Last week when I was in the midst of traveling from Utah to Washington, DC I received a call on my cell phone. The automated voice said that my debit card had been locked and I should press “1” on my phone to unlock it.
My big tipoff was that the message said it was my Wells Fargo debit card. I don’t have a Wells Fargo debit card. And, I don’t give out my cell phone number, even to my bank.
So, of course I quickly looked at my phone to see if there was a number on the caller-id – nope – it said “no caller-id.”
Other BBBs were reporting calls from consumers reporting the same thing – we had calls from consumers who received the same call. One consumer did press “1” and found out they wanted her to enter in her debit card number and her pin. I’m hoping you all are saying “NO, DON’T DO IT!”
The scammers are trying to get your debit card information so they can use it, use YOUR money. Don’t fall for it.
You’re asking – how did they get my phone number? It could be random. Or, it could be that these scammers are the same scammers who have hacked into databases and stolen information like phone numbers, emails, etc.
They are trying to get consumers to fall for it – so they can make some purchases! Don’t fall for it – protect your information! Call your bank directly if you get a call like this!









I just got this very same call. I never fall for these, but I think this is worse because at least e-mail has a path to trace.
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I got the same recorded message from 877-249-5121. I pressed 1 but hung up the phone because I sensed something was not right about the automated message.
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I just got a call from 360-633-9040 asking me the same thing! I also sensed something wasnt right but I can see how people would fall for it!
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I got a call from the exact same phone number, 360-633-9040. When I picked up, the line dropped and the call ended. I tried calling back to see what was going on, but all I got was a busy signal. Then I found this (and a few other websites) noting this phone number and scams.
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I just got a phone call from this number. She asked to speak to my mother and when I asked how I could help her she said she didn’t want to talk to me and hung up. I tried calling back but I got a busy signal. I wonder why she hung up on me? I never indicated who I was so she had no way of who I was.
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306-633-9040 seems to have no laws that keep from harassment!
These people keep calling my wife. Started 3rd week in September 2011.
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I got the same call from 407-333-7337, i knew it was a scam because I don’t have any kind of account with Wells Fargo. The automated voice wanted me to enter my 16 digit number on my card.
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I also have been getting calls from 360-633-9040, I always missed the calls but I got 4 of them, In 4 days, I found it odd because 360 is my local area code but my cell phone doesn’t have the same area code so what are the odds it’s in my same area I live in.
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I’ve been getting numerous calls or messages from 1-888-745-9332. Most messages just have a beep and nothing else. The last message was a robo message stating “Hello, this is an official notification from Wells Fargo Bank informing you that your visa card has been locked for security reasons… to unlock your card, press 1 now”. This is bogus, I don’t have a Wells Fargo Account, but I called the bank to let them know. Banks never leave calls like this, so if you suspect something is truly wrong, call your bank first, not another #.
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I received one of these calls last night. It said, “Hello, this is an official notification from Wells Fargo, informing you that your card has been locked for security reasons. To unlock it, please press 1 now.”
The call came in at 1:30 AM so obviously it was a hoax, but I also do not have a Wells Fargo account. I’m assuming they’re playing the odds because of how big Wells Fargo is. I didn’t answer the phone, but that is the message that was left. If you get this call, DO NOT give them your credit card number!
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Oh yeah, and the number was listed as a “Private Number” on my caller ID. For location reference, I’m in the 712 area code.
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I got the call tonight about 9pm central time(NE Iowa) from this number:(859-873-0362)…. this is well’s fargo your debit card has been locked… I was skeptical, however, I have a close relative who does bank with them and thought they used my number as a back up… (they do that from time to time).. I did press 1 and then I pressed 2 to exit… I didn’t speak to anyone, or give them any verbal information, however, I don’t know what information they gained by my pressing 1 and 2… lesson learned, follow your gut… if it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t right ! HANG UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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This is our company phone number that has been “spoofed”. We have gotten many calls from folks like Theresa that have been called–some of them repeatedly and in the middle of the night. We are NOT responsible for these fraudulent phone calls. Not only is someone trying to get people’s financial information, they are causing trouble for the real owners of the number they have show in your caller ID.
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I got a call just now from this number: 859-873-0362 claiming my Wells Fargo debit card has been locked. It sounded like the real deal — an automated call from a robot-like voice. It told me to press 1 to unlock. I knew it was a scam because I don’t have a Wells Fargo card of any sort! I hung up, then went online to search the scam and found this thread. Thanks for confirming my suspicions!
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Theresa,
Do you know if they received any information or if your debit card was compromised? I received a call just 1/2 hour ago from \5010\ and they said the same thing. I hit 1 and it automatically hung up.
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I just got same sort of call from 5511 and now the time is 2.00am cst. It just mentioned that my debit has been locked and asked to enter debit card number.
