People are reaching out to Channel 2 Action News investigates from all over the country after seeing the story of an 86-year-old woman who had nearly $50,000 stolen out of her Fidelity retirement accounts.
“Somebody was asleep at the switch. Somebody was not doing their job, or this would have never happened,” Nancy Smith told Channel 2 consumer investigator Justin Gray.
In September, three new joint accounts were created in Smith’s name.
Each of the accounts was linked to a different person Smith said she did not know and had never met.
“Eleven different transfers had been made by these three bogus people,” Smith said.
Smith said she never authorized the transfers or the changes to her accounts.
Robin Gunnink reached out to Channel 2 Action News from Wisconsin.
“My 96-year-old mom had the same thing happen to her. On Oct. 11, a joint account was opened in her name. There was a withdrawal of $20,000. $10,000 was immediately put in another Fidelity account and left the Fidelity platform. She has not gotten it back,” she wrote.