WEB EXTRA Scam hits local bank customers

-Courtesy of Montana Attorney General’s office and Mountain West Bank

A recent rash of scam e-mails and text messages has hit close to home, Attorney General  Steve Bullock said in a press release last week. Several residents of Lake County reported receiving scam e-mails or texts.

Bullock recently received an e-mail telling him that unless he sent account  information to the sender “access to sensitive account features will be limited.” While the  e-mail appeared to be coming from Montana-based Mountain West Bank, it’s part of a “phishing” scam  that tries to get personal information from unsuspecting consumers, the release said.

The e-mail messages also directed recipients to visit a website that looked nearly identical to Mountain  West’s homepage. The use of mock websites, even those of local companies and lending institutions,  has become common practice in these “phishing” scams.

A press release from Mountain West said that it does not send e-mails or texts asking for personal information. “Never give information to someone unknow to you,” tops a list of precautions the bank asks consumers to consider in its press release. “If you are asked for information, please report to you bank immediately.”

Bullock stressed in the release that while the recent rash involves Mountain West, the con artists sending these  out are continually changing who they e-mail and the companies, agencies and charities they impersonate.