WHITE COUNTY, Ga. – Law enforcement officials are warning residents about a new phone scam in which criminals impersonate local banks to obtain sensitive personal information from customers.

According to authorities, scammers are using technology to mimic the phone numbers of legitimate banking institutions. The callers contact actual bank customers and falsely claim that someone is attempting to open a line of credit in the customer’s name.

During the call, the scammer may verify personal details such as the customer’s address or other identifying information to appear legitimate. The caller then asks the victim to provide a copy of their government-issued identification for “verification” purposes.

Officials stress that customers should not send copies of identification, share banking information, or continue the conversation if they receive such a call. Instead, individuals are advised to hang up immediately and contact their bank directly using a trusted phone number to verify whether there is a legitimate issue with their account.

Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and to report suspected scam attempts to their financial institution and local law enforcement.