. But after alerting the online brokerage to what she believed was a theft in progress, she received a frustrating email. Because the wildly popular app has no emergency phone number, some said they tried in vain to intervene, only to watch helplessly as their money vanished. Two of those customers said they have heard back from an official at the SEC seeking more information. Finra and the SEC declined to comment. Robinhood, founded seven years ago and based in Menlo Park, California, has exploded in popularity this year as millions of Americans stuck at home -- including throngs of millennials -- look to make some money during a pandemic that has sent stock prices swinging. But the no-fee brokerage app has also attracted consumer complaints, with novice investors confused by the vagaries of stock options and margin loans. His bet on Netflix Inc. He said Robinhood contacted him on Friday and unlocked the account after sending several emails late Thursday asking for help. Rao showed Bloomberg the same emailed response from Robinhood that Bagheri received. Neither believed they had been duped by phishing scams or malware. Both said they use the same email for Robinhood and other accounts, and that only Robinhood has been affected. London-based Revolut, which offers a money transfer and exchange app, expanded to the U. Bill Hurley, who owns a metal-fabrication shop in Windsor, Connecticut, said he received notifications that stock and Bitcoin had been sold from his account on Sept. He said he emailed Robinhood for assistance while the transactions were pending but received none. Hurley, 00, said he reached out to the SEC and heard back from a lawyer for the regulator, who asked for additional information on what had happened. After more than two weeks of emails seeking help from Robinhood, a customer support representative called him on Thursday, he said. Updates with cyber-security expert comment in 00th paragraph. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg. Move over Apple. And so far, it's paying off in a major way. Spousal benefits can be very confusing, said Kate Gregory, a financial planner and president of Gregory Advisors Inc.