Recover Frozen Accounts

Why accounts get frozen

• Suspicious activity — someone tried to log in / wire / withdraw.
• You triggered fraud detection — large deposit, sudden purchase, login from new device.
• You requested it — maybe forgot.
• Court / IRS lien / child support — legal hold.
• Bank concern about senior fraud — required by law if elder abuse suspected.
• Account inactivity — dormant accounts sometimes frozen.

Steps to unfreeze

1. Call bank's number from BACK OF YOUR CARD (don't Google — risk of scam numbers).
2. Verify identity — security questions, ID verification.
3. Confirm recent legitimate transactions.
4. Reset passwords + 2FA.
5. Bank lifts hold within hours to days.
6. If can't unlock by phone — visit branch with photo ID + Social Security card.
7. Get written confirmation of unfreeze for records.

If frozen by court / IRS / child support

• Lawyer up. Worth $500-2,000 to restore $5K+ funds.
• Some states have low-income legal aid for seniors.
• Don't move funds to other accounts — same lien follows.
• Some money is "exempt" — Social Security, VA pension.
• File "Claim of Exemption" — court usually releases protected funds within 30-90 days.

Prevent future freezes

• Update phone number + email at bank.
• Tell bank ahead of large transactions.
• Use 2FA so YOUR logins don't trigger fraud.
• Add a "Trusted Contact" at bank — required by FINRA for seniors at brokerages. Bank can call them if concerned.
• Travel notice before international trips.