Issue 19: I Just Got a Call From "Wells Fargo Fraud Detection" That Sounded 100% Real. It Wasn't.

I'm sitting here thinking, that exact scam has worked on hundreds of people just like me in the last minute or two. It's insanely spot-on. And it's robbing people blind.

Jul 25, 2025

Hey hey, Techish fam 👋!

If I didn’t write about these incredibly sophisticated social engineering scams tricking even the most tech-savvy among us, there’s a really good chance I would have gotten sucked into giving away sensitive info just now. Or worse, lost some seriously hard-earned money.

The call came in just before 10pm — three calls back-to-back from a legit-looking phone number — enough to raise my worry alarm.

I answered on the fourth.

“This is Linda from the Wells Fargo Fraud Department, am I speaking with Jennifer Jolly?

Me: “Why are you calling?”

Linda: Ma’am, we’ve noticed some suspicious charges on one of your cards and want to verify a few transactions with you. This call is being recorded for quality purposes. Are you currently located in your state of residence?

Me: Yes.

Linda: Have you been traveling outside of the country, or rather, your state of residence?

Me: No.

Linda: Okay, we have one charge on your card that starts with XXXX (she had the correct first four digits of my debit card) for a Walmart in Texas (I don’t remember now if she specified the city in Texas) for $1,038.42. Is that your charge?

Me: No.

Linda: Okay, I’m going to need you to verify some additional information. Is your card starting with the numbers XXXX still in your possession?

Me: (RED FLAGS! The real WF peeps always repeat the last four digits, but even if they had those—alarms are going off in my head.) “You know what, Linda, I don’t trust that you’re really calling me from Wells Fargo, so I’m hanging up and calling them directly.”

Linda: Okay, ma’am, but we need to stop these charges right away. I can only put a brief hold on them. Can I verify a few more?

Me: Sure. (But now I’m sure it’s a scam because it’s a similar script to what happened to Coinbase victims — creating a sense of urgency and trying to keep me on the phone. But I’m curious about where this is heading…)

Linda: Okay, we are sending you a one-time verification code

Me: I’m hanging up now.

I recognize this trick. Why? It’s all over the internet in Reddit threads, warnings from Wells Fargo, and on Facebook forums. Here’s what a Google search shows me just now:

Scammers impersonating Wells Fargo use one-time authorization codes to gain access to your account, often claiming it's for a reversal or refund, when it's actually to steal your money. They may spoof the caller ID to make it appear as if the call is from Wells Fargo. The scam relies on tricking you into providing the code, which they then use to access your account.

Just to see what happens, I call the 802 number back. A man answers, “Wells Fargo Fraud, James speaking, may I get your name?”

Me: ‘Dang … these guys are good.’

I hang up and call the 800 number on the back of my Wells Fargo debit card. When I get through the phone tree to a human, I wonder for a second if that first call was real, because the script is identical except for one key thing. They ask me to verify the last four digits on my card. Then, while I’m logged into my Wells Fargo app on my phone, we go over the last “real” charges together.

He then encourages me to report the fraudulent call, block the number, and stay vigilant.

On Instagram, my friend and colleague, NBC’s Vicky Nguyen, mentioned almost falling for a similar Coinbase-related call last week.

Guys, the struggle is real and scammers are just getting better.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AND TELL EVERYONE ELSE YOU KNOW:

🔊 Sam Altman Says: AI Voice Scams Are “Crazy” — But Real

Wells Fargo now uses voice verification — yep, your actual voice — as an added layer of security. But here’s the kicker:

“AI-generated voices are already being used to scam people. It’s a huge problem.”
— Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI

That’s from a recent fireside chat at the Federal Reserve (yes, really). It’s also the ‘gist of Shira Ovide’s Tech Friend newsletter this week — Altman sounding the alarm over voice-generation scams … and the irony of it all.

“Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT creator OpenAI, said this week that he’s worried about artificial intelligence-generated audio empowering crooks to steal your money and commit other fraud.
Altman is right to sound the alarm about AI-generated voices that can impersonate you, including in customer service calls to banks. Altman missed an opportunity, however, to stress AI companies’ responsibility in combating new fraud that his industry helped create.” — Shira Ovide, Washington Post

So … what now? Pay attention. Be on your toes. We’re doing a lot of stories around big-tech deregulation in the midst of unprecedented tech advances — and how it impacts you in real life. More about that in a moment, but first … be sure to leave us a comment, ask questions, and join the conversation!

