JPMorgan Chase Denies Refund to Customer Robbed at Gunpoint
A customer of JPMorgan Chase, Victoria Karwowski, was denied a refund by the banking giant after being forced to make a transfer at gunpoint. The incident occurred when Karwowski and her roommate were approached by a group of armed thieves who demanded access to her Chase account. Despite initially receiving a credit while the case was investigated, JPMorgan Chase later closed the case and claimed that Karwowski had authorized the transfer. However, after seeking assistance from ABC Chicago’s I-Team, she was able to recover her money in full.
The Incident: Robbery and Forced Transfer
Victoria Karwowski, a resident of Chicago, was confronted by a group of armed thieves who demanded access to her Chase account. The thieves threatened her and her roommate with guns, demanding their belongings and passcodes. Karwowski was forced to give up her Chase banking app password, allowing the thieves to drain $1,700 from her account using the Zelle payment network.
Chase Denies Refund
After the incident, Karwowski received a $1,700 credit while JPMorgan Chase investigated the case. However, a few weeks later, the bank closed the case and claimed that she had authorized the transfer. Despite providing a police report and video evidence of the crime, Karwowski’s appeals for reimbursement were rejected by Chase.
Seeking Assistance from ABC Chicago’s I-Team
Victoria Karwowski turned to ABC Chicago’s I-Team for help after her appeals to JPMorgan Chase were denied. The I-Team contacted both Chase and Zelle on her behalf. As a result of their intervention, Karwowski was able to recover the full amount of $1,700 in just a matter of days.
Hot Take: Customer Fights Back and Recovers Funds
Despite being denied a refund initially, Victoria Karwowski successfully fought back against JPMorgan Chase and recovered the money that was stolen from her at gunpoint. With the assistance of ABC Chicago’s I-Team, she was able to secure a full refund from the bank. The incident highlights the importance of seeking external support and advocacy when faced with challenges from financial institutions.