Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
Update:
- A Seattle resident who filed a class action lawsuit alleging Wells Fargo and Zelle fail to protect customers from scammers who use Zelle’s mobile payment app has dropped his claims.
- Plaintiff Luke Hartsock filed a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice June 28 in a Washington federal court.
- The reasoning behind his withdrawal was not outlined in the notice.
- The case alleged that Wells Fargo and Early Warning Services LLC, which operates Zelle, fail to take enough actions to protect their banking customers.
- Hartsock said thieves who targeted Wells Fargo bank customers through Zelle scammed him out of $7,500, and that the bank would not reimburse him.
Wells Fargo Zelle class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Wells Fargo and Zelle have been hit with a class action by a customer who says he was scammed out of $7,500.
- Why: The plaintiff says he was scammed by thieves targeting Wells Fargo customers through Zelle.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Washington federal court.
(June 3, 2022)
Wells Fargo and Zelle fail to protect customers from scammers who use Zelle’s mobile payment app to steal from the bank’s customers’ accounts, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiff Luke Hartsock filed the class action lawsuit against the two financial giants June 1 in a Washington federal court, alleging negligence and violations of consumer protection laws.
According to the lawsuit, thieves who target Wells Fargo bank customers through Zelle scammed Hartsock out of $7,500.
On two occasions, Hartsock says a con mimicked Wells Fargo’s identity and the texts and phone calls that the bank uses to communicate with customers in cases of fraud. The scammer even mimicked a Wells Fargo customer service agent, asking him to send money, he says..
Hartsock disputed the transactions with Wells Fargo, but the bank initially refused to reimburse him, he says in the class action. Wells Fargo eventually credited $3,500 to his account, but Hartsock says he is still seeking the additional $4,000.
Wells Fargo, Zelle aware of widespread fraud, class action claims
According to the lawsuit, Wells Fargo and Early Warning Services LLC, which operates Zelle, fail to take enough actions to protect their banking customers.
He says the companies are aware of the widespread fraud and that Zelle is vulnerable to scammers but aren’t willing to invest in further protections.
“The immediacy of Zelle’s service has made it a favorite primarily among consumers, but that has made it a favorite among criminals, who can access bank accounts directly,” the class action lawsuit says. “Once scammers can scare or trick their victims into sending money via Zelle, they can siphon away thousands of dollars in seconds.”
The lawsuit is suing for negligence and violations of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and the Washington Consumer Protection Act.
Hartsock seeks certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial. He wants to represent all Wells Fargo account holders who have unresolved disputed withdrawals from using Zelle.
Meanwhile, a consumer hit Navy Federal Credit Union with a class action lawsuit alleging it fails to properly inform its account holders that they will not be reimbursed for any financial losses caused by fraud on Zelle.
If you are a Wells Fargo customer and you have been charged an overdraft fee on a debit card purchase within the last year, you may qualify to join a Wells Fargo overdraft fee arbitration action (links to paid attorney content).
Have you been scammed through Zelle? Let us know your experience in the comments!
Hartsock is represented by Laura R. Gerber and Nathan L. Nanfelt of Keller Rohrback LLP.
The Wells Fargo Zelle Class Action Lawsuit is Luke Hartsock v. Wells Fargo & Co. et al., Case No. 2:22-cv-00759, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
59 thoughts onWells Fargo class action over Zelle fraud dropped
I was scammed from Zelle through Wells Fargo for 200.00. I recognized it was an elaborate scam. They kept asking for reimbursement for a computer they paid, but the funds never came through. Stated overpaid including an email from Wells Fargo and Zelle. Apparently, it was well disguised. How did they know I had Wells Fargo? They said they paid twice by accident, that is when I recognized a scam. I contacted Wells Fargo immediately to stop payment even thought it did not go through. Wells Fargo said I had to wait for the following day for it go through before they could do anything. They should have contacted Zelle to stop transfer. They did not reimbursement. This could have been halted, they refused. I thought that they verified end to end transfers since they are a bank and Zelle taught’s themselves as good as any other transfer service. They did not have any warning except not to send money to yourself.
Banks should be responsible any mishaps with Zelle that’s who they have a relationship with. Consumers should not be the fall guy.
Someone hit my account for 5000 2 times at Wells Fargo the reversed one and the other they wanted me to pay back I kept calling them being transferred to the fraud dept and they did nothing eventually you account was closed
I have been scammed from Zelle for money and I had a Wells Fargo account and they closed my account without me knowing!! Please add me
Renata Burford I was scammed out of $2,500
add
I was scammed 500 dollar by zelle and wellsfargo last year
Add me
I was scammed where someone set up Zelle and deposit cointerfeit checks into my account and the Wells Fargo is trying to say I owe them and I didn’t authorize these transactions
I was scammed through Zelle and haven’t received anything back?