Retired cop lost $87,000 life savings in outrageous transaction scheme—why her bank refuses to reimburse the cash
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Bank accounts are supposed to be safe, but for one retired police sergeant, that trust was shattered in the worst way.
Years of hard-earned savings—gone.
Now, she’s speaking out, warning others to stay vigilant before it’s too late.
How did this happen, and more importantly, what can be done to prevent it?
"I worked my butt off," White told NBC 5 Chicago. "I was the overtime queen at work. So all my overtime money went into my savings for my family."
By 2022, White had accumulated $87,000 in savings. But one day, everything was gone. When she checked her account, a chilling message stared back at her—"insufficient funds."
Despite these precautions, a fraudster managed to impersonate her.
They walked into multiple Chase branches with fake identification and withdrew her money—sometimes making withdrawals on consecutive days.
White had not regularly monitored her account, so the theft went unnoticed for months. When she finally reviewed her records, she immediately saw discrepancies.
"The handwriting on the withdrawal slips didn't match my own," she said.
But despite these obvious red flags, Chase Bank continued to allow the withdrawals until White’s savings were completely wiped out.
"Somebody should have recognized that this is an outrageous amount of transactions every day," White told NBC News Chicago.
"I worked hard for that money. And that's what I did for a living. Help people who are victims of crimes, fraud, and here I became a victim myself," White shared.
However, when she turned to her bank for help, she was met with disappointing news.
Chase’s fraud policy requires customers to report unauthorized transactions within 30 days of receiving their bank statements—a deadline White had missed.
Because of this, the bank refused to reimburse her.
According to Chicago police records, multiple customers at the same Chase branch had reported unauthorized withdrawals.
Additionally, more than a dozen customers reported being robbed or scammed while using that branch's ATM.
Despite these reports, Chase stood by their decision.
"As we remind all customers, it is important to review your monthly statements and if you see any unauthorized transactions to let us know right away," the bank stated.
They also recommended setting up transaction alerts to provide real-time warnings about suspicious activity.
In today’s digital world, financial fraud isn’t the only threat lurking—your personal information could be at risk in ways you never imagined.
Just as scammers find ways to drain bank accounts, hackers may be listening in on your private conversations through your phone.
From fraudulent transactions to cyber intrusions, staying vigilant is more important than ever.
Know the warning signs, take precautions, and protect yourself before it’s too late.
Have you or someone you know fallen victim to fraud? Did your bank help or leave you hanging? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
Let’s stay informed, stay protected, and make sure our hard-earned savings stay where they belong.
Also read: Hackers could be tracking you RIGHT NOW through your phone – protect yourself with these essential steps!
Years of hard-earned savings—gone.
Now, she’s speaking out, warning others to stay vigilant before it’s too late.
How did this happen, and more importantly, what can be done to prevent it?
The Shocking Discovery
Courtney White, a retired police sergeant, spent over 20 years building her savings at Chase Bank. It was meant to be a secure financial cushion for her family."I worked my butt off," White told NBC 5 Chicago. "I was the overtime queen at work. So all my overtime money went into my savings for my family."
By 2022, White had accumulated $87,000 in savings. But one day, everything was gone. When she checked her account, a chilling message stared back at her—"insufficient funds."
A retired police officer lost her entire $80,000 life savings to fraud. Image source: NBC Chicago / YouTube
A Carefully Planned Fraud
White had taken extra security measures with her account, ensuring that all transactions required in-person authorization. She had no debit card, no checks, and no online banking access tied to her account.Despite these precautions, a fraudster managed to impersonate her.
They walked into multiple Chase branches with fake identification and withdrew her money—sometimes making withdrawals on consecutive days.
White had not regularly monitored her account, so the theft went unnoticed for months. When she finally reviewed her records, she immediately saw discrepancies.
"The handwriting on the withdrawal slips didn't match my own," she said.
But despite these obvious red flags, Chase Bank continued to allow the withdrawals until White’s savings were completely wiped out.
"Somebody should have recognized that this is an outrageous amount of transactions every day," White told NBC News Chicago.
A Devastating Blow
The financial loss forced White to withdraw her son from private school."I worked hard for that money. And that's what I did for a living. Help people who are victims of crimes, fraud, and here I became a victim myself," White shared.
However, when she turned to her bank for help, she was met with disappointing news.
Chase’s fraud policy requires customers to report unauthorized transactions within 30 days of receiving their bank statements—a deadline White had missed.
Because of this, the bank refused to reimburse her.
More Victims, More Questions
White is not alone.According to Chicago police records, multiple customers at the same Chase branch had reported unauthorized withdrawals.
Additionally, more than a dozen customers reported being robbed or scammed while using that branch's ATM.
Despite these reports, Chase stood by their decision.
"As we remind all customers, it is important to review your monthly statements and if you see any unauthorized transactions to let us know right away," the bank stated.
They also recommended setting up transaction alerts to provide real-time warnings about suspicious activity.
How to Protect Yourself from Fraud
Craig Costigan, CEO of fraud experts NICE Actimize, offers these tips to protect yourself:- "Trust but verify." Always be skeptical of text and email communications claiming to be from your bank. If in doubt, call the number on the back of your card instead of responding directly.
- "Protect your personal identifying information." Keep your social security card, blank checks, and other IDs secure.
- "Always be vigilant." If you notice suspicious activity, report it immediately to your financial provider.
- "Consider freezing your credit reports." If you’re not applying for credit, placing a freeze on Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax can prevent fraudsters from opening accounts in your name.
In today’s digital world, financial fraud isn’t the only threat lurking—your personal information could be at risk in ways you never imagined.
Just as scammers find ways to drain bank accounts, hackers may be listening in on your private conversations through your phone.
From fraudulent transactions to cyber intrusions, staying vigilant is more important than ever.
Know the warning signs, take precautions, and protect yourself before it’s too late.
Let’s stay informed, stay protected, and make sure our hard-earned savings stay where they belong.
Also read: Hackers could be tracking you RIGHT NOW through your phone – protect yourself with these essential steps!
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