An automated phone scam has reappeared in northern Iowa. The Mason City Police Department says residents are receiving calls from a recorded message of someone claiming to be from the North Iowa Community Credit Union. Police Captain Mike McKelvey says the message claims the recipient’s credit card has expired.
He says the caller claims the credit card has been deactivated or disabled and then wants your card information, but this is a scam. McKelvey says the last time something like this happened a few months ago, residents were receiving phone calls, text messages and even e-mails.
He says if you receive a phone call like this, just hang up or don’t respond to text messages and e-mails. McKelvey says contact your personal banker if you believe you have become a victim of this scam. He says you are responsible for monitoring your own account to make sure no extra charges are showing up.
McKelvey says they continue to investigate who is behind this scam and suspect it’s not just a local problem but also a national and international one. He says it’s better to report problems to your bank first before contacting law enforcement agencies.