Fraudsters Exploit Publicly Available PPP Loan Data

March 3, 2026

By:

By: Bradley Borene

New Tripoli Bank is always tracking new and novel tactics that fraudsters are using in order to deceive consumers, so we can keep our customers informed and protected. Recently we have heard reports of a new scam which targets recipients of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, exploiting publicly-available PPP loan data to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive personal and financial information.

These scams often involve the fraudsters impersonating employees of financial institutions or the U.S. Treasury, up to and including spoofing the phone numbers of actual organizations to make it appear as though their calls are coming from a legitimate source. Upon making contact with their target, these scammers request online banking credentials and one-time security codes which they use to access accounts and initiate unauthorized transactions.

How the Scam Works

Common Methods of Contact

• Spoofed phone numbers: The call might appear to come from a legitimate bank phone number.
• Text messages: The fraudsters may contact your personal mobile phone number via text message.

Reasons for Contact

Fraudsters will make up a convincing excuse as to why they are asking for personal information. Regardless of the stated reason that you are being contacted, you should always be suspicious of anyone who asks about bank information or transactions.

Some stated reasons they may use include:

• Issues with a payment or transaction on your account.
• Suspicious account activity or potential fraud.

Asking for Information

If someone calls you and asks for the following information, this is an immediate red flag that you are being targeted by a scam.

• Requests for your online banking credentials or security tokens.
• Asking you to click on a link in order to "update" your digital banking information or to "freeze" a transaction.

Protect Yourself!

You are the first line of defense against frauds and scams, and your strongest weapon is information. Trust your intuition—if you're unsure about the veracity of someone claiming to be from the bank or the U.S. government, you can always hang up and call back at an official number posted on your bank's website or the official website of the government agency. Remember that an employee of the bank or government will already have your account information.

• Don't Trust Caller ID: Phone numbers can be spoofed. You should independently verify the caller's identity and hang up if you encounter anything suspicious.
• Verify Callers: If you receive a suspicious phone call from someone claiming to be from New Tripoli Bank, hang up and call us directly at (888) 298-8821.
• Don't Click Links! Never click on a hyperlink from a sender you do not recognize.
• Don't Share Your Information: Never share personal identifying information, bank account information, login credentials, tokens, or passwords.
• Educate Others: You are most likely not the only person being targeted by scammers. If you know others who may be targeted, share this information with them so they can avoid being scammed as well.
• Report Suspicious Activity: If you are the target of a scam attempt, contact our security team at (610) 421-4001 or visit our Contact Us page.

We Want to Help!

If you have any concerns or believe you may have been targeted by a scam, please contact your local New Tripoli Bank branch office, loan officer, and our security team immediately. Even if you are unsure, we prefer that you take extra precautions rather than fall victim to fraud. Your personal and financial security is our top priority.

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