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  Geebo 8:00 am on March 11, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: bank scam ( 72 ), Chime, customer service ( 50 ), Scams ( 1,386 )   

  Bank app scam targets Chime users 

  

  By Greg Collier

  When we typically discuss payment app scams, we talk about one of the two biggest platforms, either Venmo or Zelle. However, there’s one app that doesn’t often come up in that conversation, but requires are attention, nonetheless, and that’s Chime.

  Chime is an online banking platform that offers a variety of financial services, including checking and savings accounts, as well as debit cards. It positions itself as a mobile-first bank, meaning that most of its services are accessible through its mobile app rather than through traditional brick-and-mortar branches.

  Chime has become popular in areas that are underserved by most banks. This is because Chime has such features as early direct deposit, and lacks many common fees associated with traditional banks, such as overdraft fees and monthly maintenance fees.

  Although Chime doesn’t seem to be as prone to scams as some other platforms, it’s important to note that it’s not entirely immune to them.

  A Chime user from Indiana recently fell victim to a scam, losing over $1300 in the process. The scam unfolded similarly to a familiar scheme. The user received a text alert claiming that someone had made a purchase on Amazon using her account. If the user had responded to the text, she might have been directed to transfer her money to a purportedly ‘secure’ account, falling prey to a scam akin to the Zelle scam.

  Despite avoiding one scam, the customer unwittingly became a victim of another. Seeking to dispute the alleged fraudulent charge, she searched the web for Chime’s customer service number. Unfortunately, she stumbled upon a number claiming to be Chime’s official customer service department. However, it turned out to be a scam call center impersonating Chime.

  The customer was informed that someone was attempting to withdraw $1200 from her account. To prevent this, she was instructed to download an app onto her phone, purportedly to thwart the scammers. However, the app granted the scammers remote access to her device. With this access, they were able to breach her Chime account and transfer $1340 out of it. Fortunately, Chime intervened and successfully refunded the customer’s money.

  No matter if it’s a traditional bank or not, if you receive a call or text urging you to transfer your money to another account for protection, it’s likely a scam. If you encounter such a call, hang up immediately and reach out to your bank using the customer service number listed on their official website or your debit card.

   

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  Geebo 9:00 am on November 8, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: bank fraud ( 26 ), Chime, customer service ( 50 ), online banking, Scams ( 1,386 )   

  Online-only banks vulnerable to familiar scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Online-only banks can be a boon to many. They give those who are underserved by traditional banks a place to safely keep their money. They can be a great tool for those in lower-income households, or those in rural areas who don’t live close enough to a traditional bank. Unfortunately, these banks and more importantly their customers, are still vulnerable to a scam that’s been mostly affecting traditional bank customers.

  Chime is an online-only bank that many people use. They offer lower fees than traditional banks, and customers’ money is still insured by the FDIC. Recently, a Chime customer received a phone call from someone claiming to be a Chime representative. They told her that there was possible fraudulent activity on her account. She was then given instructions on how to protect her money from being stolen from her account. In actuality, the representative was a scammer who was directing her money to a scammer’s account. The scammer ended up taking $1400 of the customer’s money, her entire paycheck.

  If this sounds a lot like the Zelle scam, you’d be correct in thinking so. While Chime does not use Zelle, it does have its own platform for sending money to friends and family. This can be exploited in the same way that Zelle has been in the past year or so.

  In this instance, Chime seems to act more like a traditional bank, as they refused to refund the victim her money. Many of the banks that use Zelle have refused refunds to victims, stating that since the victim initiated the transaction, even under false pretenses, they’re not eligible for refunds.

  Whether the bank is traditional or not, if someone calls you and tells you that you need to move your money to another account to protect it, they’re scamming you. If you receive one of these calls, hang up and call your bank at their customer service number listed on their website, or your debit card.