HARAHAN, La. – Once again alert credit union staffers have effectively made it more difficult for fraudsters to dupe consumers with their fake Heartland Credit Union advertisements. The Louisiana Credit Union League is investigating an ad for the imposter credit union that was placed in the Abbeville Meridional newspaper this week. Spotted by Vermilion School Employees Credit Union Manager Stephanie Durke-Richard, the ad directs consumers to call a toll-free 866 number and offers loans to people with credit problems. "When contacted, the bogus credit union said that they offer personal and business loans from $5,000 to $1 million and encouraged me to give them my personal information, including social security and checking account number, over the telephone," said LCUL Communications Manager Alicia Toups-Blanda. The ad has since been pulled and the Louisiana Press Association has been alerted to warn other local newspapers of the scam. So far the fake CU ads have made the rounds in at least 14 states.