As summer draws to a close, banking institutions and their customers face a new wave of targeted phishing attacks - and industry experts predict these incidents will only increase in the months ahead.

"These messages are designed to reach as many potential victims as possible," said Attorney General Lawrence Wasden. "The senders do not know anything about you or your card. Many people who have received the messages do not have accounts with the bank or credit union purportedly sending the message."

The calls and texts, often referred to as vishing and smishing, reportedly told consumers their credit and/or debit cards had been compromised, and then asked recipients to call a phone number to provide personal banking information to have the cards reactivated.

"Your bank will never contact you to ask for your account number," Wasden said. "Your bank already knows your account number. These messages are 'phishing' attempts by people trying to steal your account information so they can steal your money."

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