In Plant City, Florida, a local resident has fallen victim to a phone scam, losing over $50,000 to fraudsters masquerading as bank officials. The scammers deceived her into believing her bank accounts were at risk.
Dahiana Ponce recounts receiving a startling call on the morning of July 9 from someone who insisted they were affiliated with Chase Bank.
“At around 9:19 that morning, I got a call saying there were unauthorized transactions on my account,” Ponce explained. “They provided me with bank account details and instructed me to link their account to mine via my phone.”
Trusting the callers, Ponce was persuaded to transfer funds from both her personal and business accounts to the account specified by the scammers.
“I was planning to purchase a home and start a family. That was the dream,” she said, reflecting on the money she had lost.
She said she first sent $4,524.13 from her personal account through Cash App.
Then, she withdrew the money from her business account.
“They told me I had to take out all the amount of money that I had in my business account, and that’s around $45,000, so I did.”
In total, Ponce said she transferred $45,803 from her business account.
She said the scammers also requested a $25,000 wire transfer but later sent an email bearing the Chase logo canceling the transaction.
Ponce reported the incident to law enforcement.
She said authorities advised her to ask the bank to place a “harmless hold” on the account, but bank representatives told her they could not.
“Because it wasn’t my account.”
In a statement to 8 On Your Side, a representitive with Chase said:
We confirmed that our branch employees asked this customer multiple questions before the transaction, including the purpose of the transaction, and attempted to educate her about potential scams. Our bankers are trained to spot scams, and we urge customers to be truthful so they can help protect them.
Ponce disputes that account.
“They did not tell me anything, they just let me withdraw the money,” she said.
Bryan Olgesby with the Better Business Bureau Serving West Florida said scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
“Scammers are good at their game and using these technologies,” he said.
Olgesby urges anyone who feels pressured during a financial transaction to pause before sending money.
“If you’re ever felt pressured, if you’re ever caught in a situation, just stop for a minute and end that call and that transaction and ask questions and verify information before you send any money or give up any personal information.”
During an interview with 8 On Your Side, Ponce received a call from Chase. She said the representative asked clarifying questions about what happened and told her the bank would be looking into the situation.