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Cyber attacks on banks happen all too frequently. Thankfully, most banks are well protected against hackers, and the threat of a cyber attack shouldn’t deter you from using a financial institution.
But should your hard-earned money be compromised, here’s how to regain control of your account.
If you believe your account has been hacked, there are a few important steps you should take:
1. View and verify account activity. First, go through your account activity to confirm any fraudulent charges. Some legitimate transactions may seem fraudulent if the company does business under a different name.
2. Call your bank. Once you’ve confirmed that your account has been hacked, call your bank to report the fraud. They can help you solve the issue and possibly return funds to your account.
3. Freeze your account. If possible, freeze your bank account online, on the app or by speaking with customer service.
4. Change your pins and passwords. Change your bank account pin to something entirely different and secure. Also, consider changing the passwords to your online banking account, email and other online accounts — and try not to use the same password.
5. Check your credit history. If your bank account is hacked, it’s possible that the hacker tried to open a credit card in your name. Speak with your bank to find out if they can check your credit history for free.
6. File a police report. Finally, consider filing a police report. It’s unlikely that you’ll have any information on the person who hacked you, but reports from multiple victims could increase the chances of the thief being caught. If caught, they could face fines up to $1 million or go to prison for up to 30 years.
In most cases, you won’t be liable for funds lost due to hacking and fraud. However, if you don’t agree with your bank’s fraud resolution, here’s what you can do:
Keep a close eye on these warning signs that your account could be compromised:
Depending on your bank, it will notify you of suspicious activity and automatically cancel fraudulent charges and issue you a new card.
Knowing the weak spots that hackers look for and the tricks they use can go a long way in protecting you from cyber theft:
How can hackers steal your credit card CVV number?
If a hacker steals money from a bank, the customer won’t lose money since the bank is liable to refund money for fraudulent debit transactions. However, it’s important to report fraud as soon as possible, as the bank’s liability decreases over time.
If you report a lost or stolen card immediately and before it’s used, you can’t be held liable for any charges. If you report a charge within 48 hours, you could be responsible for up to $50, or up to $500 if you wait longer than two days. Beyond 60 days, your bank is no longer responsible for the lost funds and you might be out any money that was stolen.
Since banks are constantly under attack, they need to ensure every aspect of their security is up to date. This means they generally have the latest software designed to protect you and your money.
Most banking websites allow you to activate a feature called “remember your password” when you log in online. This allows you to skip several layers of security the next time you log in since the bank recognizes your computer’s IPv4 address — a unique identifier for each Internet connection.
However, malware is a tool that hackers use to imitate your IPv4 address in order to gain access to your bank account. And since you usually won’t know that they have control over your computer, it’s best to disable the “remember your computer” feature.
Your guide to finding a bank account that meets your needs
As stressful as having your bank account hacked may be, there’s a chance you could get your money back if you act fast. Banks are generally responsible for any charges due to cybersecurity breaches, but you should still always be prepared.
There are a number of things you can do to reduce the chances of your bank account being hacked, and choosing the right bank is one of them. Compare your options to find a bank and account that meet your needs.
Here’s what you need to know when it comes to safe online shopping – from picking secure websites to avoiding possible ripoffs.
57% of people have started using digital banking more since the coronavirus pandemic. If you’re reluctant to hop on board, these numbers may sway you.
Details on the most common scams to avoid during the coronavirus health crisis, plus tips for keeping your information safe online.
Limit the impact stolen data can have on your business, but paying the ransom could turn controversial.
There’s no real way to safeguard yourself from all threats. However, you can minimize your risk with a few simple tips.
Defend your business against the most common cyberattacks, whether they’re caused by outside or inside attacks.
The “Un-Carrier” has announced that an unknown suspect has broken into its servers and made off with the personal data from over 1 million customers.
The incident reflects a growing problem with safeguarding online bank accounts.
Despite a decrease in thefts, an increase in tactics and methods leads to more money stolen.
Small businesses can be at higher risk for a data security breach. Find out how to protect your small business from hackers at a reasonable cost.
My account is hacked by fraud i report to bank do they refund money
Hi Kamal,
Thanks for getting in touch!
We’re sorry to hear your account has been hacked. Immediately contact your bank so they can start an investigation. Regarding refunding your money, this will depend on the bank’s investigation and if your account has been proven compromised.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nikki
My daughter lost her debit card. Her acct was hacked. They deposited large amounts of money with bad checks then withdrew the money. Now the bank is saying they found no fraudulent activity……what does this mean?
Hi Gigi,
Thanks for getting in touch! Sorry to hear that your daughter’s card got lost. If someone was able to deposit and withdraw money in her account this means that the account has been compromised and all your daughter’s personal details have been accessed. It’s important to let the bank know of this to know of the next steps to take.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nikki
My disabled daughter’s checking account was hacked in a very unique way. First, they withdrew money through the ATM, then a large false deposit was made and on the same day they retrieved the money via ATM withdrawls, thousands of dls through a branch ATM. The bank even says my daughter made numerous calls to facilitate the transaction. She never did. She never had that kind of money, the bank investigated and CLOSED the accounts and said the charges are valid. The bank even sent her a Cashier’s check with an large sum of money that doesn’t belong to her. Does the bank check their cameras, phone calls when checking for fraud, because obviously they failed to do their homework. She is not taking the check. But what else to do? Thank you.
