A phone scam has left a Long Island woman with a nearly $30,000 loss.
According to Nassau County Police, the victim, a 43-year-old woman from Plainview, received a call on the morning of Feb. 23 from someone claiming to be from Chase Bank's fraud department.
The caller, who used the name "Tracy Smith," informed the victim of fraudulent activity on her account and instructed her to wire $29,800 to a Bank of America account to resolve the issue. The victim complied and sent the money.
Realizing that she may have been defrauded, she later contacted the police for assistance.
To avoid falling victim to scams, Chase Bank offers several tips on its website, including:
- Don’t open links in emails or texts unless you’re sure that it’s authentic
- Never provide your usernames or passwords outside of the normal secure sites and apps you use
- We won't ask you to transfer money between accounts to get your money back
- Fraudsters can spoof a phone number to make it look like the call or text is coming from Chase. When in doubt, call us using the number on the back of your Chase card or account statement
- Before sending money including wires, always confirm the recipient is who they say they are. Never send your financial or personal info by email.
- When someone asks for money or personal information, end the conversation without providing any money or personal information such as your Social Security Number, credit or debit card number or bank account number.
- When in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact Chase at 1-800-935-9935 or visit your local branch