A Houston small business owner, Lele Ewah, had $20,000 stolen from her newly approved small business loan. The money was meant for repairs and marketing at her health and wellness shop, Power of Sea Moss.
The Scam
Ewah received a convincing phone call from someone claiming to be “Erica” from Prosperity Bank, her bank. The caller ID appeared legitimate, and the scammer even mentioned Ewah’s travel plans, making the call seem incredibly real. Erica then asked Ewah to verify some information to “secure” her account and reset her online banking. This gave the scammer access to Ewah’s account.
The Aftermath
Later that day, Ewah discovered two large transfers totaling $20,000 had been made to other accounts within Prosperity Bank. Devastated, Ewah contacted the bank. While Prosperity Bank assured her they could recover the funds (as they were transferred internally), only $12,000 has been returned so far. Ewah is still $8,000 short of the funds she desperately needed for her business. She expressed her frustration, highlighting the significant impact this theft has had on her small business.
Prosperity Bank’s Response
Prosperity Bank, a large regional bank with billions of dollars in assets, is investigating the incident. The details of their internal investigation and the reasons for the delay in fully recovering the stolen funds are not yet public.