Hi Pucha,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
It looks like you have exhausted all steps to resolve this with your bank. If all steps have been made and there is no resolution, you can contact the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve urges you to file a complaint if you think a bank has been unfair or misleading, discriminated against you in lending, or violated a federal consumer protection law or regulation. You can file a complaint online through the Federal Reserve’s Consumer Complaint Form.
You can also call or email Federal Reserve Consumer Help, the System’s central repository for consumer complaints and inquiries, and they will walk you through the process of filing a complaint and answer any questions you might have.
Although the Federal Reserve looks into every complaint that involves banks it regulates, it does not have the authority to resolve every problem. There are several federal agencies who handle complaints about banks and other financial institutions, so the Federal Reserve may connect you with or forward your complaint to another federal regulator.
I hope this gets resolved soon Pucha.
Cheers,
Joel
I was hacked. I’ve contacted the police and they’re tracking him down. He was a scam loan person trying to sell me on a loan and now he has all my banking info and my bank app he’s hacked it. I don’t know what to do. I have contacted the authorities. Any other advice please let me know
Hi Mallory,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
It looks like you have exhausted all steps to resolve this with your bank. If all steps have been made and there is no resolution, you can contact the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve urges you to file a complaint if you think a bank has been unfair or misleading, discriminated against you in lending, or violated a federal consumer protection law or regulation. You can file a complaint online through the Federal Reserve’s Consumer Complaint Form.
You can also call or email Federal Reserve Consumer Help, the System’s central repository for consumer complaints and inquiries, and they will walk you through the process of filing a complaint and answer any questions you might have.
Although the Federal Reserve looks into every complaint that involves banks it regulates, it does not have the authority to resolve every problem. There are several federal agencies who handle complaints about banks and other financial institutions, so the Federal Reserve may connect you with or forward your complaint to another federal regulator.
I hope this gets resolved soon Mallory.
Cheers,
Joel
If my bank account is frozen what can I do if my creditors are needing to pay me and usually use my bank
Hi Kimberly!
Thanks for getting in touch.
I’m afraid no transactions (deposits/withdrawals) can be made while an account is frozen. You may opt to open a new account for the meantime so you can gain access of your funds from creditors.
Hope this helps!
Nikki
My girlfriend account was hacked and they took her money she filed fraud and bank froze account gave her a new card and refunded the money. However they issued the refund to the same account that was compromised and the money was stolen again and even put her in the negative and now they want to go after her for the money when it is their fault. For a bank to put the refund into an account that was already compromised has to be the dumbest move I have ever seen. What can we do about this ? I’m thinking about getting her to get records of all transactions that month and going to the police to file a charge . Or calling corporate and telling them this proof we have and telling them if they don’t fix it we will be filing charges on them. Please give me advice thank you . Email me would be perfect !
Hi Chris,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
I’m sorry you had to go through this. The Federal Reserve urges you to file a complaint if you think a bank has been unfair or misleading, discriminated against you in lending, or violated a federal consumer protection law or regulation. You can file a complaint online through the Federal Reserve’s Consumer Complaint Form in their website. I hope this gets resolved soon.
Cheers,
Joel
I was in hospital and my stepdaughter stole 30,000 from my line of credit. The bank said it was friendly fraud and I was responsible even know she got the bank to change all my passwords. She was charged last week with grand larceny. Who is responsible for my money that is missing?
Hi Mirmir,
Thanks for reaching out.
I’m sorry to hear that you got fraud charges on your account. Generally, when a bank denies a claim, the next options include filing a claim with small claims court or filing a police report and seeking assistance from the authorities on how you can possibly get your money back. You may also want to check back with your bank so they can give advice on the other steps you can take if they considered your case a friendly fraud.
You may need to go to the branch and present valid IDs for you to gain access to your accounts as she has changed your passwords. Your bank will provide the next steps that can be done with regard to protecting your accounts.
Best Regards,
Joanne
My bank account was hacked and they managed to increase my overdraft as well as take everything out of my account leaving me overdrawn. I received a txt from the bank but it took an hour to get through to the bank. In that time the overdraft was increased . My SIM card has been cloned. Will I get my money back?
Hi Ndavid,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder.
I’m sorry to hear about what had happened to your bank account. It’s an unpleasant experience to get your account hacked.
Thankfully, if your bank finds the transaction to be fraudulent, you should be refunded the missing money. Thus, the best course of action is to directly get in touch with your bank immediately and resolve the problem with them.
You might also want to read, “How can hackers steal your credit card CVV number?” This should give you more knowledge on how to avoid future problems with your bank account.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
How long do you have to recover stolen my from your bank account
Hi Talhia,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
Sorry to hear about that. Please note that you may or may not be able to get a refund for as the bank will have to investigate first if you have done reasonable measures to protect your account. Refund differs from bank to bank but it is usually within 60 days. It would be best to contact your bank to get a more direct answer.
Cheers,
Joel
I would like to know since my bank card was hacked, is the routing number the same or you guys change it?
Hi Yudith,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
Routing number and swift code is static and unique for each bank. To answer your question, it can not be changed since it is for all customers and not just for you unlike your account number.
Cheers,
Joel