Eighty-three-year-old Billie Young finally received the call she thought would never come, ending a 16-month wait.
She explained that her situation changed in a matter of days once her story became public, after waiting for assistance for over a year.
“They said, we have some good news for you,” Young told WFAA.
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Wells Fargo decided to refund the nearly $15,000 that Young lost, reversing its initial decision to deny her fraud claim. The bank initially denied the claim, stating that Young had not reported the fraud and theft within the required 30 days.
However, Young insisted she didn’t know that her check, which was meant for a car loan payment, had been changed and cashed by someone else until much later than the reporting deadline.
“How am I going to report something that I don’t know? I didn’t know it,” she remarked.
For the past three years, she has been the sole caregiver for her husband, a Navy veteran who is battling prostate cancer.
She previously told the outlet, “At the time this hit me in 2024. 2024. I had to do everything for my husband. Everything.”
Wells Fargo resolved the issue with the elderly woman’s returned $15,000, issuing a statement to WFAA to confirm the resolution just days after the story was broadcast.
The organization wrote, “We have resolved this matter with our customer. We remain deeply concerned about check fraud, and we continue to work closely with our customers to help prevent such occurrences. It’s important for customers to stay vigilant when writing checks and timely review their accounts, check images, and verify checks are cashed by the intended person. When possible, we encourage customers to utilize digital payment options as an alternative to checks.”
The situation changed rapidly after the media attention was focused on her case, according to Young.
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“Within a week and one day of my conversation with you all, it changed dramatically,” she said.
Young received a tangible resolution when her check, now made out in her name, was returned to her. “I have my check. Made out to Billie B Young,” she said.
Although her savings were returned, Young reported that the event resulted in lasting emotional damage. Young’s family also filed a report with the Dallas police, but the case remains unresolved.
“The hurt that came to me, I felt like I didn’t deserve it. I know I didn’t deserve it,” she said.
She is now focused on moving forward and expressing her gratitude.“For your station for what you’ve done, whether it was in person, in the office, in the field, it doesn’t make any difference, I would say, thank you,” Young said.
