SAN ANTONIO, TX -- Hundreds of people have already been affected by a new phishing scam.
The scam is trying to get personal information over the internet and is targeting cable-TV customers. It pops up as an email and appears to be from one of the largest cable providers - Time Warner Cable.
When Jessica Jester sat down in front of her computer Thursday morning, she had two emails from "Time Warner Cable."
"It looked so, so real," said Jester.
But as Jester started reading, the wording tipped her off that the email could be a scam.
"We apologize if you, and you is a "U" and not "Y-O-U," Jester explained.
The email says it needs "Road Runner" customers to verify personal information or their service would be suspended. Jester said it was the questions that confirmed for her that it was 'definitely' a scam.
"Your Texas driver's license number," explained Jester. "Time Warner, as far as I know, doesn't have my driver's license number."
Other information requested included her mother's maiden name, Social Security number, and the 3-digit PIN number found on the back of her credit card. Jester immediately reported the mail to Time Warner and then emailed News 4.
"My first concern was this is going to get a lot of people," said Jester. "A lot of people are going to really do this."
Time Warner has received more than 200 or emails related to the phishing scam. A spokesperson for Time Warner told News 4 the company would never send out an email asking for personal information or bank/credit card account information.
With her quick response, Jester hopes it'll save people from identity theft.
"I just wanted to make sure and do my part," Jester said.
The spokesperson for Time Warner also said they've reported the scam to the company's abuse officials. Those officials are already looking into how to possibly prosecute the scam as a criminal offense.
News 4 learned that the scams have been reported to Time Warner in Austin as well.
