Banking scams hit St. Joseph residents

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Banking scam texts are being reported in the St. Joseph area, following nationwide trends of scammers trying to fish for personal information and money via texts.

Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett said that scammers are continuing to find ways to extract information through deception and fear, often sending scam texts to vulnerable populations.

"I think the biggest point to make is what scammers do is rely on fear," Puett said. "So, do not engage, do not provide them any information, like birthdates and socials."

Puett also said that law enforcement on the city and county levels are experiencing more training on cyber crimes, including crimes involving texts. So, they are relying on public media and other educational opportunities at all age levels to help combat the issue.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing around $470 million due to scams in 2024.

Experts hope that communities become more aware and are able to cut that number significantly in the future.

Sheriff Puett said informing law enforcement of the scams received, including using the tip line at 816-238-TIPS, will ensure that the scam attempt gets to the proper investigating body.

Meanwhile, following the basic rule of never clicking on unknown links or sharing personal data (especially financial data) through text or online should be the rule of thumb.