What Are My Options if I’m a Victim of Banking Fraud?

Banking fraud is unfortunately far too common and many times those hurt by it are the most vulnerable: seniors who are targeted by scammers and who often rely on their savings to provide them with financial security since they no longer receive regular paychecks.

If you have been victimized by any type of banking fraud, it is important that you understand what your options are for recovering your lost funds and protecting yourself going forward.  Often, you will need legal advice and assistance to take appropriate action and ensure you are able to benefit from the legal protections that are available to you. A Santa Clara County financial elder abuse attorney at Evans Law Firm, Inc. can offer the assistance and support you need to respond when you suffer financial loss due to fraudulent behavior.

Our financial elder abuse attorneys have decades of experience fighting for seniors and we are well-versed in all legal remedies available in cases of fraud, including civil litigation, class actions and more. You should give us a call to discuss remedies available to you as soon as you have been victimized by fraud.

What Options Are Available?

The options available to you if you are a victim of banking fraud will depend upon the nature of the fraud, who committed it, and the extent of your losses.  For example:

• If a bank engaged in fraudulent behavior such as failure to disclose account terms, misusing your customer information, or charging you unfair fees, you could pursue a civil lawsuit against the bank. If many customers were defrauded, a class action may also be an option. Class actions are an effective way to hold financial institutions accountable when many customers each suffered small losses. While individual claims may not be worth litigating, a class action allows defrauded consumers to hold financial institutions accountable for wrongdoing.
• If an insurer sold you an annuity through a bank and failed to disclose terms or provided inaccurate investment advice, you could potentially take action against the agent who sold the annuity, the bank who facilitated the transaction, and the insurer who engaged in dishonest business practices in marketing an inappropriate investment to you.
• If you were the victim of debit card skimming and someone misused your debit card information, your financial losses are limited. If you report the loss or theft within two business days, your maximum loss is limited to $50. If you report the loss between two days and 60 days after learning of the loss, you are limited to $500 in losses. However, if you wait more than 60 days after a statement with fraudulent transactions is sent to you, there is no limit to the losses you can incur.
• If your account information is accessed with your authorization there are also protections in place to limit your losses that are applicable in most circumstances.

It is important that you act quickly to protect your interests if you are the victim of banking fraud. Contact Evans Law Firm today to find out how a Santa Clara County financial elder abuse attorney can help you. Call 415-441-8669 to schedule a free initial consultation.