Wachovia Possibilities Rewards Program: Possible Scam Update

Due to an internal error, thousands (and perhaps, hundreds of thousands) of Wachovia Possibilities Rewards members got emails that thanked them for their orders. Others got communications which indicated that orders were on back order and would be on the way soon. It didn't take long for the Twitters to start flying about Wachovia Possibilities Rewards scams. The information was also covered and reported as a possible Wachovia Possibilities Rewards Scam online as a breaking news story, sending it to the top of hot trends and searches.

Was there an actual Wachovia Rewards scam or not?

I kept looking at all the Twitters about this scam. People were alarmed because they were getting thank you notifications for orders that weren't even placed. One twitterer, @lowegan, echoed the sentiments of many by noting confusion about about a back order that had never been placed. She wondered, quite reasonably, about what was going on. Others were alarmed, bewildered and just plain perplexed. It didn't help that the emails went out so close to Christmas.

A Call to Wachovia Provides Updated Info

I wanted to know the facts so I attempted to call Wachovia. I started making phone calls to the Wachovia Possibilities site at WachoviaPossibilities.com , using the phone number given (888) 440-7000. Although the customer rep asked if I'd gotten 4 or 5 ring tones and then a busy signal, that was not my experience. Instead, the number rang at least 10 times and then went dead. If an average caller went through this, it might not be reassuring. How would they know what was going on with their Wachovia Possibilities Rewards Program account?

Not willing to give up, I made a 2nd phone call to the Wachovia Rewards Program. This time, I got a recording which noted that due to a "very high call volume" (I'll bet!) , I should call back later. The line went dead yet again. On my third call, I was luckier. This time, the recording informed me that I should hold on and that my call had been put in "priority sequence". I was also told that "all or our agents are serving previous callers. Please wait as your call has been put in priority sequence."

Even though I was in priority sequence, it took awhile for the customer representative to come on the line, long enough for me to fact check info on another article - and more. After listening to another recording which encouraged me to use the online mall at WachoviaPossibilities.com, I finally got an actual person on the line - and an answer to my question.

Wachovia Rewards Program emails - scam or not?

According to a customer rep named Donna, due to an "internal systems error" many customers, perhaps many thousands or even hundreds of thousands, had received emails that should never have gone to them. They didn't place orders. They didn't have items on back order. However, Donna understood that receiving such emails - in a recession year and so close to Christmas - could have people worrying about what was happening with their Wachovia Rewards Program accounts. I was told that customers had nothing to worry about. The emails were just sent in error. There was no fraud on those accounts.

Stay tuned for updates. But that is the latest update on the Wachovia Possibilities Rewards Program - for now.

Sources
Wachovia Customer Service rep, Donna, at wachovia possibilities . Phone: (888) 440-7000
Huffington Post, Dec. 15, here