South Jordan Woman Recovers Money Sent to Bank Imposter

After initially being denied reimbursement, the bank returned the funds to the customer.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 9:07am

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Kristin Fry, a South Jordan resident, was tricked into sending $16,900 to a bank imposter who claimed her account had been compromised. Fry quickly realized it was a scam, rushed to her bank, and was told the money had not yet left her account. However, Wells Fargo later denied her request for reimbursement, citing their investigation process. After reaching out to the media, Fry's money was ultimately returned to her.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of bank imposter scams, where fraudsters pose as financial institutions to trick victims into handing over their money. It also raises questions about banks' policies and procedures for handling such incidents, especially when the funds have not yet left the victim's account.

The details

Fry received an out-of-the-blue text claiming to be from her bank, Wells Fargo, asking about a $437 Target purchase. When she said she didn't make the purchase, her phone rang, and the caller claimed to be from Wells Fargo's fraud department, saying her account had been compromised. Trying to protect herself, Fry moved her entire balance to what she believed was a secure Wells Fargo account, but it was actually controlled by the scammer. Fry realized the deception quickly and rushed to her bank, where she was told the money had not yet left her account. However, Wells Fargo later denied her request for reimbursement, citing their investigation process.

  • On January 28, 2026, Kristin Fry received the initial text from the bank imposter.
  • Fry moved her money to the scammer's account on the same day, January 28, 2026.
  • Fry contacted the media about the issue in the days following the incident.

The players

Kristin Fry

A South Jordan, Utah resident who was the victim of a bank imposter scam.

Wells Fargo

The bank that initially denied Fry's request for reimbursement, but later returned the funds to her.

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What they’re saying

“Oh my gosh, it's been really stressful. I mean, it's a lot!”

— Kristin Fry (ksltv.com)

“Your funds are still there,”

— Wells Fargo representative (ksltv.com)

“Your case is closed. Sorry, it's been denied.”

— Wells Fargo representative (ksltv.com)

What’s next

Wells Fargo stated they were already working to recover the funds for Fry before she contacted the media, though this was news to her. The bank's policies and procedures for handling such scams will likely continue to be scrutinized.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the importance of being vigilant against bank imposter scams, which are becoming increasingly common. Consumers should be wary of unsolicited calls or texts claiming to be from their financial institutions and should always contact their bank directly to verify any suspicious activity.