Decorah Bank Sounds Alarm Over Impersonation Scam

Local news doesn't happen by accident. Support the people who make it happen. DECORAH — Decorah Bank & Trust is warning customers about fraudulent phone calls in which scammers impersonate bank employees and attempt to obtain sensitive financial information. In a security alert issued Tuesday, Oct. 20, the bank reported that scammers have been posing as representatives of Decorah Bank's call center or fraud department, as well as employees of Decorah Bank and Cresco Bank. According to the alert, scammers are using a technique known as phone number spoofing, which allows calls to appear as though they are coming from a legitimate phone number. In some instances, the calls have appeared to originate from Decorah Bank's main phone number, 563-382-9661. During the calls, scammers may claim that an automated clearing house (ACH) payment has been flagged as fraudulent or that multiple attempts to process a payment have been unsuccessful. The callers then attempt to convince individuals that there is a problem with their accounts and request online banking login credentials or other sensitive information to supposedly resolve the issue. The bank said scammers may also ask for account numbers, online banking usernames, phone numbers and email addresses. "Decorah and Cresco Bank will NEVER call you to request your personal details or sensitive information over the phone," the bank stated in its alert. Customers who receive suspicious calls are advised not to engage with the caller or provide any personal or financial information. Instead, they should hang up immediately and contact the bank directly to report the incident. Customers can reach Decorah Bank at 563-382-9661 or Cresco Bank at 563-547-2244 with any questions. The bank emphasized that protecting customer information remains a priority and encouraged individuals to continue to remain vigilant against fraudulent activity. Busy day? We've got you covered. Get local news delivered to your inbox.