| Contact information: | Please tell us who you are and give us a way to contact you. We will not share your information. |
|---|---|
| Date Created | May 6, 2025 |
| First Name | Donna |
| Email OR Phone Number | dgunter3158@gmail.com |
| Zip Code (we want to match where you live with your members of Congress) | 28401 |
| Tell us a little about yourself or your loved one: | |
| Q1: What was your situation when you or your loved one first started experiencing elder abuse, neglect, and/or fraud? (What was your/their living situation like, were you/they struggling with any health issues, etc.?) | My 87 year old uncle was scammed. He lives alone and does have some health issues. I am his closest living relative and his POA. |
| Q2: What would you like to share about your story? | My uncle was scammed. He really was caught up in the scam and lost a lot of money. My issue is with the financial institution that allowed him to withdraw large amounts of money out of our joint account. I was added to his bank accounts to be able to pay his bills, etc once he was unable to do so. The financial institution kept allowing him to withdraw cash knowing he was being scammed. They never once attempted to contact me to alert me of their suspicion of fraud/scam. It was only after he came in for the 4th time to clean out his account did they call me. I feel the bank failed to protect my uncle. This bank knows my uncle as it is his branch. |
| Q3: What do you wish people knew about elder abuse, neglect, and fraud? | Be diligent and be aware. Scammers are so controlling. It's easy for anyone especially the elderly to get caught up. Financial Institutions need to be held accountable for not protecting their customers when they suspect fraud/scam. |
| Q4: What are your hopes for the future? | That financial institutions are made to alert joint account holders when large amounts of money are being requested. I can't stop my uncle from getting his money. But as a joint account holder, I could've help save him from almost total loss. |
| Can our staff follow up with you about your story? | Yes |
| Are you interested in sharing your story further? (We can contact you about speaking with local media, elected officials, or recording your story for a video or podcast) | Yes |
| Can we use your name in telling your story? | Yes |
| Is there anything else you would like to add? | I would love to share our story. The financial institution is steadfast that they followed their policy. My issue is that is policy more important than helping your fellow human. If they would've reached out to me, I could have saved my uncle. There is much more to this story. This is only a short description. |