Byron Barge started receiving text alerts that he believed were from his bank, Wells Fargo.
FANNETT, Texas — A scam cost a Fannett businessman thousands of dollars, and now, he is warning the Southeast Texas community so no one else falls prey.
“Be aware, and be on guard,” Byron Barge, owner of Byron’s RV Repair LLC, said.
November 2, 2022 is a day that Barge will never forget. It all began when he started receiving text alerts that he believed were from his bank, Wells Fargo.
“A representative will be in touch with you from the fraud department,” Barge said. “Sure enough phone rang, and, ‘This is Wells Fargo with the fraud department.’”
Barge then answered a phone call, where someone on the other end asked him security questions. The caller also asked questions about his account information.
The texts and calls Barge received read as his bank, so when he gave his security codes, he thought he was being taken care of. The entire incident turned out to be a scam.
“They got me for somewhere in the neighborhood of $45 – $48,000,” Barge said. “I contacted several people, Jefferson County, the FBI, and other credit bureaus.”
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