topic Re: SMS verification for a check ? in Personal Finance

SMS verification for a check ?

NoMoreE46 — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 01:50:45 GMT

This is a first for me.

Just wondering if anyone else experienced the same.

I got a text message from my bank (Wells Fargo) asking to verify if I had written a check.
At first, I thought - phishing but it contained details that made me look at the message again. It was a legit message from the bank. I replied accordingly.

I don't write a lot of checks from this acct, the amount was only $500 and was made payable to myself that was mobile deposited into my CU.

Re: SMS verification for a check ?

cashorcharge — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 01:00:59 GMT

I would then take it you didn't sign up for this so guessing the lack of checks written has them double checking...that's pretty slick!

Nice one Wells Fargo!

Re: SMS verification for a check ?

NoMoreE46 — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 02:34:13 GMT

I had to verify that I didn't accidently sign up for a service like this. When I looked, it doesn't rightly exist. However, I just learned there is the option to get an Email alert when a specific WF check number clears from the associated account.

Re: SMS verification for a check ?

UncleB — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 04:01:41 GMT

I've never heard of this before, either!

Looking at your text, unless it's truncated a check with the number of #38 isn't usual, since even new accounts typically start with #101... perhaps this triggered the alert?

In any case, good on them for looking out for us.

Re: SMS verification for a check ?

NoMoreE46 — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 14:11:34 GMT

Your hunch correct as it is a truncated checking number @UncleB. The full check number is 10038. In 2018, I had ordered the checks to begin numerating at 10000 instead of the default 100. I don't know what may have been the trigger.

Check writing is a dying method of money transfer. So it is interesting to me that WF has opted to enable a 2FA type of method to validate this check I wrote in my instance.

I am cool with it and yes, Kudos to WF for this alert.

Re: SMS verification for a check ?

UncleB — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 14:54:19 GMT

@NoMoreE46 wrote:
Your hunch correct as it is a truncated checking number @UncleB. The full check number is 10038. In 2018, I had ordered the checks to begin numerating at 10000 instead of the default 100. I don't know what may have been the trigger.

Check writing is a dying method of money transfer. So it is interesting to me that WF has opted to enable a 2FA type of method to validate this check I wrote in my instance.

I am cool with it and yes, Kudos to WF for this alert.

Very interesting... I didn't even know check numbers for a personal account could go higher than 9999! Every day is a school day...

Confession time... the checks I'm using with WF are old Wachovia checks - they still work (account number and routing number is identical). So far it's never caused a problem, although to be fair I seldom use them, actually the last couple of times was when the branch was drive-up only and I needed some specific cash (kid's birthday/Christmas money), and the teller didn't flinch. I'm sure a store clerk would likely have an issue ("sir, this check is from a "closed" bank!") but I'd never use one at a physical store, so I've not been in a hurry to replace them.

I probably should go ahead and replace them, I truly have no excuse (other than they still work). The worst part, with my account the cost for an order of basic checks is +/- $5.

I know WF has a lot of "sins" in their recent past, but IMO they're working hard to turn the page and I like what I'm seeing so far.

Re: SMS verification for a check ?

NoMoreE46 — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 18:58:25 GMT

There was a stimga to some with low numbered checks like 101. It was a mark of a new

account but whatever. I used five digits so I could distinguish easily the WF from my other two banks which has four digit and the traditional three digit check numbering.

ha you still have "Watch-over-ya" checks.

$5 basics are a good deal-though I go bigtime and pay extra for the lazy dude carbons.

Re: SMS verification for a check ?

pizzadude — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 14:58:35 GMT

I think it makes sense that they'd do this kind of verification with checks since it's certainly been possible with credit cards for quite a while.

What I'd also be curious about is how this affects the "Check Hold" time period, if it does at all. I could see them getting your verification then sitting on the funds for another few days to think about it.....