(Okoboji)– Local financial institutions are sounding the alarm over another scam that’s making the rounds.
This one involves an e-mail purporting to be from VISA or Master Card. The e-mail requests that cardholders enroll in the Verified by VISA or MasterCard SecureCode programs by clicking a link in the e-mail. Officials say you should NOT click on it. They say it’s what’s known as “phishing”…an effort to fraudulently obtain personal information such as account numbers. Officials say if you click on the link your computer may download a virus or spyware that can divulge your personal information to identity thieves.
Neither MasterCard nor VISA will contact cardholders directly to request they enroll in the programs.
There have been reports of local residents getting such e-mails.
For more information of phishing scams, go to www.antiphishing.org
