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Bank Account Hacking, Scams & Fraud
Has Your Bank Refused to Refund Stolen Money?​ We Can Help!
​Unauthorized Transactions? Bank Refusing to Compensate? You Have Rights Under the EFTA!

Attorney Joe Adams:  Expert in Recovering Funds Under EFTA​​​

Joe Adams is a seasoned attorney who has successfully recovered funds for clients affected by unauthorized banking transactions. When your financial institution doesn't have your back and tells you they can't help you, it's time to call Attorney Joe Adams. Attorney Adams will use a federal law known as the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) to fight for your rights. Call Attorney Joe Adams immediately at 215-996-9977 if you have been a victim of a hack or unauthorized transaction on your account. 

No Recovery, No Fee!

We are only paid if we win your case, PLUS it will be the bank or financial institution that pays - not you.

An Attorney's Guide to Understanding the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA): Safeguarding Your Electronic, Digital & Debit Card Account Transactions

Unauthorized Transactions: The EFTA significantly limits your liability for unauthorized electronic fund transfers if you report them promptly to your bank or credit union.

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Error Resolution: Your bank or credit union is required to follow specific protocols to investigate and rectify any errors you report concerning electronic fund transfers.

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Documentation Requirements: The EFTA mandates that you receive detailed documentation of all electronic transfers, such as transaction receipts and periodic account statements.

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Rights on Preauthorized Payments: You have the explicit right under the EFTA to halt any preauthorized electronic funds transfers.

Navigating EFTA protections can be challenging, and disputes over electronic transfers can be complex and intimidating without legal help. Let Attorney Joe Adams’ knowledge, experience, and expertise in consumer protection law and the EFTA work for you. He is well-equipped to advocate for your rights and recover your money.

What to Do If Your Bank Account Was Hacked: Legal Steps to Protect Your Rights

Unauthorized transactions at banks and credit unions are becoming increasingly common, with no sign of this troubling trend slowing down. If you discover that your bank or credit union account has been compromised, it can be a deeply stressful and frightening experience. The thought of losing your hard-earned money can be upsetting, but it’s crucial to stay calm and take immediate action to protect your rights and recover any lost funds. Here’s what you should do if you find yourself in this situation (you can contact Attorney Joe Adams at 215-996-9977 to help you navigate these steps at no charge to you):

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1. Report the Unauthorized Transactions Immediately


The first step you should take is to contact your bank or credit union as soon as possible. Under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), you have certain protections against unauthorized transactions. However, these protections are time-sensitive. The sooner you report the unauthorized activity, the better your chances of recovering your lost funds.

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Timeliness Matters: If you report the unauthorized transactions within two business days of discovering them, your liability is limited to $50. If you wait longer but report within 60 days, you could be liable for up to $500. Beyond 60 days, you risk losing all the funds that were stolen.

2. Document Everything


Keep a detailed record of all communications with your bank or credit union, including the date and time of each contact, the names of the representatives you spoke with, and what was discussed. Also, save copies of any emails, texts, internal messaging, letters, or other correspondence you send or receive. This documentation will be critical if you need to pursue legal action.

3. Freeze Your Account and Consider Closing It


Ask your bank or credit union to freeze your account to prevent further unauthorized transactions. Depending on the situation, you might also consider closing the account and opening a new one with a different account number. This can help protect your money from further theft.

4. File a Police Report


Even though your bank or credit union is responsible for investigating the unauthorized charges, it is essential that you file a police report as well. This step is crucial for documenting the crime and can be extremely useful when disputing the charges or taking legal action to recover your funds.

5. Monitor Your Credit and Account Statements

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Regularly check your bank statements and credit reports for any additional signs of unauthorized activity. Credit reports can be obtained for free by going to www.annualcreditreport.com. Identity thieves may attempt to use your information to open new accounts or commit other types of fraud. Staying vigilant can help you catch any further issues early.

6. Call Attorney Joe Adams

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If your bank or credit union is uncooperative, refuses to refund unauthorized transactions, or if you face significant financial losses, call Attorney Joe Adams at 215-996-9977. Attorney Adams can help you navigate the legal process, protect your rights, and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. If your financial institution is not complying with the law, they may prefer to keep you unaware of your rights under the EFTA. That’s why it’s crucial to contact Attorney Adams. He can guide you through the complaint process with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regarding EFTA violations and, more importantly, take legal action on your behalf to hold your bank or credit union accountable, recover your losses, and potentially secure additional damages.


No Recovery-No Fee: Attorney Adams works on a contingency fee basis, meaning that if no money is recovered in your case, you pay nothing. Attorney Adams only accepts cases he thinks he can win, so there is absolutely no risk to you.

A Word About Class Action Lawsuits for Violations of the EFTA: Pros and Cons

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In many instances, if there is no agreement that mandates arbitration and prohibits class action litigation, violations of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) can be addressed through a class action lawsuit. This type of lawsuit allows one or a few individuals to represent not only themselves but also a larger group of people who have experienced similar harm. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of bringing EFTA claims as a class action:

Pros of EFTA Class Action Lawsuits

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  1. Collective Strength: Class actions allow a large number of affected individuals to combine their claims into one lawsuit. This collective approach can give plaintiffs more bargaining power against large financial institutions.

  2. Cost-Effective: For individual consumers, the cost of pursuing legal action for an EFTA violation might outweigh the potential recovery. A class action spreads legal costs across many plaintiffs, making it a more affordable option.

