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Identify and avoid bank imposter scams

Pause and verify

Scammers may impersonate your bank and pressure you to share info or account access.

Contact Wells Fargo

Common red flags

Don’t share:
  • Your account info, like your online banking password or PIN
  • Sensitive personal info, like your Social Security Number

Your bank will not unexpectedly contact you requesting this info. 

Don’t engage if asked to:
  • Move money from your account or withdraw cash
  • Return a credit or debit card
  • Take an urgent banking action
  • Provide remote access to your computer

Your bank will not request these actions.

What to watch out for

Text messages claiming to be from your bank

  1. Beware of senders using an address or phone number you don’t recognize.
  2. Don’t respond to alerts that ask you to provide your private account access info.
  3. Never click on links or call numbers you don’t recognize.

Remember: Scammers can spoof caller ID. Even if a message appears to come from a known source like Wells Fargo but something feels off, do not engage.

Emails claiming to be from your bank

  1. Beware of unfamiliar email addresses. Legitimate Wells Fargo emails will include “wellsfargo.com” in the address.
  2. Use caution with urgent alerts that ask you to act immediately.
  3. Never click links or call numbers you do not recognize. Before clicking a link, hover over it to verify it leads to a legitimate address, as even trustworthy looking links may redirect to another website.

Tips to avoid bank imposter scams

Scammers can spoof phone numbers to appear as "Wells Fargo" on your caller ID. If something feels off, end the call immediately, and contact us directly by calling the number on the back of your card.

Pro tip: Stay cautious of unexpected calls at unusual hours. Vishing (voice phishing) attempts often occur outside of normal business hours and may include repeated calls with intentions to create urgency.

Wells Fargo employees will not initiate contact with you and ask you for your password or sensitive information like your Social Security Number. Sensitive personal and financial information should always be protected.

Wells Fargo will never ask you to move or send money to anyone, including yourself, to “reverse a transfer,” “receive a refund,” “protect your money,” “fix a problem,” or anything similar. Never wire money, send money with Zelle® or a Venmo payment, or withdraw cash at the direction of a “bank employee.”

If your account ever needs a correction or update, the bank will handle it directly and will not ask you to make a transfer by providing you with a new account number, or a withdrawal at a branch.

If you receive a one-time access code to authorize a transaction you didn't initiate, don't use the code or share it with anyone, even if they claim to be from your bank. If the issue is related to a Wells Fargo account, contact us immediately.

Scammers may claim you must act urgently due to fraud, illegal activity, or an investigation and may pressure you to stay on the call. If this happens, hang up. Legitimate organizations like Wells Fargo will never rush you or prevent you from ending a call.

Pay close attention to the tone. Scammers may use scare tactics like threats of account closure, frozen funds, or immediate loss, and may even use AI generated or altered voices to sound convincing.

Scammers often disguise screen sharing as a “security step” or “verification process.” They may ask you to download or install screen sharing or remote access apps or tools like AnyDesk, TeamViewer, QuickSupport, Zoom screen share, or similar software.

Don’t do it. Wells Fargo will never ask you to download this type of software or ask you to screen share with them.

  • If you receive an unexpected or suspicious phone call, immediately hang-up. If you receive an unexpected or suspicious text or email, don’t engage. Instead, contact Wells Fargo directly using a verified, legitimate source such as the phone number on your card, contact information on wellsfargo.com, or the Wells Fargo Mobile® app.
  • If you sent a payment to, or shared any personal account information with someone claiming to be from Wells Fargo, call us immediately at 1-800-869-3557.
  • If you see a suspicious message mentioning Wells Fargo but didn’t click on the link or open any attachments, email the message to us at reportphish@wellsfargo.com and then delete it. You will receive an automated response.

Enrollment with Zelle® through Wells Fargo Online® or Wells Fargo Business Online® is required. Terms and conditions apply. To send or receive money with Zelle®, both parties must have an eligible checking or savings account enrolled with Zelle® through their bank. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes. For your protection, Zelle® should only be used for sending money to friends, family, or others you trust. Neither Wells Fargo nor Zelle® offers purchase protection for payments made with Zelle® - for example, if you do not receive the item you paid for or the item is not as described or as you expected. Payment requests must be sent to enrolled Zelle® users. For more information, view the Zelle® Transfer Service Addendum to the Wells Fargo Online Access Agreement. Your mobile carrier’s message and data rates may apply. Account fees (e.g., monthly service, overdraft, Business Account Analysis fees) may apply to Wells Fargo account(s) with which you use Zelle®.

Availability may be affected by your mobile carrier's coverage area. Your mobile carrier's message and data rates may apply.

Please note that due to technical reasons, some email messages forwarded to reportphish@wellsfargo.com may be rejected by our server. If this occurs, please delete the suspicious email or text message. Wells Fargo regularly works to detect fraudulent emails and websites. Thank you for taking steps to protect your personal and financial information.

Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.

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