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I got scammed by a Zelle transfer when someone used my phone (without my authorization). I didn't even know I had Zelle but it's built into the BofA app. I lost

by dcist 4y ago

I got scammed by a Zelle transfer when someone used my phone (without my authorization). I didn't even know I had Zelle but it's built into the BofA app. I lost $3,000. BofA refused to refund any of the transfer or reverse it. Total trash feature. I didn't sign up for it. I don't want it. BofA signed me up for it. I'm changing banks because of it.

amluto 4y ago
The magic words are “Reg E”. Your bank won’t tell you about it, but they must follow the regulation.
- lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 4y ago
  https://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/supmanual/cch/efta.pdf https://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/supmanual/cch/efta.... I'm not familiar with this and therefore not sure if this is the correct source but I tried to find something official.
pavlov 4y ago
How did they get access to the bank app on your phone?
- humanistbot 4y ago
  If you close the BofA app after you are done, you have to log in again with either password or biometrics. If you don't and just go to the home screen, it stays logged in.
  - tinsmith 4y ago
    This seems like a remarkable oversite on BofA's part. I'm with a comparitively tiny US credit union, and even their app demands a pin code to return to it if I switch to another app mid-session.
  - pavlov 4y ago
    In that case I’d argue the issue here is terrible security in BofA’s mobile app, not the kind of money transfer.
  - lotsofpulp 4y ago
    It might leave you logged in for a short period of time (in case you are planning to back to the app), but it logs you out relatively quickly even if you do not “close” the app.
astrange 4y ago
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/ Well, someone stealing from your bank account would be more of a law enforcement issue I guess.
notyourwork 4y ago
You let someone use your phone and they were able to open BoA app and transfer funds without your knowledge? I don't fault BoA for ignoring your claim, that's like handing someone a credit card and acting surprised when they use it and wanting the CC company to refund your money.
- Throwaway69294 4y ago
  Not sure about the US, but in Europe they would actually refund me if my CC was stolen. It's part of my standard insurance package.
  - astrange 4y ago
    US credit card protections are better than Europe's. Debit cards are somewhat less protected than credit though.
    - Throwaway69294 4y ago
      Yes I thought so. This sounded really weird. You're right about the debit cards. But "premium" accounts offered by banks often have insurance for these too (you get that for free if you make around 2x average wage).
      - notyourwork 4y ago
        Insurance for what? You don't get insurance for someone writing a check against your account or making a debit using your pin. Similarly, you don't get insurance for a Zelle transfer from your mobile because you gave it to someone else.
- SoftTalker 4y ago
  If you let someone into your house to use the bathroom it's not OK that they rifle through your dresser drawers and take any cash that they find. People "hand someone their credit card" every day at restaurants. That doesn't mean that they are waiving fraud protections.
hojjat12000 4y ago
My girlfriend also lost 3000. Somehow money was sent from her phone to someone in Texas. We contacted chase and they said "you did it" so no refunds. But we didn't! She works from home and there is no other IP other than her phone in her Chase account. So how did this happen? We filed a complaint with the Police and tried to figure out what we can do through other channels. Turns out nobody cares!
- nazgulnarsil 4y ago
  take them to small claims court
- NovemberWhiskey 4y ago
  You should recognize the possibility that she was scammed, did authorize the payment and is now embarrassed or in denial about it.
nazgulnarsil 4y ago
take them to small claims court, $25 to file online. It costs them money to respond otherwise you get a summary judgment in your favor. Only way to get them to change is to flood them with costly procedures.
thedougd 4y ago
File a complaints with regulators including the FDIC and Federal Reserve.

by dcist 4y ago

amluto 4y ago

The magic words are “Reg E”. Your bank won’t tell you about it, but they must follow the regulation.

lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 4y ago
https://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/supmanual/cch/efta.pdf https://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/supmanual/cch/efta.... I'm not familiar with this and therefore not sure if this is the correct source but I tried to find something official.

pavlov 4y ago

How did they get access to the bank app on your phone?

humanistbot 4y ago
If you close the BofA app after you are done, you have to log in again with either password or biometrics. If you don't and just go to the home screen, it stays logged in.
- tinsmith 4y ago
  This seems like a remarkable oversite on BofA's part. I'm with a comparitively tiny US credit union, and even their app demands a pin code to return to it if I switch to another app mid-session.
- pavlov 4y ago
  In that case I’d argue the issue here is terrible security in BofA’s mobile app, not the kind of money transfer.
- lotsofpulp 4y ago
  It might leave you logged in for a short period of time (in case you are planning to back to the app), but it logs you out relatively quickly even if you do not “close” the app.

astrange 4y ago

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/ Well, someone stealing from your bank account would be more of a law enforcement issue I guess.

notyourwork 4y ago

You let someone use your phone and they were able to open BoA app and transfer funds without your knowledge? I don't fault BoA for ignoring your claim, that's like handing someone a credit card and acting surprised when they use it and wanting the CC company to refund your money.

Throwaway69294 4y ago
Not sure about the US, but in Europe they would actually refund me if my CC was stolen. It's part of my standard insurance package.
- astrange 4y ago
  US credit card protections are better than Europe's. Debit cards are somewhat less protected than credit though.
  - Throwaway69294 4y ago
    Yes I thought so. This sounded really weird. You're right about the debit cards. But "premium" accounts offered by banks often have insurance for these too (you get that for free if you make around 2x average wage).
    - notyourwork 4y ago
      Insurance for what? You don't get insurance for someone writing a check against your account or making a debit using your pin. Similarly, you don't get insurance for a Zelle transfer from your mobile because you gave it to someone else.
SoftTalker 4y ago
If you let someone into your house to use the bathroom it's not OK that they rifle through your dresser drawers and take any cash that they find. People "hand someone their credit card" every day at restaurants. That doesn't mean that they are waiving fraud protections.

hojjat12000 4y ago

My girlfriend also lost 3000. Somehow money was sent from her phone to someone in Texas. We contacted chase and they said "you did it" so no refunds. But we didn't! She works from home and there is no other IP other than her phone in her Chase account. So how did this happen? We filed a complaint with the Police and tried to figure out what we can do through other channels. Turns out nobody cares!

nazgulnarsil 4y ago
take them to small claims court
NovemberWhiskey 4y ago
You should recognize the possibility that she was scammed, did authorize the payment and is now embarrassed or in denial about it.

nazgulnarsil 4y ago

take them to small claims court, $25 to file online. It costs them money to respond otherwise you get a summary judgment in your favor. Only way to get them to change is to flood them with costly procedures.

thedougd 4y ago

File a complaints with regulators including the FDIC and Federal Reserve.