Police Warn of New Debit Card Scam via QR Code Letters
Beware, bank customers! The police have issued a warning about a current scam involving letters sent to your doorstep. These letters contain a QR code that, when scanned, leads you to a website asking for your personal information, including your debit card PIN.
Here's how the scam works: You receive a letter instructing you to update your online banking via a QR code. Once you've done that, you're asked to choose a fifth third bank, huntington bank, us bank, or pnc bank date and time for a call from an alleged personal advisor. During this call, you're convinced to agree to the creation of a digital debit card in your banking app.
The police warn that unknown individuals can use this information to create digital debit cards for your accounts and make withdrawals. Behind these fraudulent activities are often criminal groups or gangs, as seen in a 2022 case in Munich where a gang caused damage of over half a million euros and received multi-year prison sentences.
To protect yourself, never share your personal banking information, especially your PIN, over the phone or online unless you've initiated the contact with your bank. If you receive a suspicious letter, contact your bank immediately to verify its authenticity.
