DON'T BANK ON IT
Wells Fargo customer loses $17k after ‘call from bank’ – she was just 2 blocks away from branch but money still vanished
The U.S. Sun has revealed how bank customers can avoid falling victim to scams
A WELLS Fargo customer was left horrified as she lost more than $17,000 after receiving a call she thought was from her bank.
The money vanished from Missy Edwards’ account – even though she was just two blocks from a branch.
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Edwards, from Texas, got a call from what she thought was from Wells Fargo, per the NBC affiliate KPRC-TV reported.
Initially, she didn’t suspect anything out of the ordinary as the name of the company appeared on her caller ID.
Edwards revealed the person on the other end of the line sounded as if they worked for the bank.
The caller tricked Edwards into sending money after claiming her account was being targeted.
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Edwards then told the person she was near a Wells Fargo branch.
“I told her that I was just uncomfortable with it and that I was about two blocks away from a local branch,” she said.
A total of $17,633 vanished from her account in total.
She planned to use the money in her account to invest in a new roof.
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“I hope nothing else serious happens to us because that was our savings,” she said.
A Wells Fargo spokesperson told the outlet they continue working to ensure customers don’t fall victim to scams.
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The U.S. Sun has approached Wells Fargo for comment.
Wells Fargo and Chase are among the banking chains that have warned about the different types of scams that exist.
Banks have urged customers not to solely rely on what appears on their cell phone ID.
This is because scammers can spoof numbers to make it seem the call is coming from Wells Fargo.
Bank tips for avoiding scams
As scams become more sophisticated with the use of artificial intelligence, it is important you know how to spot a scam:
- Be skeptical of online deals that seem too good to be true, especially on social media.
- Scammers will often use tactics to make you panicked so you make quick decisions - be cautious if you are told to take immediate action and verify who has contacted you.
- Chase Bank warns customers to "never return any unexpected funds without calling Chase first."
- Never send money to someone you have only spoken to online or by phone as this is likely a romance scam.
- Unless you 100% know who you are talking to, never give someone remote access to your device.
- Never accept help from strangers at an ATM and always be vigilant when making withdrawals.
- Do not send money or click any links indicating that you have won a prize.
Source: Chase.com
Banking representatives never ask customers to share passwords or PINs.
Customers who suspect something isn’t right should end calls immediately.
Fraudsters can pressure their victims into wiring money by talking in an urgent tone.
But scams are becoming more sophisticated as technology advances.
Fraudsters can use artificial intelligence to con their victims by cloning the voices of family members.
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Bank customers should never click suspicious links that are sent via email as they could result in malware being downloaded.
And they should be wary of requests that seem too good to be true.
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