Impostors posing as Wells Fargo reps over the cellphone have been so convincing that Tampa resident Moses Harmon virtually fell for his or her rip-off, able to withdraw $15,000 and hand it over.
Actually Harmon, who runs a landscaping enterprise, had reached the purpose that he was standing in entrance of a teller at his native Wells Fargo department.
However as he shared with Tampa Bay 28’s investigative group, one thing didn’t really feel proper.
The scammers he’d been talking with on the cellphone informed him to maintain his cellphone turned on so they may hear what he mentioned when he was contained in the financial institution. (1)
Harmon did as he was informed, however when the teller handed him a withdrawal slip, he did one thing the scammers couldn’t hear. He turned the slip over and wrote: “I feel I’m being scammed.”
The teller referred to as for the financial institution supervisor, who instructed Harmon to show off his cellphone instantly.
Harmon had a slender escape and empathizes with anybody who will get taken in. That’s why he’s sharing his story.
“I simply assume we should be sharing info as a result of there’s a lot loopy stuff occurring proper now,” he mentioned.
Right here’s how he obtained hooked within the first place and the way to defend your self from money bag scams.
It begins with a textual content or notification, sometimes asking you to verify or deny an uncommon cost to your checking account. In Harmon’s case, the con artists despatched a textual content asking if he had made a $2,800 cost at Greatest Purchase. That’s the bait.
If you happen to reply (whether or not your reply is ‘sure’ or ‘no’), they’ve already hooked you.
Learn extra: Are you richer than you assume? Listed below are 5 clear indicators you’re punching means above the typical American’s wealth
They comply with up with a cellphone name, claiming to be a financial institution rep — as they did in Harmon’s case. To bolster their cowl story, they learn you an inventory of your precise monetary transactions.
How do they know? Scammers can use your SIN quantity (acquired on the Darkish Net) and hack into phone-based financial institution techniques to tug an inventory of your transactions, as they did with Harmon.
“By no means earlier than has a scammer been capable of inform me precisely what my banking historical past was,” Harmon mentioned.
This provides a way of legitimacy to the criminals’ storyline.
“I used to be 100% certain it was them,” Harmon mentioned.
As soon as scammers achieve a goal’s belief, they create a false sense of urgency and worry.
They’ll inform a sufferer that their checking account is compromised and the financial institution wants their assist to guard it.
Sadly, the “safety” is definitely the place victims endanger their financial savings, as they’re informed to withdraw hundreds of their hard-earned {dollars} in money and hand it over to scammers or ship it to fraudsters through pay as you go playing cards or a cryptocurrency. After the cash is distributed out, restoration is unlikely.
Falling for such a con job is extra widespread than you would possibly assume. Roger Grimes, who works for the cybersecurity firm KnowBe4, mentioned his personal financial institution supervisor just lately knowledgeable him that their department financial institution stopped two to 3 scams a day.
Florida Bankers Affiliation president Kathy Kraninger informed Tampa Bay 28 that banks are doing all they’ll to show clients and employees the way to acknowledge more and more refined scams nationwide.
As of July 2025, 73% of U.S. adults had skilled some form of on-line rip-off or assault, in accordance with the Pew Analysis Middle. (2)
“That is organized crime now,” Kraninger mentioned. “This isn’t particular person, one-off scammers.”
It’s a multi-billion greenback legal enterprise.
In 2024, Individuals misplaced $12.5 billion to fraud, a 25% improve over 2023, in accordance with the Federal Commerce Fee (FTC).
Don’t share any monetary particulars with individuals you don’t know.
If you happen to obtain a textual content a couple of fraudulent or questionable cost, don’t reply to the textual content immediately — even when the quantity seems authentic, it may be spoofed in order that it seems actual.
Affirm the info by calling your financial institution immediately, utilizing the quantity on the again of your debit or bank card or the contact quantity listed in your financial institution’s official web site.
The Federal Deposit Insurance coverage Company (FDIC) advises being on guard if anybody asks you to withdraw or switch cash, significantly through a textual content, e-mail or on-line notification. In the event that they ask you to purchase cryptocurrency or present playing cards, that’s an enormous pink flag.
If you happen to really feel rushed to carry out an sudden monetary motion, share your issues with somebody you belief or a financial institution supervisor. Relying on the state of affairs, a second set of eyes would possibly make it easier to keep away from a rip-off — because the financial institution teller and financial institution supervisor helped Harmon.
Whether or not or not you really fall sufferer to the rip-off, it’s good to report it to your financial institution and FTC to allow them to examine, construct a case in opposition to the scammer and educate the general public on the newest scams on the market.
And belief your intestine, like Harmon did, as he contemplated the truth of handing $15,000 over to a stranger.
“It was too arduous to get the cash in there to simply stroll in there and get it and produce it out and provides it to anyone,” he mentioned.
We rely solely on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For particulars, see our editorial ethics and pointers.
Tampa Bay 28 (1); Pew Analysis Middle (2)
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This text initially appeared on Moneywise.com beneath the title: Tampa man almost misplaced $15K to ‘money bag’ rip-off — till he listened to his intestine. Right here’s the way to defend your privateness
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