The Hawaii Bankers Association is warning state residents to beware of a recent surge of fraudent telemarketing calls.

Several bank customers have notified their financial institution that they have received suspicious telephone calls from individuals representing themselves as bank officials.  The caller indicates that the customer’s card has been deactivated. To reactivate the card, the caller requests card account and security information, claiming the information is necessary to validate the customer. The association is advising bank customers that a bank official will never call to request account information by telephone, text message, or email.

If a customer mistakenly provides information, then the customer’s financialy institution should be called immediately.