Bank Fraud: How to Get Your Money Back After an Online Scam
Have you fallen victim to bank fraud and lost money due to an online scam? In this article, you’ll find a concrete guideto the steps we take when someone steals a client’s account and transfers their money away. We’ll explain why you must react immediately, how to properly file a complaint with your bank, and why you shouldn’t let yourself be brushed off. You’ll also learn which arguments we use against banks and how we’ve already helped many clients recover hundreds of thousands of crowns.
This time, we’ll break down a typical course of an online bank fraud. You will learn:
- What a typical scenario of an online scam and stolen account looks like
- How we act immediately after discovering the fraud to increase the chance of recovering the money
- How to properly file a complaint with the bank and why we don’t accept being dismissed
- Which specific arguments we use against the bank and why they are successful
- How we file a criminal complaint and why it makes sense
- Why it pays to be represented by a lawyer who has already helped clients recover hundreds of thousands
What Does a Typical Online Bank Fraud Look Like?
Imagine you want to log into your online banking. You open an email or SMS with a link to a page that looks exactly like your bank’s website. You enter your login details, perhaps even an authorization code. The fraudsters then gain access to your account, activate mobile banking on their device, and within minutes transfer all your money away. You only realize your account has been stolen when you receive a notification about unknown transactions or you can’t access your online banking at all.
Fraudsters often use phishing, fake emails, SMS, fraudulent payment gateways, or even deepfake calls. The result is always the same: a stolen account and your money gone.
STEP 1: Contact the Bank Immediately
A quick reaction is crucial for success. When a client discovers bank fraud, we immediately contact the bank and flag the payments as fraudulent. We call the customer service line or go directly to a branch. We insist that a bank fraud has occurred and demand the immediate blocking of all suspicious transactions and the account itself.
We don’t accept the claim that the client made the payments themselves. If someone falls victim to an online scam, the fraudsters have manipulated them and the client acted in good faith. We always demand that the bank marks the payments as fraudulent in international systems (such as “fraudulent payment”), which increases the chance of freezing the funds in the target accounts.
If the bank claims it’s already too late, we don’t give up. Even several hours after the fraud, we can sometimes intercept transactions, especially if the money hasn’t yet left the Czech banking system. We also help the client change all passwords and secure their accounts. If the fraudsters obtained card details, we immediately block the card.
STEP 2: Challenging the Bank’s Procedure
Banks often reject complaints, arguing that the client entered their login details or confirmed payments. Such arguments don’t hold up if the client was deceived. We never accept a simple rejection.
When making a complaint, we always argue that the bank must protect the client from unauthorized payments. The Payment Services Act and European legislation require banks to implement and use detection mechanisms to identify suspicious transactions and typical fraud scenarios. For example, if someone makes several large transfers in a short time to an unknown account, the bank must flag these as suspicious and halt them.
In practice, banks often don’t set up control mechanisms properly or disable them because they cost money to operate. In our complaints, we always point to specific circumstances—such as transactions not matching the client’s usual behavior, occurring at unusual times, being split into several smaller transfers, and all going to one account.
A Rejected Complaint Is Not a Defeat—We File an Appeal!
If the bank rejects the complaint, we immediately file an appeal. In the appeal, we detail how the bank failed in its duties and attach evidence that the client acted in good faith and was manipulated by fraudsters. We always remind the bank that labeling the client’s behavior as “gross negligence” is not justified just because they fell for sophisticated phishing. Fraudsters today can mimic a bank’s website so perfectly that an average user can’t tell the difference.
Thanks to these arguments, we have already recovered hundreds of thousands of crowns for many clients who had their money stolen by fraudsters. Banks often back down only after thorough legal argumentation and pressure from our side.
The bank must prove that the client truly acted recklessly—for example, knowingly gave login details to a third party, ignored warnings, or repeatedly entered details on suspicious websites. Most victims of online fraud, however, act in good faith, under pressure, and in stress. Fraudsters use psychological tricks and can deceive even experienced users.
We Know How to Negotiate with Banks
When dealing with bank fraud, in appeals against rejected complaints we always mention options such as publicizing the case or turning to the financial arbiter. Our experience shows that banks have a strong interest in settling such cases amicably. Banking institutions care deeply about their reputation and public image, so they try to avoid negative publicity and long disputes with clients. Publicizing a case of bank fraud can damage public trust in the security of their services, which is a much greater loss for the bank than returning stolen money to a few clients who seek professional legal help.
STEP 3: Immediately File a Criminal Complaint
At the same time as dealing with the bank, we file a criminal complaint with the prosecutor’s office on behalf of the client. This step is crucial not only for the client but also for other victims.
The police and prosecutor have the authority to immediately freeze funds in accounts where the fraudsters transferred the money. If the money is still in the system, we can get it back. Fraudsters often rob multiple people at once. Timely reporting helps other victims and increases the chances of catching the perpetrators.
We prepare the criminal complaint for the client, explain what documents we need, and proceed in a way that maximizes the chance of success. The prosecutor can, within criminal proceedings, order the freezing of funds in an account if there is suspicion that the money is proceeds of crime. The police or prosecutor issue a resolution that orders the bank not to pay out a certain amount or to freeze the funds in the account.
If the reasons for freezing disappear, the freeze is lifted and the account holder regains the right to use the money. Freezing can be applied not only to the suspect’s accounts but also to third-party accounts if there is evidence that the funds come from criminal activity.
Bank Fraud and Typical Scenarios: What We Encounter Most Often
- Phishing emails and SMS: The fraudster sends a link to a fake bank website where the client enters their login details.
- Fake banker calls (vishing): The caller pretends to be a bank employee, claims the account is compromised, and convinces the client to transfer money to a “safe account.”
- Classified ad scams: The client sells goods via an online marketplace, the fraudster sends a link to a fake payment gateway where the client enters their account details.
- Deepfake calls and fake identities: Fraudsters use artificial intelligence to imitate the voice or identity of known persons.
- Stolen account: The fraudster obtains login details and takes control of online banking.
We Can Help You Get Your Money Back from Bank Fraud!
If you’re troubled by bank fraud, internet fraud, or an online scam, we can help. We have experience with dozens of cases where we’ve helped clients recover hundreds of thousands of crowns. We always act quickly, thoroughly, and with maximum care for your rights. We are well-versed in bank fraud and know what steps to take to protect your money.
Author: Mgr. Barbora Janáčková, lawyer at ModerniPravnik.cz, and Jonáš Melecký, legal assistant
Don’t hesitate to contact us today! We’re available and will respond quickly!
Napište našim odborníkům, pomůžeme vám!
Všechny tyto služby a produkty vám pomohou snadno zvládnout. Neváhejte nás kontaktovat a objednejte si naše služby, smlouvy či produkty přímo na webu.