OGDEN -- A new twist on a phishing scam has Wells Fargo officials concerned for their customers.
The scam is nothing new, said Mark Chapman, spokesman for Utah Wells Fargo, but it is the first time scammers have attempted to use text messaging to gain account information.
"You've got a fraudster who sends out a mass email or mass phone call or text message just to random phone numbers and emails," he said.
"They are just throwing out a big net to try to get Wells Fargo customers. They don't know who they are, they are just hoping there's enough (Wells Fargo customers) in the mix that they will be able to get some people to think it's legitimate and be scammed by it."
The current scam involves an automated call or text sent to customers that tells them their account has been compromised or that their debit limit is being reduced.
The message asks the customer to call a number to remedy the situation. Often, those phone lines are also automated, Chapman said, and customers are asked for their account number and pin number.
"Wells Fargo and no other financial service companies will ask you for information that we already have," Chapman said.
"We know your account number. We would never be reaching out to you for personal information. If anyone ever receives any kind of message or text for any personal information, people should be very skeptical about it."
Chapman said it is hard to say whether this scam is isolated to one area.
Anyone receiving any messages asking for personal account information should be skeptical, Chapman said, and call the number listed on their credit card.
"Don't ever go to a link or phone number provided in an email," he said. "Go to your debit card, your credit card. Look at the back of your physical card. When in doubt, that is the number to call."
Chapman urges those who may have fallen victim to the scam to call their local Wells Fargo branch immediately.
"We can take the steps from there to either close or freeze accounts," he said. "We'll do what we can to take action to stop it."
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