SBA Fraud

SBA Warns of Fraudulent Attempts to Obtain Bank Account Information from Small Businesses 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration issued a scam alert today to small businesses, warning them not to respond to letters falsely claiming to have been sent by the SBA asking for bank account information in order to qualify them for federal tax rebates. 

The fraudulent letters were sent out with what appears to be an SBA letterhead to small businesses across the country, advising recipients that they may be eligible for a tax rebate under the Economic Stimulus Act, and that SBA is assessing their eligibility for such a rebate.  The letter asks the small business to provide the name of its bank and account number. 

These letters have not been sent by or authorized by the SBA, and all small businesses are strongly advised not to respond to them.

The scheme is similar in many ways to e-mail scams often referred to as “phishing” that seek personal data and financial account information that enables another party to access and individual’s bank accounts or to engage in identity theft.

Consumer Fraud

Because of a recent increase in phishing and pfarming scams, we want to remind you that Resource Bank, N.A. would not request your personal information by a phone call, a text message or an e-mail. We may on occasion, call you to verify a transaction which may appear questionable, but we would not ask you to provide such things as your Visa Debit Card number, or an account number.

For more information on this type of fraud please go to www.resourcebank.com/news/online_fraud.html or www.resourcebank.com/news/tips.html.

Please feel free to call your Client Advisor if you have further questions at 815-756-6321.

Thank you,

Resource Bank, N.A.