Read exclusive facts unavailable elsewhere about Wells Alert Text Scam to know its plot and measures to avoid it.
Did you know that Wells Fargo Bank (WFB) text message scams have picked up specifically since the 2nd quarter of 2023? Did you know that WFB customers in the United States are not only irate about getting scammed but also disappointed regarding the response of WFB?
What is the trend of the WFB Alert Text Scam? What are the different types of WFB scams? Let’s check them in this article about Wells Alert Text Scam.
Source: rationalinsurgent.com
WFB text alert scam:
At least five customers gave interviews to news channels and posted their experiences on YouTube.
A tech-savvy woman shared her experience as, unlike others, she knows about internet technologies. The incident dates back to 2nd/May/2023. It involved scams using text messages and voice calls. A man called, introducing himself as a WFB representative. The woman said that he was very professional. He stated that WFB had detected fraudulent activities on her account.
The man wanted to verify a few details over the call. The woman mistook the caller as genuine. It is because WFB is authorized to call its customers to verify fraudulent activities, identified in Wells Alert Text Reviews. The man informed them that someone was trying to wire transfer (WT) $4,241.61 from her account, and soon she would receive that same information over a text message.
To stop the WT, the man required her to verify the code sent in the text message. It was clear, as the text message informed her about a WT being initiated. The woman wanted to stop the transaction and expected the representative to help her. So, she provided the information to him over the call. Within seconds, her account got deducted!
Another similar incident occurred in May/2023, brought to light by an elderly victim of Wells Alert Text Scam. The elderly woman received a call, which prompted WFB. The man introduced himself from the WFB fraud department. He stated that a $20,000 WT was initiated on her account. To disallow the WT, he can transfer the amount to the fraud department, where it will be safe.
The elderly lady panicked but agreed to it. The man then specifically asked for the code/OTP. The elderly lady provided it. The man was cunning and immediately stated that he could see another WT request for $5,000. He took the code for the second transfer.
The man did not stop and stated that another WT of $3,500 was coming in, which was part of Wells Alert Text Scam. The elderly lady rushed to the nearest WFB (not her native branch) while the man was still on the call. The fake representative was bold enough to speak with an authorized bank representative and informed about the WT of $3,500 and requested the code.
The authorized bank representative updated the elderly lady that the caller was the real scammer! Both the ladies were suspicious about the call because the called ID for 1(800)956-4442 popped up as Wells Fargo; the text message also prompted the sender name as Wells Fargo, and the text message also included the same helpline number.
Another plot of Wells Alert Text Scam:
Another recent alert about the WFB text scam referenced a message from 21st/June/2023. This time, it involved accessing a link mentioned in the message, secure-wellsfargosec02a.com. The message created an urgency and panicked the customers, stating that their WFB account was blocked due to security threats and customers needed to visit the link to know more.
Type of WFB scams:
There are six types of WFB scams. We recommend that you learn more about them to avoid fraudulent activities.
Smishing: It involves scamming customers by sending them a text message. The text message could contain a link to a website that aims to collect personal and payment data, similar to Wells Alert Text Scam. The link may also install malware on user devices to steal their information. In such a scenario, the user must not click on the link.
Scamming calls: The customer may receive a phone call from a scammer pretending to be a WFB representative. He may attempt to get the customer’s personally identifiable information (PII), SSN, payment information, and codes/OTPs.
Banks do not request OTPs, passwords, or access codes over the call. It must be noted that a genuine bank representative will verify your PIIs, but it is when you call the bank. Hence, contact the bank at the official customer service number and avoid Wells Alert Text Scam. If a genuine bank representative calls you over an outbound call, he will use your contact number mentioned on the account. Hence, he is not required to verify the account’s security, assuming the account holder has picked up the call.
Phishing: similar to smishing, phishing is an attempt to gain personal and payment information online using internet technologies such as email, chat, Etc. Do not access links in the message; do not call the number mentioned in the email to avoid getting scammed.
Fake websites: It is an age-old trick by scammers to use website names and URLs, as determined in Wells Alert Text Reviews matching the genuine name of a bank website with a minor/unnoticeable spelling difference. But, one can identify it by closely checking the spelling of the URL. Such fraudulent websites attempt to collect your personal and payment information.
Similarly, fake checks and money order scams, advance fee scams, and investment scams are another three trending these days.
Social media links:
Conclusion:
The customers were disappointed because, in the case of the $4,241.61 scam, WFB promptly responded that the customer was responsible for the responding to Wells Alert Text Scam and her complaint was closed. In the other $25,000 scam, the bank representative advised an elderly lady to visit her native branch. The workers at the native branch stated that they were too busy! In most cases, the bank did not charge back the scammer!
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Wells Alert Text Scam – FAQ
1Q. What is the observation from recent WFB text scams?
The fraud involved using at least two technologies: text message, voice call, and the Internet.
2Q. Where to report text scams?
You can forward the message to 7726.
3Q. Where to report scams online?
You can report it to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.