Elderly Couple’s US Bank Account Hacked, Ignored by Bank for Months
An elderly couple in Chicago experienced a nightmare when thousands of dollars were stolen from their U.S. Bank account, and their pleas for help went unanswered for months. The trouble began when the couple sent a $62 check to Nicor Gas to pay their bill. However, by the time the check arrived at the bank, it had been altered to $4,200, and the gas company was no longer the recipient. The couple had fallen victim to a “check washing” scam, where the dollar amount and payee’s name are changed using chemicals to erase the original ink.
A Frustrating Ordeal with U.S. Bank
After discovering the theft, the Zaragosas faced a five-month ordeal with U.S. Bank, filling out forms and providing information without any progress. In a letter to the bank, they expressed their exhaustion and requested assistance. It wasn’t until they shared their story with CBS Chicago that U.S. Bank finally took action. Within 24 hours of reaching out to the bank, the couple had their money returned.
Questions about Security Protocols
Diana Zaragosa, 88 years old, expressed feeling like a criminal and raised concerns about U.S. Bank’s security protocols. She wondered why the bank hadn’t asked the same questions of the person who altered their check. As a result of this incident, the Zaragosas have decided to stop using physical checks and will pay all their bills online going forward.
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