VIDALIA — One Vidalia resident was visiting her parents Friday when they received an odd call with the caller ID claiming to be from a Concordia Bank and Trust Company phone number.

“My parents don’t even have an account there,” Summer Scirocco said.

Scirocco, thinking it might be a scam, answered and received an automated message from “your local bank” claiming it can lower the APR on a debit or credit card, she said.

When she pressed the button to get through to a representative, a man with a foreign accent answered and asked for Scirocco’s date of birth, Social Security number and the full information on the card to verify the information is correct, she said.

Scirocco provided none of what was requested, but called the police instead.

Vidalia police spokeswoman Miranda Clifton said the department has received complaints from residents stating they have received phone calls from a person stating they were from their bank. This person on the line then asks for banking and other personal information. Do not give any personal information over the phone, Clifton said.

Concordia Bank Chief Operations Officer Tracie Gray said the bank would never email, call or otherwise ask for customer’s personal information.

“Security is top priority of our bank,” Gray said. “We encourage the public to contact their local bank and speak with a representative in the event they are contacted.”

Clifton said if you receive a call like this, it is a phishing scam.

“The criminal is hoping to trick you into giving them your personal information, bank account numbers, pin numbers, passwords and other security details,” Clifton said.

The phone number may show up as the actual phone number of the financial institution and they may also use an automated message asking for you to press a button before someone comes on the line, Clifton said.

“They are spoofing the financial institutions email and phone number,” Clifton said. “These are tactics that the criminals are using to gain your trust and make you believe they are an actual business.”

Clifton said to hang up immediately, to not hit redial to call the bank back and if possible go visit your financial institution to ask questions.

“Neither your financial institution, IRS, credit card company, nor your wireless service provider will call you asking for your personal information,” she said. “The opportunistic fraudsters making these phone calls are criminals.”