Bank phone scam continues

The prolific phishing scam that hit the San Lorenzo Valley at the start of the month took a short break and then started up again Wednesday, Oct. 14, according to bank officials.
Valley residents have been harassed with automated phone calls posing as Liberty Bank that ask for credit card information and PIN codes. The automated phone scam started on the East Coast and first hit the valley Oct. 2.
The calls stopped Oct. 10, but they started again this week, said Liberty Bank Vice President Jill Hitchman.
“The FBI is still handling the case,” she said. “They are coordinating with other banks that have been affected.”
The scam moved on to residents of Wisconsin — “Same script and everything,” Hitchman said — but then returned to the valley.
“It’s been hard trying to stop this,” Hitchman said. “We’re calling as many people as possible to try to stop it.”
She said the scammers electronically hack into business phone systems and use voice-over Internet technology to make the phone calls using real phone numbers.
Liberty Bank customer information has not been compromised, and both customers and non-customers were targeted. The automated calls tell residents their cards have been suspended because of potential third-party access.
The Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office initially handled the investigation, until the case was turned over to the FBI.
Liberty Bank has branches in Felton and Boulder Creek.
• Reporter Peter Burke contributed to this story.