Help My Parents Recover After Scammers Took Everything

Thank you for taking the time to read my parents’ story. Any support—whether financial, spiritual, or simply sharing this page—is appreciated beyond words.

On March 6, scammers drained my parents’ bank accounts, stealing their entire savings—over $40,000—and leaving them with nothing to cover their basic needs. Now, they are struggling to pay their bills, feed themselves and their two dogs, afford gas, and cover essential health expenses—all with just the few hundred they had in cash at the time.

My parents (Lisa and Ted) are kind, generous, and hardworking people who have always lived frugally, yet they now find themselves facing an unimaginable hardship. They have two dogs to care for, a mortgage to pay off, and only one source of income—my dad’s job as a printing pressman. He works overtime every single week to support them both, hoping to retire in a few years. But now, with their entire savings stolen, I fear that may not be possible.

While I’m grateful they at least have my dad’s income to keep them afloat, I know it won’t be enough to cover all their expenses. They’ve always made do with very little, but this loss has left them in an incredibly difficult position.

How They Were Scammed

It’s easy to think these scams are obvious in hindsight, but scammers are incredibly sophisticated in how they build trust and create fear, forcing victims to act quickly.

This all started with a phone call from someone claiming to be from their bank, Huntington. The caller knew my mom’s name and address, which made them seem legitimate. They posed as the Huntington fraud department and told her that her accounts had been compromised and that thousands of dollars were about to be wired out unless she moved her money immediately.

They said they had already set up a “safe” account for her at Chase Bank, instructed her to add their Chase card to her Apple Pay, and then told her to withdraw all her cash from Huntington and deposit it into the Chase account through an ATM. By the time she realized something was wrong, it was too late—the money was gone, and nothing could be done to recover it.

My mom has always believed in the good in people, and these scammers exploited that trust.

No Path to Recovering Their Savings

Unfortunately, there are no resources to help victims like my parents recover their stolen funds. We have contacted both banks, filed a police report, reached out to the attorney general, and spoken to lawyers—yet there is no way for them to recoup even a portion of their savings. It is heartbreaking that bank tellers did not flag this transaction as suspicious when my mom withdrew her entire savings in cash.

I’m sharing their story not only to seek help for my parents but also to warn others. These scams are devastating, and they can happen to anyone. Please talk to your parents and grandparents about phone and text scams. Warn them never to trust unexpected calls from “banks,” never to withdraw or transfer money under pressure, and always verify with their bank directly.

How You Can Help

I have set up this GoFundMe to help support my parents in this difficult time and rebuild some of their lost savings, giving them a safety net to meet their needs. If you are able to contribute, any amount would mean the world. If you can’t donate, simply sharing this page would be a huge help.

Thank you for reading their story and for any support—whether financial, spiritual, or by spreading awareness—you can provide.