U.S. Treasury scam targets Grand Forks member

Published Nov. 10, 2011
By Angela Vasser
Information Protection Chief

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- A Grand Forks member reported being contacted multiple times by a suspicious caller claiming to be from the U.S. Treasury Department.

The caller claimed to have $10,000 for the member. All the member had to do was provide direct deposit information for a bank account.

The member challenged the caller by asking him to just mail the check, which the caller would not do. The caller was insistent on needing the individual's direct deposit information. The member alerted local authorities.

We can use this teammate's experience as a reminder to be wary of people calling and asking for operational or personal information. Always be cautious of whom you're talking to or chatting with; they may not be who they say they are.

Please remember to never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or social security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.

Finally, it's prudent to also remember operational security and protect our most sensitive information as it's not uncommon for adversaries to attempt to extort information and/or money.