Scammers claiming to be Wells Fargo reps calling area

Havre Daily News staff

Havre-area residents say they have received a phone call from people claiming they are representing Wells Fargo Bank informing them they have won a multi-million dollar lottery and all they need to do is call a toll-free number to claim the winnings.

Wells Fargo said the calls are scams.

The Wells Fargo website warns of this scam specifically as a common scam:

“You receive a phone call, email or letter stating you have won a lottery or sweepstakes,” the Wells Fargo website says. “Scammers require you to pay a fee to receive the prize to avoid taxes or additional fees, or may even threaten to report you to the IRS or police if you don’t make the requested payment.

“Tip: Legitimate lotteries pay taxes directly to the government rather than being reimbursed from winners’ proceeds. It is also against U.S. law to play a foreign lottery,” the website entry says.

See more at Wells Fargo Scams and Cyber Threats webpage at https://www.wellsfargo.com/privacy-security/fraud/bank-scams .