Consumer complaint received 2019-05-25
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: NY
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX XXXX Trying to sublease apartment, found someone on XXXX university page. 
Lady tells me that shes a traveling nurse and her job is paying for her to move to XXXX. 
she Insist on sending check because she claims it her job was writing the check and that she would not be able send through XXXX. 
Received check through priority mail. 

Day of check deposit : Went to XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX Bank of America - XXXX pm on Thursday XX/XX/XXXX. 
Went inside to a teller and deposited the check. 
Asked the lady when the funds on the check would be available for use. And if Id be able to take it out cash. 

Next day check cleared, and lady asked for me to send her XXXX to her XXXX account for the movers to transfer her stuff. She stated that accidentally her boss put the entire check into one ( my rent money and her moving stuff ). And that she needed the money for the movers to move her stuff. 
That same day I transferred the XXXX remainder of the money that was intended to be the rent money sent to XXXX XXXX account ( thats where I save my rent money ) On Sunday she asked that I send her XXXX because her stuff was held up in customs. Since it was already in my XXXX where I was saving it I sent it to the same XXXX account through XXXX this time rather than Bank of America like I did the first time. At that point I had none of her money left in either accounts. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I checked my bank account and saw that the check bounced. And my account was XXXX. The money I had in my account was used to pay the XXXX for the check and the remaining balance was the XXXX. 

Spoke to Bank of America on XX/XX/XXXX, and asked what I could do regarding the situation they sent me over to the money mover department where they were going to try and get the money back from her bank by telling her bank what she did to me -- - only XXXX they would try to get back in XXXX days -- - not sure if they could up to their bank. 

Filed Police Report on XX/XX/XXXX and they stated that they were going to investigate further. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX to Bank of America to get two XXXX $ fees removed because I was charged from E-ZPass and they charge for each transaction made. 

XXXX XXXX financial person I talked to at bank next day stated that they cant remove anything until the account of paid off and investigation is cleared. She also stated that their werent any notes in my account in regards to what happened and that it is very unlikely that they would be able remove anything from my account and that I will be responsible for paying the XXXX ( went up because of their late fees ) on my account. 

I am currently a college students whose account is now in XXXX dollars in debt due to check fraud and XXXX. I think that it is unfair for Bank of America to hold me responsible for paying back this money when I already have college debt and I make minimum wage. I had worked super hard to save up XXXX dollars working and going to school and now all because this scammer I have no money and I am now responsible for paying a debt that I did not do. As a loyal Bank of America customer they should help their customers and prevent scams of this matter. This is a hard hit to my bank account and I am now drowning in debt. 
Insight of this situation I think that Bank of America should help prevent these scams from happening. Being that I went inside the Bank to make sure that this was a legit check and even asked when this check would be available. The teller did not explain that checks are cleared the next day however, that does been the check has the funds, this is just the bank lending you the money until they see if the check bounces or not. As my bank they should assist me through this financial burden being that my family has been a loyal customer to Bank of America since forever. At this point Banks and XXXX are just as bad as the criminals who scam us. It saddens me that I worked extremely hard for my money, in the midst of attending college full time and working 40 hour work weeks to have it ripped away this easily by someone who tricks young innocent people for their money. Bank of America and XXXX are a disappointment. 
Due to security purposes and this recent scandal I petrified to even put my banking information out there or give any personal information. To get further information I would just need a more secure form of communication.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief