There’s a Credit Card Chip Phishing Scam Targeting Users of New Credit Cards

There’s a Credit Card Chip Phishing Scam Targeting Users of New Credit Cards
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Epoch Newsroom
1/14/2016
Updated:
1/14/2016

Scammers are targeting people who have recently switched to new credit cards that have chips inside.

The chips, known as EMVs, are supposed to make it harder for people to steal from you.

But scammers have figured out a way to take advantage of the unspecting with a new phishing technique.

Bonnie Smyre, an Internet security expert with a local company called RAXIS, noted that the fake emails look a lot like previous scams, but because they seem more authentic some people can be fooled. 

“Now they’re sending much more legitimate emails. It’s hard to tell that they’re fake,” she told Fox 5.

“They often fake an email address so it looks like it’s from your bank. They use graphics from your bank. It looks very legit then they ask you, ‘You need to update your information. Your card is on the way, but before it can take effect we need your personal and banking information to be updated.’”

Smyre says to ignore the email. If you believe it is actually from you bank, call the number on the back of your credit card or on your bank statement instead.