Our News 5 investigation into Huntington Bank customers having money stolen from their accounts has drawn the attention of federal authorities.
This is the fourth story we are following with Huntington customers who say their accounts have been impacted by fraud.
“Very disappointing and very difficult emotionally,” said Patty Bassisin of Port Clinton.
She told us that because fraudsters had withdrawn a lot of money from her Huntington account, her prized possessions are at risk.
He said, “I’m late on my car payment. They can take my car.”
See previous coverage: Even more fraud problems with Huntington Bank accounts
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Lisa Lynn of Stow told us her account went negative because of the fraud and then Huntington Hank’s fees started increasing.
“And they used my pension deposit yesterday to cover the overdraft,” Lynn said.
Customers say Huntington has blamed them
Some customers said that when they asked Huntington for help, the bank blamed them, saying they had authorized the withdrawals.
Doug Robison of Castalia told us he was at a doctor’s appointment in Cleveland at about the same time the bank claimed he was withdrawing money in New Jersey.
“I’m fast, but I’m not that fast,” Robison said.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Robison’s wife told us Huntington had just added $800 back to the account. He thanked News 5 for the coverage.
Don Graber of Akron lost thousands of dollars, but after News 5 got involved, Huntington now says he will get his money back. He nevertheless questioned Huntington’s verification policies.
See previous coverage: More Huntington Bank customers with fraud issues on their accounts
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“So, someone can borrow $40,000 from me, but if I go to my local bank to cash a $100 check, they say do you have ID?” he wondered out loud.
Diana Hannan of Massillon said the crooks were very confident in their case when they stole more than $6,000 from her.
“They said they were from the FDIC, and they were working with the Department of Justice, the DOJ, and they were going to catch these criminals,” Hannan said.
Federal agency now investigating
Since our previous Huntington Bank fraud stories aired, a real, verified federal agency contacted me and is now investigating cases of missing money.
“This is clearly a bank robbery,” said Sharon Budin of Euclid. “It’s a modern, high-tech bank robbery, but it’s a bank robbery.”
At the state level, among the fraud complaints filed against Huntington Bank over the past year and a half with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, one person wrote that Huntington: “…believed [she] authorized [$10,000] “transactions” that took place at one place [she doesn’t know]” Another said, “Huntington employees actively failed their operational duty to help [her] losses…” and another claimed Huntington’s “[failed] To properly investigate a documented impersonation scam….”
SEE PREVIOUS COVERAGE: $12K GONE! Woman caught in the middle of a financial nightmare; she is not alone
$12K gone! Woman caught in the middle of a financial nightmare; she is not alone
Impact of fraud, treatment
Meanwhile, clients in our studios say their cases have had a huge impact on them.
“I have a bone marrow disease that is incurable but treatable. My numbers have gone down. My health has deteriorated,” Basisin said.
“And things are late and people are calling me,” Lynn said. “My credit score is 839, and people are calling me.”
Of course, we asked Huntington Bank again to sit down and talk, but no interview has happened yet.
Customers have a message for Huntington
The customers we interviewed wanted answers, and they had a message for Huntington Bank.
“I really think it’s sad that their customer service is what it is and they need a complete overhaul,” Hannan said.
Budin said, “I want Huntington to fix the problems so it doesn’t happen to other people who maybe can afford it even less.”
“Thank you for ruining my life,” Bassisin said. “Thank you.”
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