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Former bank manager warns Garland seniors about evolving scams, urges caution with calls and money transfers
Summary
Maria Hazenkullen, a community manager and 34-year bank veteran, told Garland seniors that scams have grown more sophisticated, urged them to avoid answering unknown calls, not to say 'yes' on calls, to stop and verify requests, and to know their bank’s contact numbers.
Maria Hazenkullen, a community manager and former JPMorgan Chase banker with 34 years of experience, told attendees at a Garland Senior Center meeting that scams targeting older adults are increasingly clever and often rely on urgency or emotional pressure.
"These scams and frauds have gotten really, really aggressive ... AI has played a big part in that as well," Hazenkullen said, and she recommended several practical steps seniors can take to reduce risk, including not picking up calls from unknown numbers, letting unknown callers go to voicemail and never saying the word "yes" when asked questions on the phone.
Hazenkullen recounted a caller tactic in which someone impersonates a relative and claims an urgent legal or bail situation. In one example she gave, a customer who came to a branch to withdraw $5,000 said she had been told her grandson needed bail money. A teller suggested calling the grandson; the grandson answered and said no help was needed. "These people are good, and they're playing on our emotions," Hazenkullen said.
She also described romance scams that have cost victims tens of thousands of dollars, and urged participants to stop, breathe and verify before sending any payment. "Once the money is gone, we can't help you. It's gone," she said, noting that banks, corporate security and police had tried to intervene in a case where a customer lost nearly $60,000.
Hazenkullen explained banking protections and practices: relationship bankers and tellers watch for atypical activity, banks may call customers about unusual transactions, and customers should keep their branch or customer-service phone number handy. She recommended getting a bank employee's business card and using the customer-service number printed on bank cards if a caller claims to be from the bank.
Questions from attendees covered so-called "love bombing" by relatives or acquaintances, debit-card fraud and the speed of card replacement. Hazenkullen said banks can often stop suspicious transactions and replace cards more quickly than in the past, though recovery may take time.
