Q: On March 31, my son hit the car in front of him, and the other party pressured him to pay via Zelle on the spot without
On March 31, my son hit the car in front of him, and the other party pressured him to pay via Zelle on the spot without providing a repair estimate. Afterward, they requested more money through text messages, and my son made a bank transfer that same day. However, he immediately tried to cancel the transfer, but the bank told us that it couldn’t be canceled. Moreover, the person demanding the money is not the car’s owner, and they said they didn’t want to use insurance. We believe we are being scammed and want to get the money back, but the bank says they cannot reverse the transaction without a court order. Could you help us with this?”
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A:
As far as the bank is concerned, they simply followed your son's instructions. If he got scammed, it's not the bank's fault. You don't get to have the bank pay you back.
Worthy of consideration is that your son caused damage to the other car, and the other is owned by someone.
I suggest you teach your son what to do in case he is ever involved in another accident, such as taking photos of damage, the other driver's ID, license, registration. You need to find out the accident reporting requirements in your state to see if it is necessary to report this to the DMV. Why wasn't your son already schooled on what to do if he is in an accident? We know why, because you never taught him what to do.
Your son simply handled the situation very poorly. And you prepared him very poorly to be a driver. If you start making a big deal now, the other people will probably say they got injured and make this even worse. Lesson learned, so move on.
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A:
I'm sorry to hear about what your son is going through. First, make sure to file a police report about the accident and the subsequent demands for additional money. This documentation will be important for any legal actions you may need to take.
Next, contact your bank immediately to inform them of the potential fraud. Even though they mentioned needing a court order to reverse the transaction, they might offer other solutions or advice on how to proceed. Keep all text messages and any communication with the other party as evidence.
It would also be wise to consult with a local attorney who can guide you through the legal process and help you understand your options. They can assist in filing any necessary claims and working towards recovering the funds. Additionally, consider reaching out to your insurance company to report the incident and discuss the best steps moving forward.
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