🔥 THE WEEK IN TECHISH

Okay, what else is happening around Techish HQ this week? EVERYTHING!

🎒 IN PROGRESS: Back-to-School Gadgets/Apps: I’m finalizing my hands-on testing of a range of fun, problem-solving, and genius new tech tools designed to save us from school time hassles.

Got a genius hack/workaround/fix — or questions? Now’s the time to let me know! The good ole’ wine purse is still one of my all-time favorite products that I’ve featured in this segment in years past… #Genius.

👉 Pssstt. Did you see this story? PHONES ARE NO GOOD FOR KIDS:

Study - Kids who own smartphones before age 13 have worse mental health outcomes

So worth the watch/read. Stop the madness.

The wine purse we used for one of these round-ups circa 2017-ish.

🎮 REVIEW: Nintendo Switch 2: The handheld that stole my screen time (and my heart). Haptics, OLED, couch dominance, and insider tips on how/where to buy one before the holidays. 👉 Read the Nintendo Switch 2 Review
🚐 REVIEW: VW ID. Buzz: Hippie van glow-up. Peace, love, and a center console that charges your laptop. So why are so many reporters calling it a “flop?” Come drive it with me to find out! 👉 Read the VW ID. Buzz Review

🎙️ PODCAST ALERT: Techishly Jenn Is LIVE (Almost)
Interview 1. Episode 1. In the can 💁‍♀️. Dropping early August on all the platforms. Cue the confetti cannons, unicorns, and marching bands. This new show has been nearly 10 years in the making, and I am so freaking excited.

Episode Uno features a conversation with Flock Safety Founder and CEO Garrett Langley.

Flock’s quietly becoming one of the most powerful public safety tech companies in America. Its cameras track vehicles in real time, gunshot detectors alert police before 911 calls come in, and its drones respond to crimes before officers can.

In over 6,000 cities across the U.S., this private company — recently valued at $7.5 billion — is helping police do their jobs, often faster, cheaper, and with far fewer personnel.

But with that power comes a growing set of questions — not just about what Flock’s tools can do, but how and when they’re being used.

I mean, really … next-gen AI surveillance … what could possibly go wrong?

#itscomplicated

Such an interesting conversation: Can we curb crime without compromising our civil liberties? What questions/concerns do you have? Be sure to ask, comment, and join the conversation!

Have a topic to pitch? Let us know that too!

🔜 Coming Soon to your favorite podcast app AND your inbox!

👀 COMING NEXT WEEK:

🧽 How to Fix Your most Annoying (but necessary) Tech Troubles:
Declutter your phone. Cancel junky subscriptions. Find hidden storage. Bulk delete texts and emails like a boss. And stop your gadgets from eavesdropping.

All in one guide — with step-by-step recipes you can follow in real time.

Why this, why now? Because bestie reader Marc just asked me, “Is there a way to bulk-delete 40,000 emails all at once?” Marc, sweet digital hoarder that you are — yes, and I’m staging an intervention. Buddy … Blink twice if Gmail has taken over your life — we’re sending help. 🤣😳

🎯 PLANNING AHEAD: STORM TECH: The Ultimate Emergency Toolkit

September is peak season for hurricanes, wildfires, and weather whiplash — and winter’s just around the corner. We want to make sure you’re truly ready this year with a high-impact tech toolkit that covers everything from staying powered up to staying connected with loved ones. We showcase the must-have gear, apps, and gadgets to prepare for whatever nature throws at you — before the lights go out.

On that note — Mitch over at ScanMyPhotos just shared this with us: Get 250 photos scanned for $50 — and it includes free return shipping. “I’m just trying to make photo preservation easy and accessible for everyone,” he texted me the other day.

Here are the details.

👉 Take a look at the USA Today story I wrote about ScanMyPhotos here.

👉 Watch the story I did with them on the Today Show here.

💋 What are you up to this weekend?

You’ll find me working, riding, running, and soaking up every minute of summer I possibly can.

In the meantime… Scams are sneakier. Tech is louder. And our to-do lists? Overflowing with digital chores we didn’t sign up for. But you’re not alone in this — we’re taking it on together 💪.

What fun thing are you doing this weekend?

Stay curious, stay cool, stay TECH‑ish,
— Jenn 💛