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A BANK of America customer claimed her money was being held hostage after a fraudster tried to cash in a fake check.
Grace Carr was baffled when her account appeared to show she was around $886,000 in the red but her nightmare didn’t end there.
The astronomically large number proved to be a glitch but a fraudster tried to cash in a fake check using her bank details, per The Asbury Free Press.
Carr, from Toms River, New Jersey, noticed the figure when she logged in after receiving an email that warned her balance was low.
Bank of America put a lien worth almost $1,800 on her account.
Liens are normally put on accounts to ensure debts are covered.
Bank customers may struggle to access money in their accounts until the debt is paid off.
Bank of America imposed the lien after someone tried to cash in a check using her account information.
The fraudster tried to cash the check at a branch in Miami – around 1,200 miles from the New Jersey township.
But the check was fake and it bounced back.
She called Bank of America and a representative told her that it could take up to 90 days for the probe to be completed.
Carr was left apoplectic as she said: “We were the victims and every time I called, I was told they were doing everything they could, but I should understand they had 90 days.”
The block was lifted after 54 days but Carr was aggrieved at how the saga played out.
“I am angry and annoyed but I am more frustrated than anything because of how long it took, the fact that they legally have the right to hold on to almost $1,800 of our money,” she said.
She claimed bank representatives repeatedly warned it could take up to 90 days for their investigation to be completed.
Bank of America told the Asbury Free Press that her case was resolved.
Top tips on avoiding scams:
As scams become more sophisticated with the use of artificial intelligence, it is important you know how to spot a scam and how to avoid them.
- Be skeptical of online deals that seem too good to be true, especially on social media.
- Scammers will often use tactics to make you panicked so you make quick decisions – be cautious if you are told to take immediate action and verify who has contacted you.
- Chase Bank warns customers to “never return any unexpected funds without calling Chase first.”
- Never send money to someone you have only spoken to online or by phone as this is likely a romance scam.
- Unless you 100% know who you are talking to, never give someone remote access to your device.
- Never accept help from strangers at an ATM and always be vigilant when making withdrawals.
- Do not send money or click any links indicating that you have won a prize.
Source: Chase.com
The U.S. Sun has approached Bank of America for further comment.
Americans have been left in despair after watching thousands of dollars drained from their accounts.
The U.S. Sun reported how Lura Ball lost around $18,000 after she received a call she thought was from Bank of America.
And Jackie Manento, of Connecticut, was duped after receiving a call that she said matched her bank’s phone number.
Bank users have been warned of several red flags that could suggest they are being scammed.
Fraudsters are known for sounding urgent when requesting payments, although some disguise their voices to appear convincing.
Bank customers should also be wary if they are asked to wire money and they should never send one-time access codes.
Major bank chains have warned it can be difficult to recover funds if it looks like the victim has approved the payments.
