(WSBT) Elkhart Police are sending out a warning about a phone scam that hit Teacher's Credit Union members Thursday. The credit union says hundreds of their customers were called.

In most cases, the voice on the other end of the line was automated, asking for credit card and bank account numbers, and leaving customers and Teacher's Credit Union scrambling to find answers.

It wasn't quite the wake up call Lori Baldwin expected at 8 a.m. and a quick check of her Caller ID was no help.

"It just said unknown name, and then gave a local phone number," she told WSBT.

But the real questions came with the automated message that followed.
It said her bank account was overdrawn, and she should call one of two 1-800 numbers or a local Elkhart number. When she did, she heard the following message:

"You'll be asked to provide 3 additional pieces of information linked to your information," the automated voice said. "Including your credit card number."

"It almost made me become panicked," said Lori. "[I was] thinking, 'are they already in my bank account?"

And she wasn't alone wondering if her account was safe.

More than 200 calls flooded into The Elkhart Police Department Thursday, pushing call volumes to nearly double a normal day.

Their advice to callers was the same as TCU's.

"Absolutely do not share any of your information with anyone over the telephone!" TCU President and C.E.O. Richard Rice told WSBT. "If someone calls you inquiring, hang up on them!"

Police say at least some of the calls came from a number registered to a 7-11 on State Road 19. Others came from a number registered to the Elkhart Truth newspaper. Police say there's nothing to suggest the store or the newspaper was involved in any way.

Police, aren't sure where the calls are coming from, or who's making them, but unless a money is actually withdrawn, there isn't much they can do, because a phone call asking for information isn't illegal.

Even so, Lori's glad she caught on to the scam before it was too late.

"We have a significant amount of money in there, and it's a little scary!" she said.

A handful of other customers weren't so lucky, though, and did give out their account information. If you are one of them, TCU says it's extremely important to contact them as soon as possible. Members can also call Verizon's Unlawful Call Center at 1-800-257-2969.