JPMorgan Chase Employee Inadvertently Unfreezes Funds Stolen by a Scammer, Causing $20,000 Loss for Arizona Couple
In the state of Arizona, a concerning trend has emerged involving scammers impersonating bank employees to manipulate victims into transferring funds, often into cryptocurrency or digital wallets.
Recent cases include an Arizona couple who lost $20,000 after a JPMorgan Chase employee mistakenly unfroze scam-stolen funds. The couple had received a fraudulent text about a $399 Zelle payment, following the scammer’s directions, they withdrew the money and deposited it into Apple Wallet, from which the scammer took the funds. Chase is still investigating, and Peoria police have identified a Florida suspect.
A similar incident occurred last month, where a scammer drained $27,000 from a man in Peoria, Arizona—his life savings. Despite local police involvement and freezing of accounts, the bank’s fraud department initially claimed no help could be offered.
These scams chiefly exploit digital payment services like Zelle and Apple Wallet to launder stolen funds quickly, taking advantage of bank staff errors or impersonation.
In response to these incidents, the Arizona Attorney General has launched a campaign to combat cryptocurrency scams, including efforts to protect consumers from Bitcoin ATM fraud. New legislation targeting Bitcoin ATM scams is also being advanced to bolster protections in the state.
Beyond these specific cases, a major money laundering conviction related to a $13 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme was recorded in Arizona in July 2025, highlighting ongoing law enforcement attention to crypto-related fraud beyond the bank employee impersonation scams.
As the state takes action, it's essential for individuals to remain vigilant and cautious when dealing with financial transactions, especially those involving digital currencies. If you suspect you've been a victim of a scam, contact your bank and local law enforcement immediately.
[1] The Daily Hodl, "Arizona Couple Loses $20,000 in Bank Scam Involving Cryptocurrency, Florida Suspect Identified" [2] Arizona Attorney General, "New Legislation Targets Bitcoin ATM Scams" [3] AZ Central, "Man Sentenced in $13 Million Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme" [4] Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong addresses UK ban of Coinbase commercial [5] The Daily Hodl, "Arizona Man Loses Life Savings to Bank Scam Involving Cryptocurrency" [6] Analyst predicts Bitcoin meltdown as a Black Swan risk looms, and altcoins face a big shakeout [7] Bitcoin is on the cusp of entering the Euphoria phase, according to an on-chain analyst
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