Houston Woman Loses Life Savings in Sophisticated Bank and FBI Impersonation Scam
A Houston woman has lost her entire life savings after falling victim to a highly convincing scam that appeared to come from her bank and even the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The fraud began with what looked like a routine fraud alert text message allegedly from the Wells Fargo Fraud Department, asking if she had attempted a purchase at Walmart. When she replied “no,” the messages escalated, claiming her branch was under investigation for ongoing fraud and urging her to protect her money.
Shortly afterward, she received a phone call from someone posing as an FBI agent. The caller insisted her Wells Fargo branch was under investigation and sent her a letter on what appeared to be official FBI letterhead. She was instructed to withdraw $20,000 — her life savings — and move it to a Chase Bank account.
The scammers kept her on the phone throughout the process, directing her to transfer funds from savings to checking, withdraw the cash, and deposit it at a Chase ATM using a four‑digit code they provided. Once the deposit was made, the account and card vanished from her digital wallet, leaving her with nothing.
The victim described feeling devastated when she realized the money was gone. She has since filed reports with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the FBI.
Authorities warn that scammers are increasingly impersonating federal agents to pressure victims into handing over money. The FBI has repeatedly stressed that agents will never request cash withdrawals, gift cards, wire transfers, or ATM deposits.
BrokersView Reminds You
Treat unsolicited texts or calls about fraud alerts with caution and verify suspicious messages directly with your bank using official contact numbers.
Be wary of anyone claiming to be from law enforcement who asks for money. Hang up immediately and report suspected scams to authorities.
Related News: Impersonation Scams via Text and Call
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