Attorney General's News Release

August 30, 2006

Nixon cautions mid-Missouri consumers about fraudulent callers pretending to be bank employees

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today cautioned mid-Missouri residents to beware of con artists calling them and pretending to be bank employees. Customers of two Jefferson City banks have reported receiving calls from someone posing as a bank employee and asking the consumers to verify their account and routing numbers. The banks are assuring their customers that their employees never call to ask for such information.

“Gaining a victim's confidence by posing as someone with a known and trusted institution is an age-old trick of con artists,” Nixon said. “Anyone who receives these calls should hang up and report the call right away to the bank and to the Attorney General's Office or the local police.”

Nixon said keeping your personal and financial information confidential can not only stop thieves from making immediate withdrawals on your accounts, it also can help protect you from identity theft.

“We always remind Missourians to not give that kind of information to people you don't know, unless you initiate the call,” Nixon said.

Missourians may contact the Attorney General's Office through the office's Web site at www.ago.mo.gov or through the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

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