Text Message Scam Targets Wells Fargo Customers

MINNEAPOLIS - Are you getting text messages claiming your Wells Fargo credit card has been deactivated, telling you to call a phone number with a 612 area code? It’s just another phishing scam.

The American Bankers Association put out a warning last week regarding these types of fraudulent activity. Several banks, not just Wells Fargo, are used as bait by scammers hoping to get a hold of your sensitive information.

The recent text message scam is unnerving for many in the Twin Cities, as the local phone numbers 612-836-3579 and 612-223-5411 are used in the phishing messages.

Here are some fraud prevention tips that are included in the Wells Fargo online Fraud Information Center:

• Fraudsters generally have no idea if people to whom they send phish messages are actual customers of the company they are impersonating. Their hope is a percentage of those phish calls will be received by actual customers.
   
• If consumers are ever suspicious about a request for their personal or financial information that they’ve received through an email, text message, website, mail or phone call, they should ignore the request and delete it.
   
• Customers should never share sensitive information such as their mother’s maiden name, Social Security number, bank account numbers, or account usernames and PINs/passwords in response to any suspicious requests.
   
• Customers can learn more about how to protect their personal and account information by visiting Wells Fargo’s Fraud Information Center at www.wellsfargo.com/privacy_security/frau d.