They typically offer lower fees than traditional banks, however, they’re becoming a popular target for scammers.Yvonne St. Clair started using the Chime banking app last fall when she started a new job.
The Pendleton woman said she got an alert from Chime that stated she made a $77 purchase on Amazon— a purchase she did not make.“I didn’t hear anything for a couple days, so I thought I need to call,” said St. Clair.“The guy answered and said ‘thank you for calling Chime,’ and he said someone tried to get $1200 out of my account and let’s track them down,” said St. Clair. “I followed it hook, line and sinker.
Yvonne St. Clair said she did initially try the number on the back of her card, but could not get through at first.“I just felt really foolish you know,” said St. Clair."If it sounds odd, just hang up! Just hang up the phone which is what my gut was telling me to do."WRTV Investigates also spoke with Penny Lee, CEO at the Financial Technology Association, a trade organization that represents digital financial institutions including Chime.
Chime Financial also has thousands of Better Business Bureau Complaints, many claiming scammers drained their funds.