A Chicago resident, Shaylah Ware, has filed a lawsuit against Citibank after losing $34,000 in unauthorized transfers. According to Ware, the bank failed to adequately protect her account, resulting in the loss of her funds. The transfers occurred in March 2022, with Citibank informing Ware of the transactions only after the money was gone.
Upon receiving a text message from the bank regarding a $13,900 transfer that she did not authorize, Ware immediately notified Citibank. However, upon logging into her account, she discovered that the money was already missing. Further investigation revealed that an additional $31,000 had been transferred from Ware’s savings to her checking account, followed by a $20,000 wire transfer, totaling a loss of $33,900.
Ware had previously been a victim of debit card theft and a check scam, but Citibank had covered the expenses at that time. However, in this instance, the bank declined to cover the losses, prompting Ware to take legal action.
Ware’s attorney, Larry Smith, argues that banks should be held accountable for protecting their clients’ funds, emphasizing that the breach occurred at the bank’s end rather than through Ware’s computer. Citibank has been contacted for comment on the matter.
