Bank warns against phishing scammers

Lafayette-based Teche Federal Bank is the latest financial institution whose name is being used to lure Tri-parish residents into revealing private financial information.

In the past week, Teche customers and non-customers have reported getting calls and text messages from con artists claiming to be the bank.

“We were able to verify immediately that we had not sent such calls or texts to any customers and particularly non-customers,” said Patrick Little, president and CEO of Teche Federal Bank. “We’re lucky we haven’t been targeted up until now.”

The criminals are using what is called a “phishing” scam, where they claim to need a piece of data – account number, PIN number, Social Security number – from a person to protect them from fraud.

In reality, the scammers use the information to either siphon funds out of existing accounts or commit identity theft by opening new accounts and credit lines in their victim’s name.

“It’s very important that the public remain ever vigilant against information criminals,” Little said.

The criminals behind the Teche scam might be using a robo calling system to call and text message entire areas or prefixes of numbers across South Louisiana, according to Little.

The idea is if they call thousands of phone numbers, some of those people will turn out to be real bank customers.

“I read in an article several years ago that said in one month, there are between 10,000 and 20,000 unique phishing attacks,” Little said. “I would imagine there’s been that many attacks in the last hour.”

The name of Houma-based South Louisiana Bank was used this summer in a “phishing” scheme similar to the Teche scam.

Banking officials wish to remind customers it is never necessary to give your account number or other confidential information over the phone to the bank. The bank already knows your account number.

If you have mistakenly given your confidential information to con artists, it is important to call your bank and other credit providers and let them know.

Teche has reported customers’ complaints to local and federal authorities. Finding the origin of the scam could prove difficult given the global nature of information technology.

“I could speculate on that, but it could be from anywhere in the world,” Little admitted.

Teche Federal Bank is the fourth largest publicly-owned bank based in Louisiana, with over $760 million in assets. Teche Federal Bank operates 20 offices in South Louisiana and serves over 60,000 customers.