I almost just got scammed hard: a cautionary tale. So, I got a call from the 1-800 number on the back of my ATM Card: Wells Fargo. I answered, and a Fraud Department agent said my ATM card had just been used at a Target in Minnesota, was I on vacation? Ugh.
So the card-replacement dance began. “Is the card in your possession?” It was. The agent asked for the CVV code to verify i had it. After verifying, he offered to expedite a replacement. First he had to read some disclosures. Then he asked me to key in a new PIN.
I picked a random PIN and entered it. Verified it again. Then he asked me to key in my current PIN.
I paused.
“Don’t you… know my PIN?”
“It’s just to confirm the change. I can’t see what you enter.”
“But… you’re the bank. You have my PIN, and you CAN see what I enter…”
I paused.
“Don’t you… know my PIN?”
“It’s just to confirm the change. I can’t see what you enter.”
“But… you’re the bank. You have my PIN, and you CAN see what I enter…”
“Only the IVR system can see it. Hey, if it helps I have all your account info up… to confirm, the last four digits of your SSN are XXXX, right?”
The guy WAS right, but something was very wrong.
The guy WAS right, but something was very wrong.
Apologizing for my paranoia, I had an idea: “Hey sir, I’m super super sorry, but something feels weird. I’ll call you back at the number on the back of my card, and we can finish this up. Is that ok? Sorry again. Anyone in particular I should ask for?”
“Uh.... yeah you’ll just get another agent and… they’ll do it.”
I hung up. I called Wells Fargo back.
No one had used my card at a Target, and, yes, I was just four key presses away from having all of my cash drained by someone at an ATM.
Be careful, friends!
I hung up. I called Wells Fargo back.
No one had used my card at a Target, and, yes, I was just four key presses away from having all of my cash drained by someone at an ATM.
Be careful, friends!
