The ordeal began on July 30 when McAnally’s wife got a text message from someone who appeared to be a Wells Fargo representative. The message referenced a suspicious $4,000 purchase at a Bass Pro Shop in Miami. When she replied that she had not authorized the charge, the scammers immediately called her.

Fraud Calls Seemed Authentic and Detailed

The person on the phone told her they were from the bank’s fraud detection team and discussed details of the family's accounts that convinced her of their authenticity. According to McAnally, the scammers never asked for usernames or passwords but still had access to sensitive information. This built trust and made the operation seem legitimate.

During the call, the imposter mentioned another alleged charge of $5,000 in Miami. The caller then advised the family to move their money onto an Apple Cash card to "protect" it from further fraudulent activity. Believing they were speaking to bank officials, the McAnally family followed their instructions.

“They called her immediately, presenting themselves as the Wells Fargo fraud detection services team,” McAnally later said. At that point, “they had full access to our account,” he noted.

Loss of Funds Through Apple Cash Transfer

Following the scammers’ step-by-step directions, the family transferred their funds to an Apple Cash card. Once the card was fully loaded, the perpetrators extracted the money and ended the call. The McAnally family then tried to call the number back, only to find things taking an even stranger turn.

On the first attempt to reconnect, McAnally reached someone claiming to work for Walmart customer service. His second call to the number led him to a different individual, again claiming to be with Wells Fargo’s fraud department. This time, the caller not only laughed at McAnally but also behaved inappropriately, with McAnally describing the interaction as lewd and celebratory.

“They loaded the card, and then they drained the card,” McAnally explained. He added, “I think that they were just very enthusiastic about having defrauded us, and were just celebrating that and rubbing our faces in it.”

Initial Bank Reaction Raises Concerns

When McAnally reported the fraud to Wells Fargo, he was initially met with disbelief. According to him, the bank responded that such a situation could not have occurred. “They said to us multiple times, ‘Well, what happened to you is impossible,’” he said.

Despite his insistence that the sequence of events did take place, Wells Fargo initially turned down his complaint. After media attention surrounding the incident—including coverage by FOX 26—the bank reportedly reopened the investigation. However, the bank declined to provide comments to The Christian Post about the case.

McAnally questioned how the scammers had such detailed access to his bank records without needing any login credentials. The incident has raised broader concerns about the vulnerability of customer information and how easily trust can be exploited by criminals.

Pastor’s Background and Reflection on Faith

McAnally, who has served in ministry for nearly three decades, continues to serve the local church despite the ordeal. He believes his mission to guide people spiritually was divinely inspired. Reflecting on his calling, he said, “Almost 30 years ago, I couldn’t deny it. God was calling me to serve people in local churches, so I said yes.”

The pastor has not indicated whether legal authorities are pursuing the perpetrators at this time. However, the case has prompted renewed caution for people dealing with suspicious financial messages, particularly those that claim urgent bank action is required.

McAnally’s experience underscores how vulnerable even experienced professionals can be to modern digital scams. The emotional toll of being both defrauded and mocked has been significant for the family, adding a cruel layer to the financial loss.