Consumer complaint received 2022-06-17
Company: Early Warning Services, LLC
State: FL
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
It all began XX/XX/XXXX when I received a message through XXXX from XXXX for a room that was available for rent. His message was as follow Yes, this room it's available. What date u need? I need u sign the agreement, send me your ID for background check ( It's required for the building ), make a deposit after building approved your ID and 1 week before u move in, u need pay first month. My email XXXX XXXXXXXX I can quickly reply in email! The following day XX/XX/XXXX is when I went ahead and emailed XXXX a photo copy of my ID in hopes of a quick response. Then he went ahead and responded in XXXX stating he went ahead and turned in the copy of my Id to the building. Went ahead and also stated that after if Im approved he would sent over a roommate agreement to sign and sent over the security deposit and a week before moving in sending the first month rents. I went ahead and agree and further asked a few more questions through our email conversation. He later that day asked for my phone number. In the evening of the XXXX of XXXX he contacted me through XXXX and spoke of how the building approved me after they did a back ground check. That I would now be sent an agreement to sign and that I then would be required my security deposit. He would sent the agreement through email which I signed for. Followed with an email of where the money would need to be deposit to for the amount of {$1500.00}. That phone number used for through ZELLE quick pay would be the same phone number of contact. He later would request a screenshot of everything through email of the posted payment because he wanted everything to be filed through email so there wouldnt be any issues. The following day we went back and forth on if I would be able to move in sooner because I would need the room as soon as possible but he would inform me that it is occupied until Monday that I would be able to move in Tuesday the soonest. Come Friday night I went ahead and contacted XXXX to follow up. He would contact me that night and stated that XXXX would be ready Tuesday morning but that I would need to sent my first month rent before getting access and keys to the place. I went ahead that Friday night the XXXX and sent {$1500.00} through Zelle XXXX from my bank account with XXXX for first month rent. Did the same as followed and email a screenshot of payment. Then I went ahead and sent a XXXX message letting him know that I sent the payment the following day but no response. I went ahead and sent him an email as that was his preferred method of contact but no response. I sent him a message again on XXXX the XXXX of XXXX but I saw the message was not delivered. Afterwards I decided to contact him and went straight to voicemail. I thought to my self it was XXXX XXXX  he might not be available. Then on the morning of the XXXX of XXXX the day I was supposed to get my key and move in I went to the address on the agreement and found out I had been scammed and stolen {$3000.00}. I went ahead and report a claim through my bank XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX right after I found out about the scam. Only to be told XX/XX/XXXX that after their investigation there would be no action taken and I would not get my money back. Nor XXXX or Zelle seem to assist me in any way.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation