Mall of America warns of telephone scam - KMSP-TV

The Mall of America is reaching out to the public about an apparent telephone scam, saying the mall has a strict policy against unsolicited calls and has not been calling consumers.

"I am outraged that scammers would target the unsuspecting public in this way," said Rich Hoge, vice president of operations. "Mall of America is committed to doing all we can to protect the privacy of all individuals."

In a release, the mall issued a warning about the scam, saying it surfaced within the past 24 hours.

Many individuals have reported receiving phone calls that claim to be from the Mall of America, and even the caller ID may appear to reflect that.

Officials say the callers fraudulently identify themselves of representatives of the Mall and offer to assist with renewing a magazine subscription or other service. Some reports indicate that the caller has known the last four digits of the victim's credit card number.

"It is important for anyone who may receive a call like this to understand that the Mall will never ask for your personal information in this manner. If you do receive one of these calls, never share any personal information with the caller," Hoge urged. "Please also be sure to report the incident to your credit card issuer as well as Mall of America."

To report unsolicited fraudulent phone calls to the mall, consumers can send an e-mail prdept@mallofamerica.com.

Additional information from Mall of America on security:

Protecting Your Privacy

Mall of America is committed to protecting your privacy. We continuously watch for telephone scams, email scams and other types of illegal activity and report such activity immediately to our guests and customers. Please notify Mall of America if you receive any suspicious telephone calls or emails from someone representing themselves as Mall of America.

Telephone Scams:

Please be cautious if you receive a telephone call from anyone representing themselves as being from: Mall of America, Nickelodeon Universe or Theatres at Mall of America. These callers may ask for your personal information. Mall of America will never ask for your personal information. If you receive a suspicious telephone call, do not provide the caller with any personal information.

Email Scams:

Mall of America is committed to protecting our guests. Email phishing is a type of fraud committed to gain your personal information. Please be cautious if you receive a phishing email which may include one of our company names or logos; Mall of America, Nickelodeon Universe or Theatres at Mall of America. These emails may ask for your personal information. Mall of America will never ask for your personal information. Some phishing emails may also have attachments or links to a site with malware that can infect your computer. If you receive a suspicious email, do not click on any links or open any attachments.