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Scam impersonates Bank of America, hoping to get your private info

MONCKS CORNER, South Carolina (WCBD) – Just in time for the holiday season, there’s another scam out there that you need to know about.

On Sunday, a Berkeley County, South Carolina, deputy received a text from his bank. The text was fraudulent but looked legitimate, according to authorities.

In the text alert, a link is present that if clicked, takes you to another screen that asks you to input your information – including your card number, expiration date, CSS and last 4 digits of your SSN.

This is typically known as SMiShing-phishing that happens through SMS text messages, according to Bank of America. A criminal sends a text message intended to trick you into replying with financial or personal information or clicking on a link that will sneak a virus onto your mobile device.

Don’t respond to a text message that requests personal or financial information. Bank of America, as well as other banks and financial institutions, often send messages from SMS short numbers for alerts, but will never ask for personal or financial information in a text message.

Verify any phone number that appears in a text message.

If you’re in doubt, call the customer service number for your bank or financial institution.