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We want to make our customers aware of a recent scam affecting banks in the Des Moines area, including Peoples Bank. Several customers have reported receiving phone calls from scammers pretending to be bank employees.
The callers claim there is a fraudulent transaction on the customer’s account and then attempt to collect debit card or personal information. Please remember, Peoples Bank will never call you to ask for your debit card number, PIN, or online banking information.
Other financial institutions have noted that many of the customers targeted by this scam are individuals or businesses that previously received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
The PPP was a forgivable business loan program created to help small businesses keep their employees on payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program ended on May 31, 2021, but PPP loan recipient information is public, making those borrowers potential targets for scammers.
✅ Protect Yourself:
- Do not share your debit card number or PIN over the phone.
- If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately and contact your local Peoples Bank branch directly using a trusted phone number.
- Monitor your accounts regularly for unusual activity.
If you believe you have been contacted by a scammer or provided any information, please reach out to us right away.
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