notyard
08-03-2008, 09:29 AM
Indiana Attorney General's office press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2008
** Consumer Alert **
Attorney General Steve Carter Issues Warning About Financial Fraud
Targeting Hoosiers
(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter is issuing a consumer alert about bogus text, voice and e-mail messages, claiming to come from EPPICard. At least one state agency, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, uses the EPPICard system to administer unemployment insurance benefits.
The attorney general’s office has received complaints about the messages, which falsely inform recipients that their EPPICard account is closed. They instruct recipients to call a telephone number or visit an authentic looking web site, and to provide personal and/or card information.
Example Text Message
FRM: EPPICard
SUBJ: Notification
MSG: Your EPPICard account is closed due to unusual activity, call us now at 7573200489.
Bogus Web Sites Include
www.eppicardusa.com (http://www.eppicardusa.com/)
http://www.eppicard.com/eppicard/incard/index.jsp (http://www.eppicard.com/eppicard/incard/index.jsp)
“If you have received any message, purportedly from EPPICard, do not respond,” said Carter. “It’s nothing more than a scam designed to drain your account and steal your personal information.”
An alert on the EPPICard Web site indicates that the company will never request social security numbers, card numbers or personal identification numbers (PIN) through text, voice or e-mail messages. The company urges people who believe their account has been compromised to call the telephone number on the back of the card.
Consumers should report suspected scams to the Indiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by visiting www.IndianaConsumer.com (http://www.indianaconsumer.com/) or by calling 1-800-382-5516. People who have already fallen victim to this, or any other scam, can download an Identity Theft Victim Kit at the site.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2008
** Consumer Alert **
Attorney General Steve Carter Issues Warning About Financial Fraud
Targeting Hoosiers
(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter is issuing a consumer alert about bogus text, voice and e-mail messages, claiming to come from EPPICard. At least one state agency, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, uses the EPPICard system to administer unemployment insurance benefits.
The attorney general’s office has received complaints about the messages, which falsely inform recipients that their EPPICard account is closed. They instruct recipients to call a telephone number or visit an authentic looking web site, and to provide personal and/or card information.
Example Text Message
FRM: EPPICard
SUBJ: Notification
MSG: Your EPPICard account is closed due to unusual activity, call us now at 7573200489.
Bogus Web Sites Include
www.eppicardusa.com (http://www.eppicardusa.com/)
http://www.eppicard.com/eppicard/incard/index.jsp (http://www.eppicard.com/eppicard/incard/index.jsp)
“If you have received any message, purportedly from EPPICard, do not respond,” said Carter. “It’s nothing more than a scam designed to drain your account and steal your personal information.”
An alert on the EPPICard Web site indicates that the company will never request social security numbers, card numbers or personal identification numbers (PIN) through text, voice or e-mail messages. The company urges people who believe their account has been compromised to call the telephone number on the back of the card.
Consumers should report suspected scams to the Indiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by visiting www.IndianaConsumer.com (http://www.indianaconsumer.com/) or by calling 1-800-382-5516. People who have already fallen victim to this, or any other scam, can download an Identity Theft Victim Kit at the site.