Man sues Berkshire Bank after $1.4M was fraudulently wired from his account
PITTSFIELD — When Jim Jacobs returned home from a trip to Europe in late October, he learned his account with Berkshire Bank had been bilked for $1.4 million worth of fraudulent wire transfers to banks in Hong Kong and China.
Jacobs has now filed a federal lawsuit against the bank claiming it ignored security warnings from the FBI, failed to take additional steps before authorizing those transfers and has so far declined to compensate him for the lost money.
Reached by telephone Monday, Berkshire Bank First Vice President and Marketing Director Elizabeth Mach said she could not comment on pending litigation.
Jacobs' attorney Lucy Prashker said via email Monday that the FBI was aware of the thefts and declined to elaborate beyond the complaint spelled out in the suit.
Read more: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/man-sues-berkshire-bank-after-14m-was-fraudulently-wired-from-his-account,493240