A Texas couple lost $8,000 after falling victim to a convincing scam. Joan and Michael Leon of Kingwood, Texas, were targeted by scammers pretending to be Wells Fargo fraud investigators.
The Scam
The Leons received a call that appeared to be from their local Wells Fargo branch. The caller instructed Joan to cut up her bank card and said someone would collect it. Trusting the caller, she complied. However, the scammer then used the card at a nearby Kroger grocery store, withdrawing their entire $8,000 savings.
Wells Fargo’s Initial Response and Reversal
Initially, Wells Fargo refused to reimburse the Leons, even suggesting they were somehow involved in the theft. This prompted Michael Leon to issue a strong warning to the bank, stating that they would pursue the matter aggressively if they didn’t get their money back. Following this, and after the Leons contacted the media and the Houston Police Department, Wells Fargo reversed its decision and returned the stolen funds.
A Warning to Others
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the sophisticated tactics employed by scammers. Always be wary of unsolicited calls requesting personal or financial information, and never provide such details over the phone unless you initiated the contact. If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of a call, contact your bank directly using a verified phone number found on their official website.
