Wells Fargo Bank customers who have received email messages like the one below, claiming that their Wells Fargo online accounts will be shut down due to security updates, and are instructed to click on a link to validate their accounts, are asked to delete the email messages, and not to follow the instructions in them. This is because the email messages are phishing scams sent by cybercriminal to steal Wells Fargo Bank customers' account credentials, personal and financial information.
A Sample of the "Wells Fargo Bank Online Banking Update" Phishing Email
From: Wells Fargo Online. <systemnotificationwellzteam@ wellssystem.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 11:08 AM
Subject: Online Banking Update.
Due to security update on our server, some non-active accounts will be shut down and this requires you to validate your account within 24 hours, to keep your account active. Kindly click below.
Please Click here to re-activate your Wells Fargo Online account.
The message will be available in your Secure Message Center until 10/18/2016.
Thank you for being a valued Wells Fargo client.
Sincerely,
Wells Fargo Deposit Products Group
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
© 1999 - 2016 Wells Fargo. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801
Wells Fargo Bank customers should never click on a link to sign into their online accounts. They should always go directly to https://www.wellsfargo.com/ and sign into their accounts from there. Once they have signed in, they will be notified of changes or updates that need to be done to their accounts.
Wells Fargo Bank customers who have already been tricked by the phishing email messages should change their passwords and contact Wells Fargo Bank immediately for help.