Scammers use spoof bank calls to steal customers' money
Updated
Updated · WLS-TV · May 5
Scammers use spoof bank calls to steal customers' money
10 articles · Updated · WLS-TV · May 5
In the Chicago area, Jennifer Lichthardt lost nearly $40,000 and Susie Allgood lost $5,000 after callers posing as Chase, Huntington, Zelle and the FBI urged transfers.
The FBI said spoofing is a growing threat, often using stolen account details and pressure tactics to push victims into moving funds to supposedly secure accounts that are quickly emptied.
The agency logged more than 191,000 phishing-spoofing complaints in 2025, with reported losses above $215 million; banks said legitimate staff never ask customers to send money.
President Trump's new plan targets scammers, but can it recover the billions already lost by American victims?
Why must UK banks refund scam victims when US banks refuse?
With AI voice cloning and data from the dark web, is any digital transaction truly safe?