SALT LAKE CITY — New smart chip credit cards are being issued to cardholders everywhere, and with the new technology experts are also warning consumers about new scams.
The Utah Department of Commerce says scammers have been sending out emails and text messages to people saying they need to provide personal information in order to receive their new smart chip bank cards.
However, the department says financial companies will not be asking for that information, because they already have it, and they warn that even clicking on the links the scammers provide could be dangerous.
“You could potentially be providing personal information that, once it goes into the Internet, you will never see it again,” said Francine Giani, Executive Director for the Utah Department of Commerce. “And you’ll have a very difficult time trying to clean up what mess you’ve created for yourself.”
Giani says there have been reports of scams for the last six weeks or so, and she warns that you have to be vigilant when looking for these emails, as some of them appear legitimate, down to things like logos and other details.
“If you receive a message that starts out ‘Dear Cardholder’ asking you to provide your account number or other identifying information, don’t respond!” Giani stated in a press release. “Contact your credit card company or bank directly to confirm the request is real before clicking on any link!”
For more information about common scams and how to protect yourself, or to report a scam attempt, visit the Utah Department of Commerce Division of Consumer Protection’s website.
