7 On Your Side helps restore retiree's social security benefits after scam freezes them
EAST ORANGE, New Jersey (WABC) -- An East Orange man scrambled for his life savings when a scammer got hold of his identity - until he turned to 7 On Your Side's Nina Pineda for help.
On disability for an issue with his knees, George Harris saved every cent of his supplemental social security while working as a social worker. By the time he retired, Harris had five figures' worth of savings.
"This was pretty much (for) me and the wife, a little retirement nest," he told Eyewitness News.
Harris' nest egg was untouched in his Direct Express account - until a fraudulent charge for $1,643 threw him for a loop.
"I was thinking, 'Oh my goodness, somebody pretty much got my card," he said.
Harris quickly canceled his card, alerting both social security and Direct Express. But his scammer was one step ahead.
He told Nina Pineda that the fraudster stole his identity, called Direct Express, and had the new card shipped to their address. They even managed to get George's card sent to a different address in East Orange.
For months, Harris was trapped in a cat-and-mouse game for his life savings, frequently receiving replacement cards in the mail that he couldn't use.
"They sent you eight replacement cards?" Nina Pineda asked Harris.
"And every time I tried to activate it, it was invalid," he replied.
When Harris tried to have his social security savings directed to a new bank, he was referred back to where he started.
"They said I had to go through Direct Express, because they were the one that got the money."
That's when Harris turned to 7 On Your Side. The team contacted Direct Express, and within a day, they let Harris know that his funds were transferred right into his new account safely, out of the hands of the scammer. Direct Express did not provide a statement.
" Thank you, thank you, thank you," he told Nina Pineda. "I will tell anyone with a problem (to) get 7 on your side and miss Nina!"
ALSO READ: REAL ID Scams: What to look out for
----------
SHARE YOUR STORY
Do you have an issue with a company that you haven't been able to resolve? If so, 7 On Your Side wants to help you!
Fill out the form below or email your questions, issues, or story ideas by filling out the form below or by emailing 7OnYourSideNina@abc.com. All emails MUST INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND CELLPHONE NUMBER. Without a phone number, 7 On Your Side will not be able to respond.
