SKOWHEGAN -- Scam artists have been using a fraudulent e-mail letter to try to access customer accounts at Skowhegan Savings Bank, according to police and bank officials.

The e-mail indicates that the bank is upgrading its security system, has temporarily suspended the customer's account and asks the customer to call a number listed in the body of the message, according to Deputy Police Chief Rick Bonneau.

"It gives two phone numbers out of Scarborough to reactivate the account," Bonneau said.

Bank officials, in a memo released Thursday, said when the number was dialed, the automated attendant asked for the 16-digit credit card number, expiration date and the four-digit personal identification number (PIN).

"I've been getting calls and complaints this morning," Bonneau said Thursday. "It looks like it is fairly widespread."

Later Thursday, however, the bank had traced the phone number. It is no longer in service and therefore cannot be used, said Vicki Alward, risk management officer for the bank. If the number is dialed now, a recording will state the number cannot be recognized.

Meanwhile, Bonneau said anyone who may already have already called and given their credit card number, or any kind of information, should immediately contact bank officials at (800) 303-9511 and police at 474-6908.

Bonneau said if there are victims in Skowhegan, police plan to contact the district attorney's office and pursue the incidences as cases of theft by deception.

Alward said other banks have been involved in these "phishing" e-mails. "Phishing" is when criminals use e-mail, phone and online scams to purposefully and maliciously trick people into sharing information such as passwords, Social Security numbers, account and credit card details and even a mother's maiden name.

Bank President John Witherspoon said phishing is nothing new to the state, but is new to the Skowhegan bank, which has nine branches, most in Somerset County and central Maine.

"What's unique is our bank listed individually," Witherspoon said.

Witherspoon and Alward said they don't see this as a crisis, but want to get the word out.

Skowhegan Savings is a participating bank in the Maine Anti-Phishing Coalition.

Darla L. Pickett -- 474-9534, Ext. 341

dpickett@centralmaine.com