Cleveland Huntington Bank Customers Faced Unauthorized Withdrawals
Local bank customers lost thousands after fraudsters posed as representatives to compromise personal and business accounts.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Financial Crime
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In June 2026, Huntington Bank customers in the Cleveland area reported unauthorized transfers from their accounts to external platforms. The incidents involved large sums taken from both personal and business holdings.
Why it matters
These events highlight the risks posed by impersonation scams, where bad actors manipulate victims to gain access to sensitive banking information. The fraudulent activity resulted in significant financial losses for account holders.
Cleveland Police are investigating the case regarding an unauthorized $98,000 withdrawal from a business account. Meanwhile, Huntington Bank has processed a $6,700 refund for a separate savings account victim.
The players
Huntington Bank
This is a regional bank headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, that provides various financial services to personal and business clients throughout the Midwest.
Cleveland Police
This municipal law enforcement agency is responsible for investigating crimes and maintaining public safety within the city of Cleveland.
Charlotte Perkins
She is a business customer who reported an unauthorized $98,000 withdrawal from her commercial account.
Christina Derrow
She is a bank customer residing in Navarre, Ohio, who reported a $6,700 withdrawal from her savings.
The details
Fraudsters contacted customers while posing as bank representatives to secure account access credentials. These perpetrators then executed unauthorized transfers, moving funds into external accounts including a Santander account in Florida and a Cash App account.
Timeline
June 2026: Christina Derrow discovered $6,700 missing from her savings account.
Legal Context
This case follows a documented pattern of financial imposter fraud identified in the 2023 Federal Trade Commission reports on authorized push payment fraud. Such incidents reflect broader challenges in safeguarding digital financial transfers against social engineering tactics.
Local customers should exercise extreme caution if contacted by individuals claiming to be bank representatives, as these scams often use urgency to steal account access. Residents are advised to verify all requests through official branch channels before sharing any sensitive financial information.
The takeaway
Always confirm the identity of anyone asking for account details by contacting your bank through a verified, independent phone number. Never trust unsolicited callers claiming to represent your financial institution.
Further reading
For more on evolving fraud trends in the region, visit Financial Crime.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News 5 Cleveland WEWS.
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