This is not quite an Amber Alert, but it's close.

My wife recently answered a phone call from a woman who implied that our bank account was possibly being compromised by people trying to access our account. The woman knew my wife's maiden name and where we lived. She asked for our bank account number and the number of the last check we had written.

Thinking the woman was legitimate, and fearful that our account was being compromised, my wife gave the woman our bank account number.

The woman said that since my wife was over 65, there would be no charge for the service and that we would receive paperwork from the bank within two weeks, but not to sign anything, or she would be charged.

About two weeks later, while reconciling our account, my wife noticed a canceled check made out to Complex Computer Services for $399 for UPN Services and inquiries to (888) 271-6457. The signature said "authorization on file."

We immediately went to the bank and spoke with the branch manager. She told us that by giving the caller our account number, we authorized the bank to honor the check. She advised us to close our account and immediately establish a new one, which we did.

She also advised us to contact the Consumer Protection Agency, the Better Business Bureau and Fraud Alert. We're in the process of doing that. I doubt that we will ever recover the $399. So, bottom line: Whatever you do, do not give your bank account number to anyone. If you do, you authorize access to your account and withdraw funds.

Better still, hang up on anyone calling and making inquiries about your account.

Robey Howard

West End