D.A. warns of telephone banking scam

LOS ANGELES COUNTY -- Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley warned the public Tuesday about an automated phone call scam targeting victims' bank accounts.

"The 'robo-calls' play recorded messages claiming to be from major banks," District Attorney's officials said in a written statement. "The messages state there is a problem with the banking network and ask for verification of banking account information, including credit card and debit card numbers, along with personal identification numbers (PINs)."

Cooley advised residents to be "extremely wary" of telephone calls requesting sensitive personal information.

"Legitimate banks and financial institutions do not call their customer to request personal identifying information or discuss banking network problems," he said.

Once criminals have the personal information, they can take over victims' bank accounts, apply for credit cards with victims' information or withdraw money from accounts using victims' debit card and PIN numbers, officials said.

Anyone who received such a call is advised to provide no information and to contact their bank's customer service department via a land-line telephone, in person or via a secure Internet connection.

Anyone who believes they may have been victimized in this type of scam is asked to contact local law enforcement.