Text message scam reported Thursday

A text message scam has targeted cell phone users in southeast Iowa in an effort to procure the users? debit card numbers. The text message purports to be from Federation Bank and instructs recipients to call a number because their card has been deactivated. Federation Bank CEO Jamie Collier confirmed that the text message was a scam and was not sent from Federation Bank.

Collier said in an interview Friday that the text messages appear to have been sent randomly to numbers with a 319- prefix and were not necessarily to Federation Bank customers. He said that if anyone were to call the number and give away their card information, the ?fraudsters? could use that information to make online purchases. He recommends that people who have given away their information contact their bank or call Shazam at 1-800-383-8000. They can also call the helpline on the back of their card. If you did not give the fraudsters your information he said your card is fine and can be used normally.

Collier said that fraudsters who obtain card information through these scams may not use them for several months.

?What happens in many of these instances is the fraudsters will lie in wait for four to six months and then start making fraudulent transactions with debit cards,? he said.

?If you did not call in and give your information your debit card is still perfectly safe to use. I need to reiterate that our bank has not been compromised. This is simply a calling scam.?