Visa card scam targeting German American Bank accounts hits area

German American bank account holders may be receiving texts stating their Visa debit cards are disabled for security reasons.

A reader reported she had received a text stating her German American Visa debit card had been compromised. The text identified the card by stating “card number 4419” but many cards have those numbers as the first four numbers of the card number.

The victim contacted the 24 hour hotline number included in the text and was asked to submit all of the card information to reactivate the card.

She contacted the Jasper Police Department, who told her they had received several calls concerning the text messages and advised her to not give out any information.

According to Detective Rick Chambers at the Jasper Police Department, many times these numbers are dead ends that belong to individuals outside of the country.

Authorities would like to remind everyone that no legitimate organization will ask for personal information via text. “If you feel something is wrong with your accounts call a number you know is legitimate such as one in a phone book.” authorities said. “Never give out your personal information unless you are 100 percent positive of who you are giving it to.”