Robert Branagh, a long-time Wells Fargo business account holder, is the latest victim of unauthorized withdrawals and transfers totaling just under $150,000. Despite immediately filing a fraudulent claim and contacting the bank, he has yet to receive any answers about who authorized the transfers.
According to bank records, the first breach took place on Aug. 17 but was not noticed until Aug. 29 after a total of $149,296.48 was taken in a series of withdrawals. A final withdrawal of $10,000 was taken out of Branagh’s business account on Aug. 28 and later $530 dollars was taken out of his daughter’s account on Aug. 29.
In response to this incident, a representative from the U.S. Secret Service Orlando office suggested that the account may have been tested by a potential buyer of stolen accounts as the small withdrawals suggested a test to see if the account was active before escalating to larger withdrawals totaling just under $150,000. The Secret Service is urging anyone with a checking or savings account to check their accounts every day and report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement or their office immediately if they feel their account has been compromised.
If you have any questions or need assistance with your financial situation during these challenging times, you can reach out to makeendsmeet@wkmg.com or text “make ends meet” along with your contact information and issue to 407-676-7428 for support and guidance from our team at WKMG News 6 Orlando & Daytona Beach Sun Sentinel Digital Media Partnership (WKMG).
