Can you spot an online or telephone phishing scam?

We have been made aware of a new fraud attempt reported this week that may affect you as a client of Resource Bank. Some clients have received legitimate text alerts from our fraud monitoring service regarding suspicious transactions on their accounts. The text will ask if the client is aware of the transaction, and ask to respond “YES” or “NO” as to whether or not it is a legitimate transaction. However, immediately after receiving the text, they have also received a fraudulent phone call from someone pretending to be from Resource Bank’s “fraud department.”

The caller instructs the client to reply “YES” to the text message, even if the client recognizes that the transactions are fraudulent. The caller claims it is a test of some kind. This is a scam. Responding “YES” confirms the transaction and allows the fraudulent charge to go through.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The text message is real.
• The phone call is fake. The scammers are believed to be behind the fraudulent transactions.
• One number currently being used by the scammers is (985) 801-1888, but other numbers may also be used. This is a spoofed phone number used by another, non-affiliated bank also named Resource Bank that is based in Louisiana.
• Resource Bank will never call you to tell you how to respond to a text alert.

What to do:

• If you receive a text about a suspicious transaction, only respond “YES” if you are sure the transaction is valid. If it is not valid, contact us immediately so that we may close the card and issue you a new card.
• Do not respond to any calls from someone claiming to be from our fraud department instructing you how to answer the text.
• If you’re ever unsure, simply hang up and call us directly at (815) 756-6321.

As always, Resource Bank will never call, email, or text you asking for details like usernames, passwords, account numbers, access codes, or Social Security numbers. Scammers often use publicly available information to pose as trusted financial institutions to trick people into sharing personal information or approving fraudulent transactions.

In most cases, fraud begins not at the bank, but through external sources such as merchant data breaches or card skimmers that compromise your card information. While we actively monitor for and thoroughly investigate such attempts, your awareness is one of the most critical tools for prevention.

Your security is our top priority. Please stay vigilant, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.