Bank Fraud and Scam Lawyer for DC, Maryland, and Virginia
BANK FRAUD HELP · DC · MARYLAND · VIRGINIA
Your bank says the loss is your problem.
Federal law often says otherwise.
You checked your account and the money was gone. Maybe a caller posing as your bank's fraud department walked you through "securing" your account. Maybe someone logged in with your password and emptied your savings through Zelle. Then the bank refused to pay you back. It said you gave out a code, or the transfer came from your phone, or you waited too long.
START HERE
Lost money to fraud? Do these five things now.
1. Report it as "unauthorized." Call your bank or app and use that word. Note the date, time, and who you spoke with.
2. Follow up in writing the same day, by secure message or letter, so you can prove when you reported.
3. Ask for provisional credit while the bank investigates.
4. Save everything: texts, call logs, screenshots, emails, statements. Do not delete the scammer's messages.
5. Watch the calendar. One key deadline runs 60 days from the statement that first shows the fraud.
WHY BANKS GET IT WRONG
Banks say this to people every day. Often, the bank is wrong.
The Electronic Fund Transfer Act, a federal law, requires banks, credit unions, and payment apps to investigate fraud claims and reimburse unauthorized transfers. It also limits how much of the loss the bank can put on you. I spent 14 years at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau enforcing these rules against financial institutions. Now I use them to fight for consumers whose banks refused to pay them back.
YOUR RIGHTS
What federal law requires your bank to do
When someone moves money out of your account electronically without your permission, federal law gives you rights your account agreement cannot take away. Those rights cover debit card charges, online and mobile banking transfers, ACH debits, and payments through Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, and similar apps.
10 business days
for the bank to investigate, unless it puts the money back provisionally while it takes longer.
60 days
from the statement that first shows the fraud. Report sooner and the law shifts more of the loss to the bank.
In writing
The bank must explain its decision in writing, and if it says no, you can see the documents it relied on.
The investigation can run up to 45 days, or 90 in some cases, but only if the bank provisionally credits your account within those first 10 business days. A bank that fails to investigate in good faith, or denies a claim it had no reasonable basis to deny, can be liable for additional damages plus your attorney's fees.
WHAT BANKS TELL YOU
Common reasons for a denial, and what the law says
"But I gave them the code."
Banks give this reason more than any other, and it is often their weakest argument. Scammers spoof the bank's real phone number, know your name and recent transactions, and tell you they are stopping fraud. When a scammer tricks you into handing over a password or one-time passcode and uses it to take your money, the law treats that transfer as unauthorized.
Your bank should not deny your claim just because you trusted a caller who sounded like the bank.
The facts still matter: how the scammer reached you, what you shared, and who actually sent the money can all change the answer.
What if I sent the money myself?
Suppose a caller convinced you to "move your money to a safe account" and you pressed send yourself. The case gets harder, because federal law treats many of those payments as authorized. But the details matter.
· Did the scammer change the amount or the recipient?
· Did the bank ignore obvious warning signs?
· Did it mishandle your complaint?
DC, Maryland, and Virginia consumer protection laws may also apply. The bank's "no" does not settle the question.
BANK SAID NO?
A denial letter is not the end.
Banks deny valid claims when they skip steps the law requires. They decide without a real investigation, blame you for sharing a code, never give provisional credit, or send a denial with no explanation. Each of those can violate federal law. Send me the denial letter and your statements, and I will tell you whether the bank followed the rules.
Wire transfers and checks
Different laws govern wire transfers and checks, including Articles 3, 4, and 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code. The protections work differently, and the deadlines can be shorter. I handle these cases too, so if a wire or a check was involved, contact me as soon as you can.
WHY WORK WITH THE CONSUMER LAW LAB
I spent 14 years enforcing these rules.
At the CFPB, I served as Senior Counsel for Enforcement Policy and Strategy and as Market Lead for Payments. I led CFPB enforcement actions in which companies were ordered to pay nearly $600 million in consumer redress and civil penalties. I understand how fraud-claim investigations are supposed to work, where they commonly break down, and what the law expects of banks. I represent consumers in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Each case is different, and past results do not guarantee a favorable result in any future case.
WHAT IT COSTS
When you win, federal law requires the bank to pay your reasonable attorney's fees. That lets me take many fraud cases without charging you a fee unless we recover money for you.
In some cases I may ask a client to cover court costs or other case expenses, and I will explain that before you hire me.