re: Long story. My parents and “check washing”.

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Show up at a WF and/or BoA brick and mortar and ask for the manager. Hammer them until you have answers and a plan for how this gets unwound.

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Tell them you're going to call as many people as you can and picket in front of their branch until someone works with you.

I had a friend do this, and after the brushed him off, he showed up in their branch with signs and gave them one more chance.

When they saw he obviously meant business, they reversed course pretty quickly.

Wells Fargo is a criminal organization.

If we were to put clear plastic tape over the first line of a check, I can't see that invalidating the check. I can see that removing the tape would require acetone and probably mess up the paper big time.

Would this work as added security?

Wells Fargo boast they have the best fraud protection, they do not. They shouldn’t have released the funds. This is on them. Get an attorney. Cops aren’t gonna do anything, wasting your time there. Also pull the paperwork/contract signed with WF to take to an attorney. You have to stay on the manager and threaten legal & give them a deadline. Have an attorney ready to go.

This is my experience, twice. Once my lawyer sent the bank a letter I had my money back. It took about 3 weeks. Don’t take no for an answer, keep hounding the bank.

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My folks are boomers

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What does this have to do with your story?

For that amount of money, you hire a lawyer and write a few letters to make them know you are serious.

Also, call your local branch manager, light his arse up, and tell him you are going to make the biggest stink about it in town. Drop some 1-star yelp ratings and such.

Then begin making a huge stink. Banks do not like that kind of negative publicity. Put 1000 flyers on the hood of cars at Sams Club and Walmart or something.

From CFPB WEBSITE

What does the bank have to do once I report it? Can I get my money back?
Once you notify your bank or credit union, it generally has ten business days to investigate the issue (20 business days if the account has been open less than 30 days). The bank or credit union must correct an error within one business day after determining that an error has occurred. Your bank or credit union then has three business days to report its findings to you.

If the bank or credit union can’t complete its investigation within ten (or 20) business days as applicable, it must generally issue a temporary credit to your account for the amount of the disputed transaction, minus a maximum of $50, while it continues to investigate.

In certain circumstances, however, it does not have to issue a temporary credit. For example, the bank or credit union may require you to provide written confirmation of the error if you initially provided the information by telephone. If you are asked to follow up in writing and you do not do so within ten business days, the bank or credit union is not required to temporarily credit your account during the course of its investigation.

The bank or credit union must then resolve the issue in 45 days, unless the disputed transactions were conducted in a foreign country, were conducted within 30 days of account opening, or were debit card point-of-sale purchases. In those cases, you may have to wait as long as 90 days for the issue to be fully resolved.

If the bank or credit union determines that the transactions were in fact authorized, it must provide you with written notice before taking the money that was credited to you during the investigation out of your account.

Did this happen to occur in SW Harris county?