who intend to commit bank and credit card fraud, and consumers should not give out their personal data.

“This is just like the many phishing scams we’ve seen, except this one uses text messaging,” said Nixon. “These messages may look official, but it’s important to never give out personal information to anyone who’s contacted you.”

Phishing is an attempt by identity thieves to steal personal information. Nixon says any consumer who gets an e-mail, phone call or text message asking for bank account, credit card or Social Security numbers should assume it’s a scam. Instead, he says they should call the bank’s legitimate phone number and report the contact.

Missourians should never divulge their personal information to anyone who contacts them. They should only give out that data when they initiate the contact. Consumers can report phishing or other fraud at Nixon’s Web site, ago.mo.gov, or his Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

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Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818