Late last week I got an email from what claimed to be Wells Fargo.  The email claimed that there had been unsuccessful attempts to log into my account.  The email went on to explain how my password had been changed, due to the unauthorized login attempts.

However, the new password was not given in the email.  I was asked to call a phone number to get the new password.

I first went to log into my Wells Fargo account, and noticed that the password had not been changed.  Obviously this was a scam.  Scams like this circulate the internet almost daily, so here are a few tips on avoiding the scams.

  1. If you get a email that says to call the company, go to their website, and use that phone number to confirm the validity of the email.  Do not use the phone number on the email; if it is a scam, then you could be giving your information to the scammers
  2. When in doubt, call the company and confirm the email.  Do not click any links in the email; unless you can confirm its validity
  3. Most companies will call you if there is a problem, so be suspicious of any emails right from the start
  4. Companies will rarely ask you for your password, because they can access your account from their system.  They do not need your password.

Online security is very important, and emails can often look convincing.  They are usually fake, and can cause a lot of damage to your funds, credit rating , or your standing with the company.  The more suspicious you are, the safer your information will stay.

-Justin