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At Oregon Pacific Bank, the safety and security of our clients is our top priority. We’ve recently been made aware of a scam targeting recipients of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, including some of our own clients.
In one instance, a client’s office received a call from someone impersonating law enforcement, falsely claiming that a court date had been missed regarding a loan repayment. The caller referenced a specific dollar amount and attempted to create urgency and confusion. Fortunately, the client recognized the red flags and reached out to verify the claim.
We want to reassure our clients: if your PPP loan was issued through Oregon Pacific Bank and has been resolved, there is no further action required. Any unsolicited communication suggesting otherwise is likely fraudulent.
Signs of a Scam
This type of scam is not isolated. According to recent reports, fraudsters nationwide are exploiting publicly available PPP loan data to impersonate banks and government officials. These scams often involve:
- Spoofed phone numbers that appear to come from legitimate institutions.
- Urgent threats about missed payments or legal action.
- Requests for sensitive information, such as online banking credentials or one-time passcodes.
What You Can Do
- Pause and verify: If you receive a suspicious call or message, take a moment before responding. Don’t rely on caller ID—fraudsters can manipulate it to appear legitimate.
- Contact us directly: When in doubt, hang up and call your local banker or our call center at (800) 997-7121.
- Know our policy: Oregon Pacific Bank will never ask for your password, one-time passcodes, or other personal information.
- Educate your team: Share this information with employees—especially those who answer phones or manage finances—and ensure they’re trained to recognize and avoid scams.
- Report suspicious activity: Help protect others by reporting scams to local law enforcement and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Stay informed: Visit our www.oregonpacificbank.com/security-matters page for more tips and links to trusted resources.
As a community bank rooted in Oregon, we take pride in protecting our neighbors. If something doesn’t feel right, we’re here to help.
