Wells Fargo customers warned over suspicious requests from ‘bank employees,’ as one claims caller ‘knew where I lived’

THE FBI has issued a warning about a new scam targeting people nationwide.

This peculiar scam manipulates individuals into cutting up their bank cards and sending the remains to fraudsters while preserving the vital chip .

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This scam has already resulted in significant financial losses for countless victims.

One victim, a Las Vegas woman, was defrauded out of $9,000 after sending her card remains to scammers.

The scheme involves fraudsters posing as bank employees over the phone.

They initiate the conversation by asking about recent transactions, creating the illusion of fraudulent activity on the victim’s account.

The impersonator then instructs the victim to cut up their bank card to halt the supposed fraud.

However, the scammer advises them to save the EMV chip for return to the bank.

An accomplice is then sent out to collect the remains from the unsuspecting person’s home .

In some instances, the fraudsters will even offer to assist the victim in cutting up the card to ensure the chip remains intact.

The scammers then employ various sly, manipulative tactics to get the cardholder to give up the card’s PIN number unsuspiciously.

Once armed with both the chip and the cardholder’s PIN, the scammers can now access the victim’s bank account through any ATM .

The FBI’s alert follows several reports of the scam, including a Reddit user’s experience.

On the website, the victim described getting a text that appeared to be from Wells Fargo , claiming a credit card transaction had been canceled.

The user received a follow-up call from a number appearing to be from the same Wells Fargo, instructing them to cut their card in half and leave it in the mailbox for FedEx to pick up.

Fortunately, the user avoided falling for the scam by contacting a genuine Wells Fargo representative from a verified phone number.

Despite the widespread adoption of cards in the US a decade ago to combat fraud, the technology is very vulnerable if the chip and PIN number are compromised.

How are scammers finding my number?

Here Mackenzie Tatananni , science and technology reporter at The U.S. Sun, breaks down ways a scammer may get your information.

Scammers commonly get phone numbers from data breaches, which occur when a hacker accesses a private database – often those maintained by companies like service providers and employers.

This information may be shared and circulated online, including on the dark web, where there are forums dedicated to sharing leaked information.

Another common technique called wardialing employs an automated system that targets specific area codes.

A recorded message will instruct the listener to enter sensitive information, like a card number and PIN.

There is also a far more harrowing possibility: your phone number could be listed online without your knowledge.

Data brokers are hungry to buy and sell your information. These companies gather information from various public sources online, including social media and public records

Their primary goal is to build databases of people and use this information for tailored advertising and marketing.

Much of this information ends up on public record sites, which display information like your phone number, email, home address, and date of birth for anyone to see.

In the United States, these sites are legally required to remove your information if you request it.

Locate your profile and follow the opt-out instructions, but be warned – these sites do not make it easy and intend to frustrate you out of completing the deregistration process.

For simplicity’s sake, you can also use a tool to purge your information from the Internet.

Norton offers one such service. Called the Privacy Monitor Assistant, the tool finds info online and requests removal on your behalf.

It is also possible that your phone number may be linked to a social media account and publicly displayed on your profile – this happens quite frequently with Facebook.

Be sure to review your privacy settings and confirm this information is hidden away from prying eyes.

To protect against this scam, the FBI advises individuals to be cautious of unsolicited phone calls and texts claiming to be from their bank.

Like the Reddit user, they advise calling the bank or credit company using a verified number from the corporation’s website to double-check any claims.

If you suspect you have been targeted by this scam, you can report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center using the hashtag #BankChipHack.

Additionally, affected individuals should immediately contact their financial institution to regain control of their accounts.

They should also change passwords and set up alerts for suspicious login attempts or transactions.