GAB phone scam hammers Dubois County

Dubois County residents were harassed by automated calls and some texts from a would-be scammer Sunday afternoon.

Calls were received from an unlisted or unknown number and when the call was connected, an automated message played stating the recipient’s German American Bank debit card had been deactivated. The message asked the recipient to press 1 for further information and then asked for the 16-digit debit card number to reactivate the debit card.

According to Philip Hensley, Indiana State Police Information Officer, a number of folks have asked how the scammer would have obtained their phone number or knew that you banked at German American Bank.

“First of all, understand that in a scam like this, GAB was not hacked, nor did they have a breach of security. Their information, which is your information, is still intact and secure,” Hensley stated. “The scammer is using a computer with a number generator that systematically dials every phone number in a particular phone code (such as numbers local to Jasper) and then plays the same computer generated recording. If you press “1” like the message asks, it begins recording the next 16 numbers you enter for your card number.”

“The long and short of it is that you are not individually targeted; by using a computer, the scammer can attempt to gain more victims in a shorter period of time.”

Authorities are stressing that financial institutes will not call and ask for credit card or account information.

They are directing residents to simply hang up on the scammer.