Authorities in Durham are alerting residents to a concerning rise in a bank card scam that has resulted in over $200,000 in losses this year.
The Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) has recorded 41 instances in 2025 of scammers pretending to be bank representatives and coercing individuals to surrender their credit or debit cards, along with their personal identification numbers (PINs).
In the latest incidents, victims were contacted by individuals claiming to be from their bank’s fraud division. These callers falsely asserted that the victim’s bank card had been compromised and advised them to place the card and PIN in an envelope for collection by a supposed “bank representative.” Victims were promised that replacement cards would be provided the next day.
Subsequently, a driver would show up at the victim’s residence to retrieve the envelope. The stolen cards and PINs were then used to withdraw funds directly from the victims’ accounts.
Law enforcement emphasizes the importance of being cautious and alert, stressing that legitimate financial institutions will never demand that customers surrender their credit or debit cards or disclose their PINs.