A JPMorgan Chase customer has been swindled out of more than $35,000 by scammers impersonating the bank's anti-fraud officials and the FBI.
Illinois resident Jennifer Lichthardt says she felt violated after criminals used a spoofing scheme to convince her to transfer funds to a Chase account they controlled, according to ABC 7 Chicago.
The scam began when Lichthardt answered a call that displayed the bank's number on her phone. The callers read her account number and knew her balance down to the penny.
The scammers claimed the FBI and Chase's fraud team were investigating bank employees accessing customer accounts, and urged her to move her money to a "secured Chase account" for protection. She transferred $35,000 at a local branch and additional funds to an online bank, all of which was quickly withdrawn.
Chase warned consumers to ignore any unsolicited requests to move money or grant access to accounts or computers, emphasizing that legitimate banks do not make such demands. Lichthardt has reported the theft to law enforcement.