Jacksonville elderly woman says someone stole her stimulus payment from the city

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Oct. 22 UPDATE: An anonymous Action News Jax viewer saw her story and reached out to replace the money.

Click here to watch the updated story.

Original Story from Oct. 21

A Jacksonville elderly and disabled woman said someone stole her stimulus money from the city.

JoAnne Pinkney, 74, said her family helped her apply for the City of Jacksonville’s Senior and Disabled Financial Assistance Program in June.

She said she received the card in July. Pinkney said the card had $300 on it, which she was going to use to help pay her mortgage.

“That would’ve been a big help for me,” Pinkney said. When she went to use the card the first time, she said she was shocked to learn the funds had been nearly drained. “I couldn’t believe it,” Pinkney said. “Who would do that to an old lady?”

The family reached out to the city, which sparked an investigation.

Records reveal eight purchases to Apple.com, according to an email from Randall Barnes, the treasurer for the COJ.

Pinkney said that wasn’t her, and she doesn’t believe a family member would steal from her. “I never had no problems with them stealing,” Pinkney said.

In an email, Barnes said it appeared someone likely gained access to Pinkney’s prepaid card without her knowledge and was able to steal the funds the city provided to her.

Barnes said the card was activated July 18 by someone who entered the activation code, which was the last four digits of Pinkney’s Social Security number.

Whoever called to activate the card knew Pinkney’s last four digits of her SSN and that it was the activation code.

The city said it can’t provide Pinkney with another card.

Pinkney filed a police report.

She hopes the card company can work with Apple to get to the bottom of it.

“I would just love to find out who did that,” Pinkney said.

She said she hopes they face consequences.

“I hope you go to jail,” Pinkney said.

The COJ said this was the only complaint it’s aware of out of 6,558 prepaid cards provided to seniors and disabled citizens through the program.

Cox Media Group