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Text message scam impacting people in our area

PITTSBURGH — A "smishing" scam is targeting local phones.

Some Channel 11 employees started getting alerts to their phones saying their PNC Bank accounts were hacked when they don't even do business with the bank.

We checked with PNC, which issued this statement:

“PNC has been made aware of a scam involving fraudulent emails and text messages made to look like they have been sent by PNC. It is very important for PNC customers to know we will not send an email or text asking them to provide personal or sensitive financial information."

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Caitlyn Driscoll of the Better Business Bureau told channel 11 that "phishing" is getting bogus emails, and "smishing" is when the bogus messages are received by text. The BB  has received reports of these very authentic-looking texts disguised as bank alerts.

“If you enter your information and do the private link, you are definitely setting yourself up for identity theft and giving the thief the information they need to access your financial information through PNC Bank account, if you have one," she said.