Chase Bank Won't Accept $5K Check Mobile Deposited by Georgia Woman. They Close Her Account, Claiming it is Fraud

A Georgia woman is upset after she claims she is being unfairly treated like a "criminal" after trying to mobile deposit a U.S. government refund check for $5,298 into her Chase bank account. The bank flagged the check for fraud and froze her bank account, eventually closing it.

Chase bank sign; by Mike Mozart, CC BY 2.0 DEED

Channel 2 News reported that Lois White from Atlanta is in shock after trying to deposit a check using mobile deposit into her Chase bank account.

She said:

"I feel like a criminal, like I've done something wrong... Apparently, they couldn't verify this check was real." -Lois White, Chase customer

US Government Forgave Lois White's Student Debt

Lois White received a letter in the mail from the U.S. Government forgiving her student debt.

The letter said, "Congratulations -- your student loan has been forgiven."

White was grateful that her debt was forgiven but had no idea that Chase Bank would flag the check as fraud.

Channel 2 News reported that Chase put a "fraud hold" on the check, and closed Lois White's bank account. The bank would not allow her access to her money.

Lois went down to the bank and took her letter. 

She said:

"I went to the branch. I gave them this letter. I gave them this check, gave them my ID, my birth certificate, [my] social security card." -Lois White, Chase customer

 Then Channel 2 News contacted Chase Bank. That's when the bank said they were "researching her case."

As of 8 December 2023, Chase Bank was still holding White's money.

She said:

"I'm devastated because I've always been able to pay my bills on time and handle my business. But I'm like couch surfing now." -Lois White, Chase customer

Atlanta Man Claims That $14K Was Stolen from His Account, Paid to Mercedez Benz. Wells Fargo Denies Claim & Won't Issue a Refund

What happens when there is a fraud purchase on your account and a large sum of money leaves your bank account and when you dispute it the bank says it was authorized? 

This happened to a Georgia family banking with Wells Fargo. 

Mercedes-Benz car; credit: Jakob Rosen on Unsplash

According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Georgia was ranked as "the worst state for fraud" in Q3 2023. 

WSB-TV Channel 2 reported that Ken Pischke filed a dispute with Wells Fargo after $14K was paid to a Mercedez Benz Financial Services account, claiming his family didn't authorize payments to Mercedes Benz and they don't own a Mercedes Benz.

Wells Fargo Denies Fraud Claim and Closes Bank Account

Wells Fargo contends that there were three transfers from Pischke’s bill pay to someone’s Mercedes Benz Financial Services account. They have denied his claim of fraud, and have closed his accounts.

Wells Fargo wrote in a denial letter to Pischke:

“It was determined the transactions were authorized by you or someone you authorized. We have closed your claim.” -Wells Fargo

As a result, Pischke filed a police report, provided paperwork to Wells Fargo, and contacted Mercedes Benz to no avail. Wells Fargo is not convinced that these were fraudulent transactions. They believe that Pischke's wife is guilty of authorizing these transactions.

Pischke has lost almost $14,000 due to fraud and it's not a small amount of money to him.

“It was a total of about almost $14,000. We were shocked, absolutely shocked. So, they closed down all the accounts...I mean, it’s a large sum of money, I think to anybody, it is to me.  They just blow it off like there’s no big deal.” -Ken Pischke

Wells Fargo holds their position and will not budge on the matter.

Pischke said:

“They said, ‘That doesn’t make any difference. It’s still your wife is the one that actually did the transactions.’ Now, I’ve been married for 42 years. I would know if my wife would do something like that. And she doesn’t have a Mercedes in the garage either or anywhere else.” -Ken Pischke

Wells Fargo gave the following statement to WSB-TV Channel 2 News in response to their inquiry on the matter.

“While we can’t discuss the specifics of this customer’s situation for privacy and confidentiality reasons, we can confirm that we thoroughly researched the matter, and the evidence supports our decision.” -Wells Fargo

Questions for the Reader

Do you think it is unfair that Wells Fargo will not issue a refund?

Do you think that Ken Pischke's wife paid Mercedes Benz Financial Services without telling her husband?

Ken Pischke has lost almost $14,000 and says their family doesn't have a Mercedes Benz. He believes it is a case of bank account fraud. Wells Fargo will not issue a refund.

Mr. Myna Felix Nigerian Phishing Scam

Nigerian Scam Artist

From the Desk of; Mr. Myna Felix

Senior Accountant: (Accounts/Audit Dept.)