  3. Efficient Resolution: Rather than dealing with multiple lawsuits for the same issue, a class action consolidates claims into a single case. This can streamline court proceedings and lead to faster settlements or judgments.

  4. Uniform Relief: In cases where a company’s actions impact a large number of consumers in a similar way, a class action ensures that all victims receive compensation or relief without the need for each person to file a separate lawsuit.

Cons of EFTA Class Action Lawsuits

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  1. Limited Control: Individual plaintiffs may have less control over the direction of the lawsuit. Decisions, such as settlement offers, are typically made by the class representatives and attorneys, not by each affected consumer.

  2. Lower Individual Payouts: Since compensation is shared among all members of the class, the amount each individual receives might be lower than what they could potentially recover in an individual lawsuit.

  3. Longer Timeframes: Class actions can take longer to resolve than individual cases, as they often involve complex legal procedures to certify the class and manage the large number of plaintiffs.

  4. Binding Outcomes: Once a class action is settled or resolved, all class members are bound by the outcome, even if the settlement is less than what an individual might have pursued on their own.

If you believe you’ve been affected by an unauthorized electronic transfer or a violation of your EFTA rights, you may be part of a larger group experiencing the same issues. Contact Attorney Joe Adams to discuss whether arbitration, class action or individual lawsuit is the best approach for your case.

Image by Tingey Injury Law Firm

We Are Currently Investigating Possible EFTA Violations Involving:​

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  • Zelle Hack

  • Bank of America Hack (BOA)

  • Capital One Hack

  • Venmo Hack

  • Wells Fargo Hack

  • Cash App Hack

  • CitiBank Hack

  • Chase Hack

  • Navy Federal Hack: Disputes, Account Hacks, Stolen Money, Unauthorized Withdrawals, Debit Card Fraud, NFCU Refusal to Refund or Reimburse - Violation of the NFCU "Zero Liability Policy").

Click on these recent stories and videos about Navy Federal Credit Union customers being scammed:​

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Call Attorney Joe Adams Now at 215-996-9977​

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If your bank, credit union or financial institution has refused to refund or reimburse you for money stolen from your account, they may have violated the EFTA. Attorney Joe Adams is ready to fight for your financial rights. If Joe wins your case, the bank or credit union will pay his fee—not you.

List of Some Popular Mobile Apps and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Payment Services Subject to EFTA Protection​

  • Amazon Pay

  • Apple Pay

  • Cash App

  • Circle

  • Facebook Pay

  • Google Pay

  • Green Dot Corporation

  • PayPal

  • Plaid (EFT facilitator for apps)

  • ​Popmoney

  • Robinhood (for cash management and transfers)

  • Samsung Pay

  • Square

  • Stripe

  • Venmo

  • Zelle (bank-backed EFT service)

List of Popular Banks and Credit Unions Subject to EFTA Protection

  • Ally Bank

  • Alliant Credit Union

  • Amalgamated Bank

  • American Express Bank

  • Aspiration

  • Axos Bank

  • Bank of America

  • Bank of the West

  • Banner Bank

  • Barclays Bank Delaware

  • Beneficial

  • BBVA (Spain)

  • BBVA USA (now PNC)

  • BOK Financial (Bank of Oklahoma)

  • Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU)

  • BNP Paribas (France)

  • Capital One

  • Capital Federal Savings Bank

  • Chime

  • CIT Bank

  • Citibank

  • Citizens Bank

  • Coastal Federal Credit Union

  • Columbia Bank

  • Comerica Bank

  • Credit Suisse (Switzerland)

  • Current

  • Desert Financial Credit Union

  • Deutsche Bank (Germany)

  • Discover Bank

  • Dime Community Bank

  • Dollar Bank

  • Fifth Third Bank

  • First Horizon Bank

  • First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO)

  • First Savings Bank

  • First Tech Federal Credit Union

  • Flagstar Bank

  • Fulton Bank

  • Goldman Sachs (Marcus)

  • Golden 1 Credit Union

  • Great Southern Bank

  • HSBC Bank USA (UK)

  • Hudson City Savings Bank

  • Huntington National Bank

  • ICBC (China)

  • JPMorgan Chase

  • ​​​KeyBank

  • M&T Bank

  • Midland States Bank

  • Mizuho Bank (Japan)

  • Monzo

  • Morgan Stanley Private Bank

  • MUFG Union Bank (Japan)

  • Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU)

  • NBT Bank

  • Northwest Savings Bank

  • OceanFirst Bank

  • OneWest Bank

  • Pathward

  • Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed)

  • Peoples Bank

  • People’s United Bank

  • PNC Bank

  • Provident Bank

  • RBC Bank (Canada)

  • Regions Bank

  • Revolut

  • San Diego County Credit Union

  • Santander Bank (Spain)

  • Schools First Federal Credit Union

  • Schwab

  • Simple Bank (acquired by BBVA)

  • SoFi Bank

  • Spruce Bank

  • State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU)

  • Synchrony Bank

  • TD Bank (Canada)

  • Third Federal Savings & Loan

  • TIAA Bank

  • Truist (BB&T and SunTrust merger)

  • TruMark Financial Credit Union

  • Trustmark National Bank

  • U.S. Bank

  • Umpqua Bank

  • University Federal Credit Union

  • Univest

  • Valley National Bank

  • Varo Bank

  • VyStar Credit Union

  • Wells Fargo

  • Wings Financial Credit Union

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