Fraud Alert: Be Aware of PPP-Related Scams

Farm Credit East has been notified of an increase in fraud attempts targeting recipients of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Fraudsters are using publicly available PPP loan information to impersonate financial institutions and banking partners in an effort to obtain online banking credentials and other sensitive information.

Customer should watch for these warning signs:

• Unsolicited calls claiming to be from a bank or financial institution
• Urgent requests related to suspicious account activity
• Requests for passwords, security question answers or MFA codes
• Pressure to take immediate action
• Requests that bypass normal verification procedures

Protect yourself:

• Never share passwords, security answers, or MFA codes.
• If you receive a suspicious call, end the conversation and contact the institution directly using a trusted phone number.
• Verify any request independently before taking action.

Remember: Legitimate financial institutions will not ask for your password, security question responses or one-time passcodes. If something doesn't seem right, trust your instincts and verify before you act.

View additional tips on keeping your information secure:

https://www.farmcrediteast.com/about/Information-Security