Dozens of Bank Employees Fired Over Fake Keyboard Devices

Wells Fargo has found that there were employees who were merely pretending to work. Those found to have done so were immediately terminated by the company, the company said in a filing to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) regarding the grounds for termination, quoted by Quartz on Sunday, 8 March 2025.

A Wells Fargo spokesperson explained that the bank could not tolerate such behaviour. “Wells Fargo maintains high standards for its employees and does not tolerate unethical conduct,” he said.

The feigning of work involved fake keyboard devices. Known as mouse jigglers, these devices make the mouse appear to move and keep the computer awake.

Those using these devices also ensured that the computer did not switch to sleep mode, even when not in use.

It turns out such devices are widely available on the market. In fact, these products were very popular among remote workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Because the device allows staff to pretend to be working without direct supervision by their boss, as in an office setting.

On occasions, the remote working system known as work from home (WFH) has indeed been a topic of debate. Many worry about the engagement of staff who work from home.

The State of the Global Workplace from Gallup also reveals similar concerns. The report notes that 62% of workers worldwide are not engaged in their work. As many as 15% are not actively engaged. They explain that they have a poor manager or job and are actively seeking something better.