Money disappeared from your account?
You may be entitled to get it back.

The Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) protects consumers when money moves electronically without their authorization — covering not just traditional checking and savings accounts, but prepaid accounts, payroll cards, and digital payment platforms like Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Apple Cash, and Google Pay. It applies to debit card purchases, ATM transactions, direct deposits, ACH and automatic bill payments, and most person-to-person transfers — though not wire transfers or paper checks.

How quickly you report a problem directly affects your liability. Report within 2 business days and your exposure is generally capped at $50; report within 60 days of the statement and it's capped at $500; wait longer and your exposure can become unlimited. Once notified, the bank must investigate and respond in writing, typically within 10 business days. If the investigation cannot be completed within that timeframe, the bank is often required to issue a "provisional credit" for the amount taken from your account while it investigates further. In practice, banks don't always investigate as thoroughly as the law requires, and an initial denial isn't necessarily the final word. If your dispute was denied, or you're not sure whether you reported it in time, it's worth having the situation reviewed before assuming the loss is permanent.