A Virginia resident came within a package delivery of losing more than $153,000 after scammers posing as Wells Fargo convinced the victim to withdraw the money, obtain a cashier’s check and overnight it to New York City.
Bristol Virginia Police said the incident began Aug. 8 when the victim received fraudulent text messages that appeared to come from Wells Fargo and was led to believe there was a serious problem involving the victim’s finances.
Believing the messages were legitimate, the victim obtained a cashier’s check for $153,860.80 and shipped it overnight through FedEx to an address supplied by the scammers in New York City.
According to WJHL, police were contacted before the package reached its destination, giving dispatchers, officers and FedEx enough time to identify the shipment and stop it before the check was delivered.
The Fake Bank Messages Led to a $153,860 Check
The Bristol, Virginia Police Department (BVPD) reportedly prevented a potential victim from being scammed out of more than $153,000 and is urging people to remain vigilant against scam attempts. https://t.co/QzR6sWnCQW
— WJHL (@WJHL11) August 12, 2026
The scheme began with text messages designed to look as though they had come from Wells Fargo. Bristol Virginia Police said the victim was falsely led to believe there were problems with the victim’s finances that required action.
The instructions eventually moved beyond the phone. The scammers persuaded the victim to withdraw six figures, obtain a cashier’s check for exactly $153,860.80 and send it overnight.
After obtaining the cashier’s check, the victim shipped it overnight through FedEx to an address in New York City. By that stage, the attempted fraud had moved from electronic communication to a physical package containing a negotiable payment worth more than $153,000. The check had not yet reached the destination when authorities learned what had happened.
Dispatchers and Police Started Trying to Find the Package
Once Bristol Virginia Central Dispatch learned about the scam, dispatchers and police officers began working to identify the shipment before FedEx completed the delivery. The department coordinated directly with the shipping company while the package was still in transit.
SuperTalk 92.9 reported that Police Chief Byron Ashbrook credited the combined work of dispatchers, officers and the shipping company with locating the package. FedEx employees were able to identify the shipment and intercept it before it reached the scammers’ New York destination.
The package was then returned to the victim. Ashbrook said the intervention prevented the victim from suffering a financial loss from the attempted scam.
Bristol Residents Have Lost More Than $300,000 to Scams
Although this victim’s money was recovered, Ashbrook said other Bristol residents have not been as fortunate. According to SuperTalk 92.9, the police chief said people in Bristol have lost more than $300,000 to scams during the past three years.
The department has dealt with other impersonation schemes as well. In previous public warnings, Bristol police have described scammers posing as law-enforcement officials, threatening victims with arrest and demanding payments through methods such as Bitcoin.
Wells Fargo Warns That Scammers Can Make Messages Look Real
Wells Fargo warns customers that criminals impersonate banks through calls, texts and emails and can make communications appear to come from a trusted financial institution. The bank advises customers not to assume a message is legitimate merely because a familiar bank name appears on the screen.
The company says customers should be suspicious when an unexpected message tells them to move money, withdraw cash or take another urgent banking action. The bank also warns that scammers can spoof telephone numbers and caller ID information.
The Federal Trade Commission also warns that anyone who unexpectedly tells a consumer to withdraw, transfer or send money to protect it should be treated as a scammer. The FTC advises consumers to independently contact the company involved through a telephone number, website or app they already know is legitimate.
If the Check or Package Is Already Gone, Act Immediately
Police recommend immediately contacting the financial institution, the shipping company and law enforcement. Someone who has mailed or overnighted a check should provide the carrier with the tracking number and explain that the package is connected to suspected fraud.
The issuing bank should also be contacted immediately and told that the cashier’s check was obtained because of an impersonation scam. Consumers should follow the bank’s instructions rather than assuming a cashier’s check can be stopped or canceled in the same way as an ordinary personal check.
Wells Fargo asks customers who sent a payment or provided financial information to someone claiming to represent the bank to contact the company immediately. Suspicious texts purporting to come from Wells Fargo can also be forwarded to reportphish@wellsfargo.com
Victims should preserve the original text messages, telephone numbers, shipping receipts, tracking information, payment records and destination address for investigators. Internet- or text-enabled scams can also be reported to the FBI through IC3.gov and to the Federal Trade Commission through ReportFraud.ftc.gov.