INDIANAPOLIS | Attorney General Steve Carter is alerting Hoosiers to a scam involving con artists calling and pretending to be a consumer's credit card institution informing them of fraud on their account.

In reality, the scam artists are attempting to obtain credit card information that would allow them to steal the consumer's identity.

"What's particularly troubling about this scam is these scammers already have a stock pile of personal information about the card holder that might make them inclined to believe they are talking to their credit card company," Carter said. "We can't emphasize enough that a legitimate credit card company will never call you and request that you provide them information on your card."

In this scam, the con artist calls and pretends to be a fraud investigator from a credit card institution with important fraud information for the consumer. They claim the company learned the consumer's credit card was used fraudulently and then offer to credit the account.

The caller then claims the consumer must confirm their identity by providing them the three or four digit verification number on the back of the card.

The scam artists often have the name, card number, and address of the consumer and all they need to complete the scam is the verification number. Because the caller has the personal information, the consumer might be tempted to provide additional information.

If a consumer is contacted by someone claiming to be a fraud investigator, Carter's office recommends they hang up immediately and contact their credit card institution directly.

The attorney general reminded consumers never to give out information to people who call unsolicited.