I Had Money Stolen from My Bank Account. How Do I Get it Back?
How Do Criminals Steal Money From Bank Accounts?
One of the most common ways criminals capitalize on identity theft is by looting their victim’s bank accounts. Many people have seen thousands of their hard own dollars literally disappear overnight. There are many ways identity thieves can go about emptying your bank account and even more now that so many people use online banking. If the criminal can obtain some type of identification card, real or fraudulent, and your social security number, it’s possible that they can simply go to your bank and start pulling money out. Another common method criminals use to steal money from bank accounts is through your mailbox – by taking just one of your bank account statements they’ll have access to almost all of your banking information. Online bankers must be very cautious with their personal information, as their log-in is really all that separates them from criminals. As you can see, identity thieves have a lot of options in getting into your bank account, which is why it always pays to have an identity theft protection plan that will reimburse you for any money you lose as a result of identity theft.
How Do I Get the Stolen Money Back?
Of course, the most common question from anyone that has had money stolen from their bank account is “how do I get my money back?” Unfortunately, there is no easy or all encompassing answer to this question, as it will likely depend on how the money was taken and your bank’s policies. You definitely need to inform your bank as soon as you know money was removed from your account without your authorization. Tell them exactly how much stolen and how it was taken if you think you know. In some cases, your bank may already be aware of the situation and working on it. They will probably put a lock on your account until the situation is resolved, that way the criminal has no further access to the account. At this point they’ll launch an investigation into the matter and hopefully discover how the money was taken and find a solution quickly. As long as you inform your bank about the unauthorized withdraws quickly, they will probably deposit the money back into your account. It may take a little while for the bank to complete the process so try to have patience in the matter. As always, the best bet is to have an identity theft protection plan, that way you’re guaranteed to get all of your money back without any hassle.
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