Ministry of Mines, Power & Steel PRESIDENT / C.E.O

mrmyna_felix@yahoo.com

Attn: Dear Sir,

INVESTMENT PROPOSAL

I am Mr. Myna Felix Senior Accountant, (Accounts/Audit Dept.) of the Mines, Powers and Steel, Headquarter, Abuja. With much sincerity of purpose, I am compelled to intimate you on this mutual business relationship after satisfactory information received on your esteemed person/company from the Foreign Trade Office, Nigerian Nordic Chamber of Commerce, and Industry & Agriculture.

We are as convinced as believing that you will provide us the very needed urgent assistance, hence a viable Bank Account by which we can effect the transfer of funds resulting from number of Amendments (Inflated Contracts) on already completed contracts awarded by our Ministry (on behalf of the ousted Federal Government of Nigeria) and the Foreign Companies.

The projects which include the under-listed were amongst other projects commissioned by the Presidency between 2005/2007 and the very Contractors duly paid. One of the amendments paved the way for the up-ward review of the contracts sum from its original cost of US$250 Million to US$281.500 Million representing an increase of US$31.500 Million. You may as well know that the said surplus sum has long been in the Domiciliary Suspense Account in a London bank, awaiting claims. Furtherance to this, was a recent correspondence to my department from the London Bank, requesting that we furnish them with particulars of claimants for onward payment to beneficiary.

This however, seem to suggest the reason behind our choice of a reliable foreign partner whom we would be fronting as the certified beneficiary of the fund thereby, aiding him/her with the relevant documents to claims. Undoubtedly, the trust reposed on you on this juncture is enormous. In return we have agreed to offer you 25% of the said sum (US$31.500M) while 10% shall be set-aside for any incidental expenses between the parties in the course of the transfer 65% would be for I and other Officials. We would arrange to meet with you in your country for the disbursement of funds on the agreed ratio when the Nigerian money is finally remitted to your bank account and then initiate our investments plans.

JOB TITLE.: The Engineering, Procurement and Construction of

AJAOKUTA STEEL IND. CONTRACT NUMBER; MMPS/FGN/VI233/ALSCON-2/2003,

JOB COMPLETION CERTIFICATE NO;6770024 MMPS/C; issued date 17th October, 2005.

May I at this juncture emphasis the high level of confidentiality which this business demands and hope you will not betray the trust and confidence reposed in you. I would want to assure you that this transaction is 100% risk-free, hence the category of officials that are involved. For confidential reasons do not hesitate in providing us with your telephone lines to enable direct access to communications to expedite transferring money to your bank account.

Kindly give this matter a prompt and quick reply, SO THAT WE WILL DIRECT OUR CORRESPONDING BANK IN LONDON TO TRANSFER THE SAID AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT immediately. In your reply please forward to me your direct personal phone numbers and address for easier reach and further detailed briefings.

Sincerely,

Mr. Myna Felix

Senior Accountant (Mines of Mines, Power & Steel)

Nigerian Scam #2:

Received from: vip@gomaxs.com (Terry Mark)

We are making this contact with you after satisfactory information gathered from the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce. 

Based on this, we are convinced that you will provide us with a solution to effect remittance of the sum of $35,500.000.00 resulting from over costing of job/services done for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), by foreign companies.

We are top officials of NNPC. We evaluate and secure approvals for payment of contracts executed for NNPC. We have tactfully raised values to a foreign company for onward disbursement among ourselves the Director of Accounts/Finance and Director of Audit. This transaction is 100% safe. We are seeking your assistance and permission to remit this amount into your account.

We have agreed to give you 30% of the total value, while our share will be 65%.The remainingn5% will be used as refund by both sides to offset the cost that must be incurred in the areas of public relations, engaging of legal practitioner as attorney, taxation and other incidentals in the course of securing the legitimate release of the fund into your account.

Please indicate your acceptance to carry out this Nigerian transaction urgently on  receipt of this letter. I shall in turn inform you of the modalities for a formal application to secure the necessary approvals for the immediate legitimate release of this fund into your account.

Please understand that this transaction must be held in absolute privacy and confidentiality.
Please respond if you are interested.
Thanks for your co-operations.

Yours faithfully,

Terry Mark

Phishing Scam Email From Mr. Ibrahim Lalorde

An Executive Chairman and British Prime Minister

Received From: [ Mr. Ibrahim Lalorde ] efeeeccoffiice@yahoo.com
Subject line: Good News!

