Consumer complaint received 2022-12-30
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: MI
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
I found an ad on craigslist for winter 2023 month rental in Florida. to make payment I did online banking from my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX MIchigan ( XXXX ) ( mailing address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, MI XXXX ) to an Wells Fargo bank account info given me by the now known scammer for {$4000.00}. The account it went to at Wells Fargo was : Account name XXXX XXXX  XXXX Routing number XXXX Bank address- XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX FL XXXX XXXX phone number- XXXX This payment processed from my account ( confirmation number # XXXX ) on XX/XX/XXXX on XXXX and was received at Wells Fargo account to scammer on XX/XX/XXXX XXXX He issued me a rental contract and receipt at that time once he verify money transfer. The contract was signed by XXXX XXXX who I found out then through the owner 's assn of the complex after receiving an address of the rental and tried to confirm ownership was the real owner. He emailed me to tell me his wife and he bought this place in XXXX and the pictures were of his unit and they do not rent so this was false advertising and this ad was a spam. The scammer used the pictures from XXXX and description of the property to create the craigslist ad and even in gave me reference emails to contact of " previous renters '' were also false responses since no one has rented this unit per real owner. His email is XXXXif you need to confirm ownership. He gave permission for me to give his contact info to my local sheriff dept to contact him for that reason. 
All emails form the scammer came from XXXX XXXX  XXXX is copy of a header of one email : On Thu, XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX ( Direct Owner XXXX ) Since discovering this was scam he has never responded to me emails. He always answered my questions about this place in a way that would make me believe it was true and reliable I had no down there I know as I am in MI to check it out. He responded readily prior to receiving his money. 
The day I found out this was a scam I went to my bank to file a scam report and request my refund. They filed info with Wells Fargo and have received no reply as of yet. I also files a theft report with the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and report number is XXXX. XXXX Co XXXX XXXX is XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, MI XXXX. Detective XXXX XXXX is assigned to this case. With the money involved I'm told this is a felony offense. At his request I filed a report with the FBI called a XXXX. I realize this won't be investigated by FBI for this amt of money but to get this on record to look for patterns. 
I am told by my credit union Wells Fargo is notorious and never replying to requests of this nature and is a " corrupt bank ''. I am asking for my reimbursement of my {$4000.00}. I see on line Wells Fargo has a find for this ordered through the government. Perhaps I can reimbursement through that find with this form being filed? 
I have emails saved in my possession related to renting this place and am in process of getting a copy of the police report. I reported the scam to XXXX. The posting was removed from XXXX about 2 weeks before I found out it was a scam. I tried calling Wells Fargo myself and filed a complaint since the credit union wasn't receiving a response. I was transferred to four different people telling me the " next dept could help me '' and finally being told this is handled through the " back door and only the credit union can deal with this since I am not an account holder at Wells Fargo. '' My credit union account number is XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX. 
The two emails that I received as references for this rental that I'm thinking the scammer routed back to him to answer were : XXXX and XXXX. Both responded positively about the person renting from, the unit being great and area beautiful. Not sure if you needed that info or not but sent so you haver as much info as possible. 
I answered the question prior to this description asking if I can receive and disperse fund through a wallet on my account as yes because it is my checking account and I transfer money in and out of it I hope that was the correct answer. 
I look forward to your investigation of this and perhaps getting my reimbursement for the crooked transaction and scam I was taken on. Thank you! I appreciate any of your efforts to solve this.

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 explanation