Woman ignored 80-cent back-and-forth bank transactions for five days — then came an email about a $19,998 transfer
Finances need to be monitored regularly, especially in an age where everything is digital. A TikTok user named Eliza Joy, who goes by @elizafalkenrath, shared a post on Sunday, June 28, 2026, highlighting the importance of this through her own experience. She explained that she noticed an 80-cent back-and-forth transaction but never really thought much of it. After that came a $5 transaction, but she brushed it off. A few days later, she received an email that left her panicking.
@elizafalkenrath This is a reminder to watch your bank accounts like a hawk!! #storytime #stolen #bankfraud #scammer #fyp ♬ original sound - Eliza Joy
Joy explained that the minor transactions didn’t feel suspicious. A few days later, she received an email stating that her husband had moved $19,998 from their joint savings account. Initially, she thought he must have done so for the retirement account they planned on opening. To her surprise, when she texted him, he said he had not removed any money. After speaking with the bank, Joy was told they would look into the matter, but until the investigation was completed, they wouldn’t be getting any money back. She explained that they had two-factor authentication over their finances and even got text messages about sign-ins. However, before the scam, no unauthorized activity was detected.
The only unusual transactions were the 80-cent and $5 ones, which didn’t seem like something to worry about. After that, she immediately received the notification for nearly $20,000. According to the Federal Reserve, 60% of financial institutions reported check fraud over the last year. Account takeover by authorized persons or people impersonating account holders has become a growing problem.
23% of institutions reported this issue, up 7% from the previous year. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, banks and financial institutions generally have 10 business days to investigate a reported error. If they need more time, they may temporarily credit the disputed amount while continuing the investigation under certain circumstances. Once they determine an error has occurred, they must correct it within one business day and report within three business days.
Joy didn’t catch the scam unfolding early on because she ignored the minor transactions. Later, she had to go through multiple hassles, speaking with a chatbot, then bank personnel, and ultimately making long trips to get answers. While she was going back and forth with the staff, hoping to get to the bottom of the situation, she urged others to take necessary precautions with their finances.
First, she recommended enabling two-factor authentication and regularly updating passwords for bank accounts. She also advised regularly checking transactions and immediately reporting any unauthorized activity. In her case, she said they would get the money back only if the fraud was detected and reported within 48 hours. She was hoping the authorities could find the fraudster; otherwise, they would lose $20,000.
You can follow @elizafalkenrath on TikTok for more lifestyle videos.
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