Mr. Ibrahim Lalorde Phishing Scam Email

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The Group Executive Chairman
Mr. Ibrahim Lalorde,
ABUJA.

Attn: MY GOOD FRIEND,

I am Mr. Ibrahim Lalorde Efcc Executive Chairman. This is to inform you that your compensation fund as a fraud victim has been approved for immediate payment on your behalf and your representative Mr. Charles O’Brien who claims to be your next of kin presented the bank account
information below:

Royal Bank of Scotland

Glasgow Branch
A/C: 0911667701590723
Swift Code: RBS0943SCT
Routing No: RBS000897423S
Beneficiary: O’Brien industries Ltd.

Note that once you are able to send to us your details we will direct you
to the paying bank account, for an immediate payment you.

1. Your Full: Name: and Address:  2. Your:telephone:  3. Your: occupation 4. Your Sex and Age.

For the transfer stating that you are died of a car accident last week but
we still decided to contact any way but if we did not receive any response
from you within the next 1 week will assume it true and will have no
choice than to have the fund wire to his bank account above.

Expecting an urgent response.

Regards,

Mr. Ibrahim Lalorde
The Group Executive Chairman
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Image Source: Flickr Creative Commons; by bisgovuk

Joshua Akintola Nigeria Bank Account Phishing Scam

"No! I will not ship to Nigeria!" sign

Joshua Akintola Nigeria Phishing Scam

From email: sunday@ananthwin.webvis.net
Subject Line: VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!!

Hello Dear,

Good day. I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a Certified mail/Post-mail. This is due to the urgency and importance of the information.

I am Joshua Akintola, a Solicitor and Personal Attorney to a national of your country who before his death was an oil merchant in Nigeria liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG).

On the 27th June 2000, my client, his wife and their only kid were involved in a car accident along Lagos-Ibadan Express Road. All of them unfortunately lost their lives.  Since then I as the Personal Attorney of the deceased had made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relative but this has proved unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives through the Internet, to locate any member of his family but to no avail, hence I contact you.

I have contacted you to assist in getting the money and property left behind by my client before there get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this huge Deposit were lodged. Particularly, the Bank where the Deceased had an Account valued at about Nine Million United States Dollars (US$9,000,000.00) as at last month assessment.

The Bank of Nigeria has issued me - Joshua Akintola - a notice as the Attorney to the Deceased to provide the Next of Kin or have the fund declared as an UNCLAIMED FUND within the Next 15 official working days. This money will go into my bank account.

Joshua Akintola Bank Account Nigeria Scam

I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 12 years now that I have been searching.  I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the Deceased since you are a foreigner like him so that the proceeds of this Nigeria Bank Account can be paid out in your favor. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law.

I have the necessary Legal Documents that will be used to back up any claim we are going to make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through.

I wait for your urgent reply with your personal telephone number for effective communication and oral clarification.

Respectfully,

Joshua Akintola Esq

Blog image: Flickr Creative Commons; by B Rosen

Dr. John H. Williams Nigeria Email Phishing Scam

SUBJECT: VIEW THE ATTACHED FILE YOUR CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT FOR CONFIRMATION

DEAR BENEFICIARY,


I AM REV,DR.JOHN H.WILLIAMS,THE AUDITOR GENERAL OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
NIGERIA AND I WISH TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE SCAN COPY OF YOUR
CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,5MUSD WHICH I SENT TO YOUR EMAIL
ADDRESS YESTERDAY AND THIS APPROVED DRAFT INCLUDES YOUR FUND INTEREST
AMOUNT FOR THIS YEARS AWAITING,SO CALL ME NOW TO CONFIRM IT
OKAY:-+234-818-696-1788.

NOTE THAT WE ARE PAYING YOU THROUGH OUR OIL RESERVE BANK ACCOUNT WITH THE
JP MORGAN CHASE BANK NEW YORK,USA AND THEY WILL CREDIT YOUR FUND ONCE YOU
HAVE THE ORIGINAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT HARD COPY AND DEPOSIT IT TO ANY
BANK OF YOUR CHOICE IN THE WORLD.

YOU ARE HEREBY ADVICE TO TAKE THE SCAN COPY OF YOUR CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT
TO YOUR LOCAL BANK AND CONFIRM IT BEFORE WE CAN SEND YOU THE ORIGINAL HARD
COPY OR YOU CAN COME DOWN FOR THE COLLECTION HERE OKAY.

I AWAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONEST.

YOURS,

REV,DR.JOHN H.WILLIAMS.