Bank warns of phone call scam

Hope — First Hope Bank officials report that several customers have received automated phone calls claiming their debit cards were “blocked” for retail purchases. One customer was asked to enter his card number and PIN to “reactivate” his card. “Fortunately,” according to Norman E. Beatty, First Hope’s chairman, president and CEO, “the customer did the right thing by hanging up and thereby avoiding what surely was an attempt to steal his identity.” Beatty said that First Hope would never initiate an automated or “live” call such as the one described. “I urge consumers never to provide personal financial account information unless they have initiated the call,” he said. “Should you receive such a call, please simply hang up and then contact your financial institution. If you mistakenly respond to a request for personal information, contact your bank immediately so they can close any accounts and/or cancel any cards that could be affected.” Beatty noted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the government agency with jurisdiction over telephone communications, encourages consumers to report such calls by filing a complaint via their Web site at http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm.