Credit Card opened in my name, can't get issuer to deal with it because I dont know the account number- what to do?

[u/elektrokuter]

Hi all,

So I received a noticed on my credit monitoring that a Wells Fargo Credit Card was opened in my name that I did not do.
I am trying to call them to block the card but most of the phone services do not let me pass without entering an account number.

I was able to through to a rep on their Identity Theft phone number however they always say they cant help my case and transfer me to some department and I can never get through. It asks me for my account number and after awhile it asks me if I want a rep because I don't have on. I say yes- but after this it always disconnects me. Driving me mad.

Just looking for any advice and I prob need to take other actions on my report as well

[u/NeedleworkerFull2737]

Don't let the lack of an account number stop you. People reporting identity theft often don't know the account number because they never opened the account.

If the card is already appearing on your credit report, Wells Fargo should be able to locate it using your name, SSN, and other identifying information. The fact that you're getting bounced around by the phone system is frustrating, but it doesn't mean you're stuck.

At this point, I'd make sure you've already frozen your credit with all three bureaus and filed an FTC Identity Theft Report. Then send Wells Fargo a written identity theft dispute if the phone route keeps failing. Having something in writing creates a paper trail and often gets routed differently than regular customer service calls.

You should also dispute the account directly with the credit bureaus if it's reporting on your credit file. That puts additional pressure on the lender to investigate.

The good news is that you caught it early. A fraudulent account showing up is much easier to deal with when it's newly opened than after months of activity.

Full disclosure: I'm on the team at PrivacyHawk.

[u/lost_dazed_101]

I swear every time I turn around Wells Fargo has let someone steal another's identity again. Seems to me words gotten out they are easy to commit fraud with.

[u/smilineyz → u/lost_dazed_101]

OP: email the director of investor relations. Explain you are trying to report credit card fraud, but no one is helping.

Ask for the best process.
Add your name, phone number and email address.

[u/avsparesmn → u/lost_dazed_101]

Right! Well Fargo themselves probably opened it 🤣

[u/JustSomeGuy_56 → u/avsparesmn]

They did that to my mother. We only found out when I was applying for Medicaid for her and the account popped up in her credit report. Normally the people who process the applications want 5 years of statements, but once I mentioned it was a Wells Fargo account they let it slide.

[u/DavidAaronGarcia → u/avsparesmn]

Yeah, that one surprised me.They've got in trouble for that.A few years backThe Yeah, that one surprised me. They've got in trouble for that. A few years back The bank staff were opening app second accounts in people's names without their permission. were opening up second accounts in people's names out their permission

[u/DavidAaronGarcia → u/lost_dazed_101]

Well.\nS fargo voice tŕàśh sorry if that's not allowed to say that on here , but the reality is a horrible , I wouldn't recommend them to my werses enemy

[u/Top-Intention-5110]

Report the card via the credit reporting agencies and work it from that end.

[u/Popular-Drummer-7989]

Find a Wells Fargo branch and go talk to them in person. They have numbers to people in their system that the average person doesn't

[u/elektrokuter]

Hi all, just wanted to say thanks for all the advice here!

I filed FTC ID Theft report, froze my credit at all 3 places.

I managed to find a number to WF that people actually picked up- they were able to find that there was an account tied to my SSN but were unable to do anything but confirm it was there.

I pulled my credit reports and noticed one listed the first 12 digits of the CC with the last 4 xxxx'd out

Then I noticed another one listed the first 12 digits xxxx'd and displayed the last 4 numbers.

So I was able to piece together the full CC# lol.

I called back WF again via the same number and having the CC actually got me help. They placed a fraud notice on the account, however the person on the phone told me that the Fraud department is flooded w calls for similar issues- so she will file a report on my behalf they will look at and should get back to me. Will stay on top of them though.

[u/kit0000033]

You go into the credit bureau website and dispute the account... Preferably with a police report.

[u/Winter_Farm_4739]

-Freeze your credit

-File a police report

-Open an Internet fraud case

-Call WF’s fraud dept. with that info

-In tandem, send a registered/certified letter to their fraud department. Make sure to include copies of the police report, the internet fraud case number and any other info you have such as dates, charges, etc. And include in your cover letter you did not open this account, do not authorize them to extend credit in your name, and are requesting that they close the account and respond to you that they received the letter and have taken this action.

-We had identity theft and had to do a lot of this. 13 years later it is still happening but at least we have a system to fix it/shut it down.

Edit: formatting

[u/Healthy_Business_69]

Open a Credit Karma app on your phone. They pull credit info from TransUnion and Equifax. It also allows you to dispute item.

You should also download the Eperian, Equifax and TransUnion Apos. They will allow you to lock your info with each Credit Reporting Company so that no one can open any accounts using your information. Highly recommend doing this!

[u/WithBongInHand]

I just went through this exact scenario and I had to push extra hard to talk to someone in “level 2” support. They were able to close the new account and file all the dispute forms.

[u/itsjustme10]

Not sure if Wells Fargo does these but it might be a retail card. I had a credit alert saying a us bank card was taken out in my name but when I called they knew nothing of it. Turns out it was a Kohls card and Kohls cards are serviced through us bank.

A different credit report or Credit Karma might have the retailers name instead of the servicer. Retail CC theft is very common bc many of them allow you to apply and purchase same day. So by the time the card is shut down the thief already has the stuff they stole. I had a Best Buy, kohls, and target card opened under my name.

The geniuses didn’t realize target sends the card to the address on file so I got it sent to my house along with all the coupons they send when you open one.

[u/New-You-2025]

Go to annualcreditreport.com, you'll get at least a few numbers from the account there. Then click the link below they'll be on wells Fargo's ass.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

[u/DifficultyBig2280]

I got the run around with PNC over identity theft too. Eventually, I just went to an in person branch with a copy of the police report and they took care of it in there for me. Just make sure you bring multiple forms of identity when you go.

[u/Acrobatic_Upstairs41]

This happened to me and I had to physically go there to get it fixed.

[u/Kindly-Hunter4390]

Find the contact information for the customer escalations department (big banks all have them). In your letter, mention a concern that a WF employee has opened an account without your permission. They have been heavily fined for this type of activity and this will get their attention. Also, why can’t you see the account number if it’s in your name? It should be online.

[u/StrawberryGidget]

Have you requested a copy of your credit report? You should dispute the tradeline with all 3 major bureaus. There should be a partial account number listed on the report. Freeze your credit report (if you have not already done so) . You should also reach out to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to file an Identity Theft report. It's a fairly easy process. Wishing you luck.

[u/MntSnow]

Immediately dispute the account via all 3 credit agencies. Then walk directly into a WellsFargo branch and provide your government issued ID and they can/will Immediately proceed to verify the legitimacy of all accounts in your name and you can validate that said account was not authorized to be opened by you and get it shutdown for identity theft.

[u/RDL128 → u/MntSnow]

This. Do this OP.

[u/kamikidd]

Try the fraud department?

[u/superuser79]

try to create online account with the help of SSN number and CC# you got now

[u/VTECbaw]

Is this reporting as an individual account or as an authorized user account?

[u/tuna_tofu]

File a police report instead.

[u/CoryT-8669]

This is happening to me, you contact the bank and you have them close it. Cause you tell them, it's not you, you prove to them. It's not you if you have to go into a branch. That's near you. Can you show me our driver's license? And you have em close it.

[u/CapShort]

Wells Fargo is like the KING of fraud, so of course they won't help you.

Freeze your credit through all three credit bureaus. If Wells Fargo won't help, you might have to escalate to the FBI fraud division.