Consumer complaint received 2025-03-21 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Problem making or receiving payments
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: WI

Complaint narrative:
On XXXX XXXX fraudulent checks were written against our business account. Wells Fargo was made aware, handled the claim, and the account was closed. Nobody from Wells Fargo educated me on other potential frauds/scams to be aware of or how to protect myself from it. 
In early XXXX of XXXX, Wells Fargo contacted me by phone to tell me that an unauthorized phone number used my full debit card number to check bank account balances. They closed the debit card and reissued a new one. The did NOT counsel me or educate me on what types of fraud to be more aware of following this breach. I did, however, received repeated texts from Wells Fargo asking if I recognized specific charges on my account. Each time I responded to the texts with " Y '' for yes. 
On XXXX I began a XXXX transaction via my online banking app, but didn't complete it. Within a few minutes I received a text addressed from Wells Fargo Bank asking if I had authorized a XXXX transaction for {$3500.00}. I answered the text with " XXXX ''. Immediately I was contacted ( by scammers ) announcing themselves as Wells Fargo. They indicated the XXXX transaction as well as two pending wire transfers totaling about {$18000.00}. They led me through a process to create two supposed INBOUND wire transfers back from Wells Fargo to offset the amount until their internal investigation could be completed. They assisted me in creating them as I didn't know how to do that. The bank routing number I entered is for Wells Fargo Bank and the account number was supposedly for where the funds would come from. At each step of this, considering the recent fraud, the call from Wells Fargo about my debit card, and the text messages verifying transaction .... I had no doubt I was speaking to my bank. 
When I completed two wire transfers on XXXX the money was actually moving out of my account, not in. Within two hours I checked my account expecting to see the money returned ( by the wire transfers I created ) and when they werent I contacted Wells Fargo and they stated the wire transfers were a scam. At that time, the representative scolded me saying that I should NEVER respond to any phone call from my bank. I should hang up ( regardless of what they say is the issue ) and call the bank back on the number on my debit card and verify that it was them that called me. NOONE from Wells Fargo has ever counseled/educated me to do so... even though I had been targeted twice in 3 months ' time. 
Also- they did not flag wire transfers as a " suspicious transaction '' even though in XXXX years of banking with them, not one wire transfer had been executed by me.

I've filed a police report and have an attorney that is representing me on this as I feel there are rules and responsibilities that Wells Fargo failed me on. 
Thank you.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation