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Bank Account Fraud & Unauthorized Transfer Attorneys in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Discovering that money has been taken from your bank account without your authorization is alarming — and what happens next matters enormously. Federal law under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act gives consumers powerful protections against unauthorized electronic transactions, and your bank has specific legal obligations to investigate your claim, provisionally restore your funds in many circumstances, and correct confirmed errors within strict timeframes. When banks ignore these obligations, drag their feet, or conduct sham investigations to avoid paying, you have legal recourse — and we know how to pursue it.
Banks are legally required to investigate unauthorized transaction claims — not just tell you there is nothing they can do. When they fail that obligation, they are liable.
Do You Have a Case?
You may have a claim if your bank has:
Allowed unauthorized ATM withdrawals, debit card purchases, or online transfers from your account
Refused to investigate or reimburse you after you reported unauthorized transactions
Conducted a superficial or inadequate investigation and wrongly denied your claim
Failed to provisionally credit your account during the investigation period as required by law
Taken longer than legally permitted to complete its investigation
Improperly frozen, suspended, or closed your account after you reported fraud
Failed to provide required written findings after completing its investigation
Allowed repeated unauthorized transactions after you already reported the problem
How the Law Protects You
The Electronic Fund Transfer Act and its implementing regulation, Regulation E, give consumers important protections when they report unauthorized electronic fund transfers or other covered account errors.
Investigation Timeframes
Your bank generally must investigate promptly and determine whether an error occurred within 10 business days after receiving your notice.
If the bank cannot complete its investigation within that time, it may take up to 45 days, but only if it provisionally credits your account within 10 business days and gives you full use of the funds while the investigation continues.
Some transactions, including certain new-account, point-of-sale, and foreign-initiated transactions, may be subject to longer timeframes.
Provisional Credit
If the bank extends its investigation beyond the initial deadline, Regulation E generally requires it to provisionally restore the disputed funds to your account during the investigation.
Refusing to provide provisional credit when required may itself violate federal law. Exceptions may apply, including where the bank properly requires written confirmation of an oral dispute and does not receive it within 10 business days.
Written Findings
After completing its investigation, the bank must report the results to you within three business days.
If the bank determines that no error occurred, or that a different error occurred, it must provide a written explanation of its findings and tell you that you have the right to request the documents it relied on.
If Your Bank Failed to Follow These Rules
Banks and financial institutions do not always follow these requirements. If your bank delayed its investigation, refused to provide provisional credit, denied your claim without explanation, or failed to provide written findings, you may have rights under federal law.
Contact us to discuss your options.
Your Reporting Timeframe Matters
Your rights under the EFTA can depend on how quickly you report the problem.
If your card, code, or other access device is lost or stolen, reporting within two business days after you learn of the loss or theft generally limits your liability to $50.
If you wait longer, your liability may increase, but generally cannot exceed $500 for certain unauthorized transfers occurring before notice.
Separately, unauthorized transfers or errors shown on a periodic statement generally must be reported within 60 days after the statement is sent. If you wait longer, the bank may deny reimbursement for losses it can prove would not have occurred had you reported on time.
If you discover unauthorized transactions, contact us as soon as possible — timing can affect your rights.
You could also add a second shorter CTA at the very end, after “Your Reporting Timeframe Matters,” such as:
Do not wait to act. If you believe your bank mishandled an unauthorized transaction claim, contact us today.
What About Scams and Phishing?
Many unauthorized transaction claims arise from scams — phishing emails, fake customer service calls, romance scams, and other schemes that trick consumers into providing account access. Banks frequently deny these claims by arguing the consumer authorized the transaction. This is often wrong. If you were deceived into providing access to your account, whether you have a valid claim depends on the specific circumstances — and it is worth having an attorney evaluate your situation before accepting the bank's denial.
Fee Arrangement:
Bank account fraud and unauthorized transfer cases are typically handled on a contingency basis — meaning you pay nothing unless we recover for you.