Couple who lost $24K in bank scam receives some answers

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – In January, Better Call 4 told you about a Pataskala couple who claimed someone hacked into their bank account and withdrew large sums of money. But when Eric and Brenda Nickolas turned to their bank for help, they were blamed for it instead.

“Refund what was stolen from our account and we’ll call it a day,” Eric Nickolas said. “I don’t want to profit from this, and we certainly didn’t, as they allege.”

It was just days after July 4, 2023, while in Florida, that Nickolas noticed some unusual activity in his Chase Bank account.

“I was perusing my bank account online, on the phone, and I noticed that approximately $24,000 was missing,” he said. The money was withdrawn through four separate transactions. “$4,300, $7,900, $6,900, and $4,200, and I asked my wife, ‘Have you moved money out of our home equity line of credit,'” Nickolas said.

His wife Brenda said she didn’t.

“We didn’t move any money around,” Nickolas said. “In fact, we’ve been doing nothing but attacking the balance and paying it down for the last seven, eight months.”

Suspecting they had been hacked, the Nickolases immediately went to the nearest Chase branch in Bradenton, Florida, then another branch two days later, and even began working with the local sheriff’s department.

“They’re very sympathetic when you’re talking to them, but, pretty much the bottom line is they said once money is wired out, they can’t do anything about it,” Nickolas said.

But the Nickolases said they continued to reach out to the bank, day after day, week after week.

“Hour-wise, at least 24 hours of sitting in offices with them, being on the phone, being on hold, being told nothing’s happening and we’re going to deny your claim,” he said.

And that was the final word from Chase. The Nickolases’ fraud claim was denied twice because, according to Chase’s investigation, the transactions were approved from Brenda’s personal device.

“We’ve gotten nothing but, ’Well it was through some fault of hers because her phone was hacked’ and we just don’t know how,” Nicolas said. “We’ll both take a polygraph exam if that’s what it takes to say, ‘We didn’t do this.’”

A Chase representative told Better Call 4 exactly what the Nickolases were told. So, Better Call 4 took it a step further, reaching out to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), who directed us to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which, in a statement, said:

“We encourage any consumers who may have a concern about or complaint against one of the institutions we regulate to contact the Customer Assistance Group…”

“The OCC expects the banks it regulates to ensure that any issues that may result in consumer harm are remediated and resolved in a timely manner.”

FDIC statement

“I hope they come through, but I’m not holding my breath,” Nicolas said.

Thankfully, a few months later, it appears they did come through. Nickolas sent a message to Better Call 4 in early March, which said, in part:

"Thanks to you for providing the information about the FDIC and the Office of the Comptroller, which we contacted and completed the application process to investigate the Chase matter. As a result of the FDIC prompting and inquiry to Chase, we have received restitution from them."

Better Call 4 followed up with Nickolas, who confirmed that he and Brenda are no longer on the hook for the nearly $24,000, but are still being held responsible for the interest – which is about $750.

Better Call 4 also reached out to Chase, but did not hear back.