An 83-year-old Dallas grandmother has received nearly $15,000 back from Wells Fargo after the bank reversed an earlier decision to deny her fraud claim.
The funds reversal comes just days after a local television station, WFAA-TV, and others like ShineMyCrown, that carried the story, brought her plight to public attention.
Billie Young said she waited more than 16 months for help after discovering that a check she wrote to pay off a car loan had allegedly been altered and cashed by someone else. Initially, Wells Fargo denied her claim, telling her she had missed a 30-day reporting deadline.
“I didn’t know the check had been altered,” Young said. “How am I going to report something that I don’t know?”
The situation changed rapidly after WFAA-TV in Dallas aired a report on her case. Young said she received a call from the bank shortly afterward—one she feared might never come.
“They said, ‘We have some good news for you,’” she recalled.
In a statement shared with WFAA, Wells Fargo confirmed the matter had been resolved, saying it remains concerned about the rise in check fraud and urging customers to regularly review their account activity.
“We have resolved this matter with our customer,” the bank said. “We remain deeply concerned about check fraud and continue to work closely with our customers to help prevent such occurrences.”
The bank also encouraged customers to stay vigilant by reviewing check images, verifying that checks are cashed by the intended recipients, and using digital payment options where possible.
Young said the turnaround was swift once her story became public.
“Within a week and one day of my conversation with you all, it changed dramatically,” she said.
She has since received a check made out in her name, restoring the money she feared was gone for good.
“I have my check—made out to Billie B. Young,” she said.
While her savings have been returned, the ordeal has left a deep emotional impact. Young’s family has filed a police report with Dallas police, and the investigation into the alleged fraud remains ongoing.
“The hurt that came to me, I felt like I didn’t deserve it,” Young said. “I know I didn’t deserve it.”
Now, she says she is focused on moving forward and expressing gratitude to those who helped bring her case to light.
“For your station, for what you’ve done… I would say, thank you,” Young said.
