Thousands of local residents received automated phone calls Wednesday evening that authorities say were bogus and an attempt to obtain bank account numbers and other financial information.

The calls were continuing this morning.

Authorities said the calls were purported to be from Andrew Johnson Bank but were not actually placed by the bank or any organization affiliated with it.

The calls, which were recorded messages, informed the listener and potential victim that his/her bank cards and been canceled and urged the person to dial an out-of-state phone number.

(To hear the bogus recorded message go to this story at www.greenevillesun.com and click the link.)

The number that at least some persons were asked to call was from Des Moines, Iowa. But authorities said the calls actually originated outside the U.S.

Those persons who did call the number, police said, were told by another recorded message to enter their bank account numbers and other financial information.

Andrew Johnson Bank issued the following statement this morning:

"Andrew Johnson Bank would like to advise local consumers that fraudulent phone calls took place starting last night the 23d of July, calling almost all phone numbers within the 423 area code.

"This phone call stated that they were representing Andrew Johnson Bank and that your card or account had been deactivated. These phone calls then asked you to call a 515 area code number to reactivate your card.

"These calls were fraudulent and were not initiated or authorized by Andrew Johnson Bank. These calls were actually made from overseas using a bogus Internet phone service. With the Government's help, the bank was able to get this phone number shut down last night.

"If you gave any of your information out, please contact us immediately at 423-783-1000 or contact your closest office.

"Andrew Johnson Bank has reported this fraudulent and felonious activity to the federal authorities who are tracking the source of the calls.

"In the past, large banks have always been the target of these types of scams that try getting information from customers. This year, however, a number of smaller community banks have been the target of these overseas attacks. Andrew Johnson Bank or no bank has the ability to prevent this type of criminal activity.

"Your best defense against these types of attacks is to never give out account information. Always remember, Andrew Johnson Bank will never solicit customer's information via e-mail or telephone.

"Andrew Johnson Bank's Internet banking services or employees will never request sensitive information such as credit or debit card numbers, social security numbers, account numbers, ATM PIN numbers, etc.

"Andrew Johnson Bank provides the highest level of security available to our customer information and the bank's customer information systems have never been compromised.

If you need any additional questions answered by the phishing attempts that have taken place, call Steve Holt, the bank's chief Information Officer at 423-783-1073 or any other bank officer.

Capt. John Huffine, the Greene County Sheriff's Department's chief detective, said about 8:30 a.m. that at least "four of five" county residents had reported to the Sheriff's Department that they returned the call and keyed in their bank account numbers.

Capt. Huffine said it will be difficult for local authorities to "back-track" the calls to learn where they actually originated.

At the Greeneville Police Department, Capt. Terry Webb, said this morning that although police had received about 100 telephone complaints about phone calls he was unaware of anyone who had reported actually having given away their personal financial information.

Capt. Webb said the U.S. Secret Service had been notified of the scam calls. "They have resources to handle things like this that we don't," Webb said.

He also said authorities suspect that whoever is behind the calls is using a call-generating computer program to randomly dial phone numbers.

The Greeneville Police Department and the Greene County Sheriff's Department reported receiving hundreds of complaints about the phone calls overnight.

Deputy Sheriff Roy Milton, who was dispatching at the Greene County Sheriff's Department shortly before 7 a.m. said deputies had taken more than 100 phone complaints by that time.

At the Greeneville Police Department, Sgt. Steve Spano said about 6:30 a.m. today that on Wednesday night three officers had been answering phone calls from worried residents who had received the calls.

Sgt. Spano said he had received one of the calls himself on his personal cell phone at 7:21 p.m. Wednesday.

Among others who received the phone calls were several members of The Greeneville Sun staff.

This morning, police were urging residents who received the calls but were not victimized by them not to call.

"We're aware of the problem and the federal authorities are working on it," Lt. Mike Crum said.