Colorado T-Mobile Customers Beware!

For those Colorado residents who have T-Mobile cell phone service and a Colorado phone number, you should expect a text message from your Credit Union security very soon - even if you do not belong to a Credit Union.

At 8:15 PM on Wednesday July 29, 2009 my cell phone started making the annoying beep noise that lets you know that a text message has arrived. Great news, I was expecting to hear about upcoming weekend plans with a friend.

The text inbox said it was from 3591. A totally unfamiliar number. Upon opening, the text, the following line appeared. "18887491834@tm.com/ / You have a new Credit Union security message. Call now toll free: 1 888 749 1834 to hear it. ***End***." The Credit Union doesn't have my cell phone number and has never text messaged me before.

A call to the phone number produced the following message "We are informing you that an IP address in India has repeatedly tried to access your account. To verify your account information and access attempts we need your ...". The telephone was quickly placed back on the receiver.

Calling the Credit Union directly is the best way to confirm fraud or a phishing attempt. Most Credit Union's Credit Departments however are closed at night. To confirm that this was a phishing attempt, a call was placed to the Lost and Stolen number for the credit card.

It appears the Lost and Stolen Department doesn't have access to internet fraud attempts, they can only confirm there is not a blockage on an account. Upon asking if they thought this was a phishing attempt and should be reported - the answer was "yes" upon both counts.

A Google search upon the number 18887491834 discovered a thread on the website 800Notes.com. Someone at 3591 has been busy texting Colorado T-Mobile customers this same security message since 1 PM on Wed. July 29, 2009. Some T-Mobile customers have received this text several times.

Posters stated that "they do not have an account at a credit union and received this message" and "the automated system wanted a credit card number for verification of fraud on the account". Most customers quickly concluded that this was a fraud attempt. One poster called the Federal Trade Commission. Some quickly called teenagers to warn them, another confirmed of an individual who had fallen for a credit card scam in the past. As of 10:52 PM MDT July 29th, posts about this fraud attempt are still coming in.

If you are a Colorado T-Mobile customer, be aware that a text phishing scam may be headed your direction. Call the Federal Trade Commission and report it.

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-749-1834