Phone Scammer Tricks Ohio Woman into Undressing On Camera, Steals $6,000

A woman in Mayfield Heights endured a terrifying scam, losing nearly $6,000 and suffering a deeply humiliating experience. This incident underscores the alarming tactics scammers use to exploit unsuspecting victims.

Ohio Woman Duped Out of $6,000 and Humiliated on Camera

The ordeal began with what appeared to be a call from Huntington Bank’s customer service number. In reality, it was a spoofed call designed to deceive. "There is spoofing for caller IDs," said Sheryl Harris, Director of the Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs and the Scam Squad. "It’s illegal, but scammers engage in all sorts of illegal activities. If someone contacts you about a problem, just hang up and independently verify what they’re saying."

How Exactly Did She Get Scammed?

The scam took place last Tuesday when the woman was told by the caller that her account had a fraudulent charge and she needed to transfer her funds to a different account to protect them. The caller provided her with a Chase Bank debit card number and instructed her to add it to her Apple Wallet.

“It sounds real, and when we panic, our brain goes into overdrive,” Harris explained. “We worry about losing our money and can’t think rationally.”

Following the caller’s instructions, the woman withdrew $6,000 from her account at Huntington Bank in Mayfield Heights and then went to Chase Bank on Som Center Road. There, she transferred the money into an unknown account using the provided debit card.

Then The Scammers Tricked Her Into Getting Naked

The scam escalated further when the scammer FaceTimed her at home, posing as a bank employee and claiming a full body scan was needed to verify her identity due to a failed transaction. Believing the request was legitimate, the woman undressed and spun in circles on camera. It was only when she heard the scammer laughing that she realized she had been tricked.

“Your bank isn’t going to FaceTime you,” Harris stressed.

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Did She Get Her Money Back After This Scam?

Despite her efforts to recover the funds, the bank informed her that she was responsible for the lost money. Harris noted that recovering funds in such cases is challenging but urged victims to report the crime immediately.

Kris Dahl, Vice President of Regional Communications at Huntington National Bank, stated, “At Huntington, we educate our customers to help them avoid fraud. Huntington will never call, email, or text asking for login credentials. Contact your bank immediately if you believe you have been a victim of fraud.”

Safety Tips:

1. Do not trust caller IDs; they can be spoofed.
2. Verify any suspicious calls or messages by directly contacting your bank.
3. Never share personal information or perform unusual actions over the phone.
4. Report any suspicious activities to your bank and local authorities immediately.