Wells Fargo fires over dozen employees for allegedly faking work by simulating keyboard activity

Wells Fargo last month terminated over a dozen employees after reviewing allegations that they were involved in pretending to work by using simulating keyboard activity, Bloomberg News reported Thursday.

The fired staffers worked in the bank’s wealth and investment management unit, according to the report, which cited the bank’s disclosures filed with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

“Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards and does not tolerate unethical behavior,” a spokesperson told Reuters.

It wasn’t clear from the regulatory disclosures if the employees were fired for allegedly faking active work from home, the report added.

Devices and software known as “mouse movers” or “mouse jigglers” gained popularity during the pandemic as companies were forced to allow employees to work from home.

Some exchanged tips on social-media sites Reddit and TikTok on where to buy the gadgets and how to use them.

Wells Fargo in early 2022 had asked most of its employees, including those in customer-facing roles, to return to office and work under a hybrid flexible model.