Your PPP Loan Information Is Now Public. Here's What That Means. 

Businesses that received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan may now be contacted by scammers using publicly available information.

At First State Bank, we want to help you recognize the warning signs and protect your business.

STOP. CALL. VERIFY.

Why Is My Information Public?

The Small Business Administration (SBA) was required by law to make certain PPP loan information publicly available.

Depending on the loan amount, publicly available information may include:

• Business name

• Business address or location

• Loan amount

• Loan approval date

• Lender name

Because this information is publicly accessible, criminals may use it to make scam attempts appear legitimate.

Receiving a phone call, email, or text referencing your PPP loan does not necessarily mean the sender is legitimate.

 

How Scammers May Use This Information

Unfortunately, scammers often take publicly available information and use it to build trust.

Common scams include:

• Someone claiming to be from your bank

• Fake SBA representatives

• Requests to "verify" your PPP loan

• Urgent demands for payment

• Requests to update banking information

• Fake loan forgiveness or grant offers

• Emails asking you to click links or open attachments

If someone pressures you to act immediately, that's a red flag.

Sherlock's Top Clues 🐾

Our bank—or the SBA—will NEVER ask for:

• Passwords

• Online banking login credentials

• One-time verification codes

• PIN numbers

• Full account numbers

• Payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer

If anyone asks for these, stop the conversation immediately.

Fraud Prevention Checklist

✔ Be cautious of unexpected phone calls.

✔ Don't trust caller ID alone.

✔ Verify before you act.

✔ Never click suspicious links.

✔ Never share passwords or verification codes.

✔ Contact your bank using a trusted phone number.

✔ Report suspicious activity immediately.

Think You've Been Targeted?

If you believe someone has contacted you about your PPP loan or requested sensitive information:

Stop.

Call your bank directly using a trusted phone number.

Verify before taking any action.

If you're a First State Bank customer, we're happy to help you determine whether a communication is legitimate.

Call us: (940) 665-1711

Resources

You could link to:

• FTC Scam

• Reporting

• SBA Fraud Information

• First State Bank Fraud Center

• Sherlock Scam Sniffer resources

Questions?

Our team is here to help.

If you're unsure whether a call, text, or email is legitimate, contact First State Bank before responding.

Call (940) 665-1711

Contact a Fraud Specialist