CASSELBERRY, Fla. – Karen Roe said she was in the hospital for treatment of an infection when the call came in from Chase Bank security in March 2023.
“We want to verify that this is a fraudulent transaction,” she recalled the man saying, “The purchase was from New Mexico.”
Roe said the caller had no accent and seemed very knowledgeable. The clincher for her was the phone number on her screen, it was the identical number on the back of her Chase Bank card.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
“They wanted to take that money and move it to another account to make it safe,” she told News 6, “They sent me the verification link.”
That link opened the door to her personal account and an account for a non-profit she had devoted years to.
The funds were traced to a Wells Fargo account to a man she had never heard of: Charles Johnson.
She says Wells Fargo called her and asked if she had approved the transfer and she told them it was fraud. Roe has the document confirming she initiated a recall of the funds but the money never showed up, that was a year ago.
Although her local Chase Bank branch acknowledged fraud had occurred, a corporate investigation determined she had willingly transferred the funds.
“It can happen to anybody,” she said. “The worst part is it’s happening every day, billions and billions of dollars from these huge banks.”
Orlando U.S. Secret Service special agent in charge Caroline Obrien Buster confirmed she is reviewing the case.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, imposter scams remained the top fraud category, with reported losses placed at $2.7 billion.
According to the FTC, ”These scams include people pretending to be your bank’s fraud department, the government, a relative in distress, a well-known business, or a technical support expert.”
If you have an investment or consumer issue email makeeendsmeet@wkmg.com or text the words make ends meet along with your issue and contact information to 407-676-7428.
You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: