Watch Out for This "Unlock Your Debit Card" Text Message

It's that time of year—you know, not the time for holiday cheer but for people to try to scam you out of your hard-earned money. One of the latest tricks, according to CBS Chicago, is a text message claiming your debit card is locked and you need to call a specific number to unlock it. Hint: don't do it.

The text message looks something like this:

FW:|Fifth Third B. Message. Your card has been locked. Call 519-555-9910 to unlock it.

In the event you get one of these messages, it's best to call your bank and confirm there's nothing wrong. My bank sends me lock notices like this via email and I have the option of receiving them via text, so it's best not to ignore it if you think there may actually be a problem. Just don't call the number in the message. Instead, call the number on the back of your debit card and ask to be connected to fraud prevention services (or whatever your bank calls that department) and make sure everything is alright. And while you're on hold, brush up on these debit card and ATM security tips.

‘Locked Debit Card' Text Alerts Are Fake | CBS Chicago via the Consumerist