Global: Eastern Bank warns customers, non-customers of phone scam

Eastern Bank issued a fraud alert Friday warning customers about callers pretending to be from the bank, asking for people's debit card information.

"Please be advised that these calls are a scam and are not being made by Eastern Bank," the company posted on its website.

Customers, as well as non-customers, have been receiving automated calls on their cellphones with the following message: "This is a call from Eastern Bank. Your MasterCard account has been locked. Please press 1 now to unlock."

The recording then instructs the person to enter their debit card number. Other variations of the phone call references other banks or may ask the customer to enter a debit card number to activate the card.

Eastern Bank advises people to "please hang up and do not press 1."

"This is a phishing attempt by criminals to obtain your personal account information. Never provide your debit card number or any other private information in response to an unsolicited phone call or email."

Eastern Bank said it never asks anyone for private information such as account numbers, passwords or Social Security numbers through unsolicited emails or phone calls.