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I also received this call in the wee hours of the morning just before 1am after Halloween! It was an unidentified automated call on my mobile phone. I don’t bank with Wells Fargo, and was in a sleepy-stupor, so I thought maybe someone opened an account in my name. In any case, I thought it was suspicious and did a search on “Wells Fargo automated calls” and found lots of complaints about this. I posted a warning on Facebook with a link to this site. Probably a good way to spread the word quick about this type of scam attempt.
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I received this call tonight. I do have a Wells Fargo debit vard, and had used it internationally, so was initially concerned, but, immediately was suspicious because the voice was so robotic, and tr asked for vital info immediately.
My cellphone caller ID only showed 1 (512)-
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I just got the call too about a minute ago. I immediately Googled it. They knew my bank or got lucky in guessing. I, of course, did not enter my info!!! Their phone number 702-726-9231
I hung up.
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This “Spoofed” number, fake name and many other numbers are being used by “Debt Collectors.” Prime examples are: CRSI out of California, Complete Credit Solutions out of Texas, Nationwide Collections and Progressive Financial Services out of Tennessee. They are attempting to gather information to create an account with someone by getting a credit card number or account number. These particular places have already drained many peoples bank accounts.
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I just received a call on my cell phone from # 5511…a recorded announcement that my debit card was locked and to dial 1. I had just used my card so at first I thought it was legitimate. I dialed 1 but got the heeby-jeeby’s (gut feeling) so hung up. Hopefully no harm was done. I called my bank to verify if my card was okay. She said it was and gave me the # for the FCC, Federal Communications Commission,to report the call because it was a SCAM and they will investigate. For the record, I use Verizon and have an 850 area code. The FCC # is 1-888-225-5322. v
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I call that FCC # and was referred to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 1-877-382-4357. Called them, but after holding awhile an automated voice said if I don’t want to hold anymore I can go online to http://www.ftc.gov and file a complaint.
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The actual number that was identified on my cellular caller ID was “009″ – a three digit number – in which an automated voice indicated that my debit card had been locked to that i should press “1″ to unlock my card. I was transferred to their alleged fraud department at which time i was asked to put in my 16 digit card number. If you had my information, then you wouldn’t need to ask for my card number, only identifying info like date of birth or address. Wreaked of a scam so I hung up!!!
@10:20 pm
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The call I received on my cell was from 794-4, an automated voice said it was my financial institution (seriously?) calling to notify my that my debit card had been locked…and to push 1. Right away I knew it was a scam so I hung up.
These people are disgusting because surely, there are people who don’t realize until it’s too late.
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(212) 719-5900 Called with same message this morning. Did not say a bank name. Phone number says came from trip-phones out of New York. so figure it must be a prepaid phone number. etc… Message was pre-recorded (computer generated voice) “We regret to inform you that your debit card has been locked, please press #1 to re-activate”. SCUMBAGS!
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My boyfriend just got one of these calls, he believed it and got as far as entering his card number before I made him hang up. I asked him what the call was about when he answered it but just kinda waved me away, our was loud enough for me to hear some of it though and I immediately had a bad feeling about it. Now he’s going to his bank to check his card but I’m really worried because he actually did enter his card number…when I realized they asked for the exp. Date I made him hang up.
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My wife and I both got the call at the same time. Callerid just showed the number 20. Pressed 1 and it asked for the card number, at which point we hung up.
Our cell numbers are only one digit apart, so it is apparently just rolling through phone numbers sequentially.
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I just received one of these the other day, except that the phone number on the caller ID was my own number. Message wanted me to press “1″, but I figured it was a scam and pressed “2″ instead. Line disconnected.
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Thank you for saving my butt people!! I signed up for health care online, and had to use my CC. At 2am that night, I got a call saying “your mastercard is locked, press 1″. Luckily I had the common sense not to……it came up under a # “000″ . BEWARE they are still doing this. scummmmm
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Just received a call, ID said “Private Number,” no mention of Wells Fargo, simply debit card was ‘locked’ and to ‘press 1′ to unlock.
Pressed 1 then pressed the #8 16 times (each time the voice prompted me to re-enter), doubt that it irritated the robo-caller but it made me feel better.
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I just got this same call on all 3 of my Verizon phones. The call came from 499 to my cell first then to my house phone that only my kids have the number to. I told my wife about it and sure enough she got the call too. I wonder in Verizon got hacked or if they gave out our numbers.
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I just got a call like this and they somehow got my caller id to make it look like I was recieving a call from myself!
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This just happened to me. It looked like I was calling myself which was really weird. I picked up just to see who it was and sure enough it was a debit card scam.
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Just got the same call from # 705. Knew it was a scam and hung up.
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I just got a call, with my own number as the caller ID, on my cell phone from an automated message from a bank saying my debit card was suspended and to press 1 to reactivate. I attempted to get a hold of somebody to talk to, but after realizing it was all automated recording, I hung up.
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I received the very same call using my home phone number. Just to be on the safe side I called both of my card companies and they said my card was secure with no problems. You are not alone in this.
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