Earlier this year, WGN Investigates reported how a Hyde Park man lost $3,000.
More recently, Lance Johnston, a recent college graduate, lost $4,000 in West Town.
After leaving a doctor’s office, Johnston was approached by a group of men who said they were collecting money for a child’s funeral.
“They dressed up real official claiming to be part of a neighborhood watch,” Johnston said.
He offered cash but they told him they could only accept debit card payments.
He agreed to donate $15 and handed them his card. They tapped it against a mobile phone, and he walked away thinking all was good. Soon after, though, he discovered they charged him $4,000, without his knowledge or permission.
“I want people to know that this is happening,” Johnston said. “I had no idea.”
Johnston filed a police report and disputed the charge with PNC Bank. Initially, the bank told him there was nothing they could do.
But after WGN Investigates emailed PNC about the matter, the bank called Johnston and told him it would reimburse the money. A bank spokeswoman confirmed that account but declined further comment.
Earlier this year, we spoke with a digital payment expert who urged people to be on guard, noting that often banks don’t cover the losses in these scams.
“People should treat their electronic payment mechanisms the way they would treat cash,” said Peter Tapling. “If you would not hand $100 to this person, don’t hand them your card.”
In an ironic twist, Johnston said PNC had blocked much smaller, though legitimate charges in the past but for some reason let this one go through.
WGN Investigates found he’s not alone.
A review of Chicago Police data found that in recent years the city averages a total of 2,500 credit card fraud reports, a number that includes tap-and-pay scams.
So far this year, there have been just under 1,500. Police have made arrests in only 14, or less than 1 percent of cases.
“Finding the bad guy is difficult,” Tapling said.
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