During the coming months, the integration of Wachovia and Wells Fargo may be seen and used by online crooks as an opportunity to create fraudulent communications. By taking advantage of current business and economic changes, these scammers may trick unsuspecting consumers into sharing confidential information, like online account credentials and Social Security numbers.
Being alert and spotting a fraudulent e-mail, commonly called "phish" 
is a first step to protecting yourself from these types of scams.
What Should I Do If I Think I've Been Scammed?
If you‘ve already responded to a suspicious e-mail or shared your confidential information, contact one of our customer service centers ASAP. Wells Fargo customers should call 866-867-5568, and Wachovia customers should call at 800-WACHOVIA (800-922-4684).
Think about it this way: Back in the days of stagecoaches , gold rushes and the general pie-o-neerin' of America, one of the most advanced forms of fraud was currency counterfeiting. With the right tools and talents, an enterprising thief could print off a stack of "funny money" to be used in place of real dollars. It was such a successful scam that counterfeiting money was even used as a means of warfare during both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
Now fast-forward a hundred years, and the revolution of online commerce allows thieves to easily and effectively counterfeit a company's communications, including their branding, logos, and overall appearance. So instead of printing fake money, con artists can now replicate e-mails and create fraudulent websites designed solely to collect and steal your confidential information. Once they get it, they can use your info to steal your money or transfer it into another account...
A phishing scam usually starts with an e-mail stating an urgent need for you to update your account information, activate your online banking account, or verify your identity by clicking on a link. When you click the link, you are directed to a website that is designed to look like a Wells Fargo or Wachovia website. These websites can also attempt to upload unauthorized, malicious software, commonly known as a computer virus or malware onto your PC.
Fraudsters obtain email addresses from many places on the internet. They also buy email lists and sometimes just guess email addresses. Actually, most of the time these scammers have no idea if they're sending bank-related phish emails to actual bank customers — they only hope a percentage of customers receive and get tricked by their emails.
And (cue my best fatherly tone), if I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: The best defense for phishing is to be familiar with common fraud tactics and to learn how to proactively protect yourself.
But really, it's about becoming savvy to the warning signs of fraud, and then bringing the pain to those that try to steal your stuff! (Now cue the A-Team theme song. )
Spot the Warning Signs of E-Mail Fraud
- Botched Design/Image Imperfections. Distorted or oddly sized logos.
- Poor Grammar. Legitimate companies will avoid using incorrect grammar.
- Misspellings. Misspelled words, especially if there are several within a single message.
- Sense of Urgency. Messaging that contains an immediate call to action, solicits and captures confidential account and personal information, or links to patches and downloads.
Proactive Protection Tips
- Do not share your username or password for online banking with anyone.
- Install updated anti-virus/anti-spyware software.
- Review your online and paper account statements carefully. Regular account reviews help to detect fraudulent activity.
- Visit the Wells Fargo Fraud Information Center and the Wachovia Security Plus Customer Center to learn more about how to protect your information.
What To Do If You Receive A Suspicious E-Mail
If you receive an e-mail with any of the warning signs noted above, do not respond to the e-mail or click on any links in the message. Instead, send emails claiming to be from Wells Fargo to reportphish@wellsfargo.com, and emails claiming to be from Wachovia to abuse@wachovia.com.
Hey Matt! From one fellow JMU alum (GO DUKES) to another, I just wanted to say keep up the great work. I'll be sticking with Wachovia.
- Jamie
I have been with Wells Fargo for over 15 years. I have always liked the logo of the stagecoach and to me it gives me thoughts of the old west and the southwest where I lived for two decades. I am sorry to hear they are choosing such a meaningless name as Integration. I can't imagine what kind of atypical logo they will pick for that name. It makes the Wells Fargo so plain old Jane bank. Such a shame.
I'm 99.9% sure that the name and the logo are staying.
WF Team Member! But not one that makes those decisions.
@Cindy - My name is Doug and I work behind the scenes with the blog team. In response to your post, the name of the combined bank will be Wells Fargo.
Doug C. - With the name of the bank staying "Wells Fargo," what about the logo? Any chances this will change and incorporate the Wachovia logo? To be honest, the Wells Fargo colors seem dated as does the stage-coach. And I do understand the stage-coach is part of Wells Fargo. Just seems odd on the East Coast to have a stage-coach theme. Anyway, I would hope that something from Wachovia's logo, colors or "waves" will be incorporated. Thanks for allowing me to voice an opinion.