Our newsroom received e-mails this week about a text message going out to people that claims there is a problem with a bank account. The text usually asks you to call a toll-free number and when you do, you're told to enter an account number or debit card number and pin.

One of the e-mails caught my attention because a man says his teenage son responded to the text and his bank account was cleared as a result.

You may have gotten this text before, or variations of this scam. This latest one targets Vantage Credit Union Customers. Click for Information

I called the bank and went over and talked with their CEO. He says the bank has also been the target of an e-mail scam this week. The bank has been hearing from customers and non-customers alike.

So, how do scammers even get your info???

The FBI believes the criminals buy phone numbers or spend a lot of time on-line digging some up. Once they get a batch of numbers in a region (like St. Louis) they look for a bank in the area that has a lot of customers (Vantage has 100,000 credit union members).

Scammers text all the numbers in hopes of reaching a few people who actually do their banking with that particular bank or credit union. For example, Vantage Credit Unions members are more likely to respond to a text claiming to be from Vantage.

This method applies to bogus e-mails as well.

The scammers use tricks to seem more authentic. For example, their e-mail may even warn you not give out sensitive information!

The scammers sometimes text on the weekends or evenings about an urgent account problem. It's likely they do this so you can't call your bank independently and verify the issue. Texting when the bank is closed adds a false sense of urgency.

If you get a text or e-mail, try to contact the bank. They want to know about this so they can warn it's customers.

Then, file a complaint here.

If you get a text or e-mail, don't respond to it. In fact, don't even open the e-mail if you don't recognize the bank. If you do recognize the bank, don't respond with any personal information. Banks won't ask for it via text or e-mail.

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