Attempts to scam local bank clients are taking a twist of a different sort – using text messages to warn of online banking problems, with an 867- return number.

RCMP spokeswoman Const. Julia Fox said this morning she was informed by an individual Tuesday who received the same text message that was received by an individual today who brought it to the Star’s attention.

It reads: “Royal Bank of Canada – an alert has been detected in your online banking, please sign in to confirm your profile information at:”

A similar text brought to the Star’s attention says it’s from the Scotia Bank. It urges the individual to confirm online banking information within 12 hours.

In both cases, neither recipients were clients of that bank.

Fox said they are scams.

She said a representative of the Royal Bank assured her this morning the bank would never use text messages nor email correspondence to solicit personal online banking information.

The Royal’s online privacy guideline suggests if such a request is ever received, that the recipient report it to the bank’s online Phishing Resource Centre.

“Obviously the big concern is that because it is an 867 number, people may feel it is legitimate,” Fox said.

She said it’s also troublesome that the one request to confirm online banking information urged the recipient to respond within 12 hours, introducing a factor of fear and urgency.

As always, the bottom line is never give out personal information, she said.

Fox said she knows of a fraudulent PayPal alert this week that also came from an 867 number.