Consumer complaint received 2023-10-27
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: CA
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Re : Wire Transfer Scam/Fraud Dear Consumer Financial Protection Bureau , I am writing to file a second complaint against Bank of America for a Wire Transfer Scam/Fraud due to additional information I have obtained that proves this was a scam and I am a victim. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a notification from XXXX of an ad regarding an auto action. That same day I registered on the website of following : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, SD XXXX XXXX On XX/XX/XXXX, I made a bid for a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a call from XXXX at XXXX, which I was notified that I was the winning bidder for {$37000.00}. and I was given wire transfer instructions to wire {$37000.00} to the following account : Account Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, FL XXXX Registered Agent Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX Bank Name : Bank of America XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, FL XXXX Account Number : XXXX Routing Number : XXXX On XX/XX/XXXX, I authorized XXXX XXXX XXXX to wire funds to Bank of America for I believed I won a car through a legit auto auction and paid in good faith. I notified, XXXX at XXXX that I had wired the funds, and I was emailed a notification that the car would be delivered to me on XX/XX/XXXX, between the hours of XXXX to XXXX. Later I found on the night of XX/XX/XXXX, that the website of XXXX XXXX XXXX no longer existed. On the morning of XX/XX/XXXX, I called XXXX at XXXX at XXXX and to this day no one has returned my calls. Please see attached supporting documentation of emails, XXXX login page, pictures of the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX, labeled # XXXX. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX has allowed this company to create a new business name and start up the same scam all over. They are now operating as XXXX, using website XXXX XXXX XXXX. I see the exact same car on the website that I bid on, thought I won and paid for in good faith of {$37000.00}. Please see attached supporting documentation labeled # XXXX of screen prints of the website, the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, other cars and the same positive reviews that was used but they changed the company name as proof of this scam. 

It appears that XXXX is not doing their due diligence and allowing companies to create fake business platforms and Ads to scam their users out of thousands of dollars, while XXXX is profiting from these ads. I am not sure how this is happening since XXXX is the biggest social media platform in the world. Please see attached supporting documentation of XXXX scam ads labeled # XXXX. 

It also appears that Bank of America is not doing their due diligence with their account holders. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX is not a searchable business on search engines. However, XXXX XXXX XXXX is searchable on search engines. I also noted that the address for XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX is listed as XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX, XXXX, FL XXXX which is a XXXX XXXX service. One would think that Bank of America would verify the business license, the business name, identify the account holder and verify the address prior to opening a business account. Therefore, account holders are allowed to use Bank of America to scam consumers out of thousands of dollars and make profits. It appears Bank of America turns a blind eye to account holders who wire transfer funds since they profit from fees being charged for every incoming and outgoing domestic wire transfer. 

I would be remiss if I didnt point out that my wife XXXX XXXX XXXX a former employee of Bank of America XXXX XXXX XXXX CA as an AVP -Customer Relations Team Lead for the period of XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX assisting consumers with home loan modifications, which allowed consumers to keep their homes. My wife was proud to be an employee, who believed in Bank of America and their mission statement Values and purpose. We make financial lives better for our clients and our communities through the power of every connection. 

In any event, I am part of a scam, and I would like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to assist me in making me whole by getting the wire transfer funds reversed from Bank of America for {$37000.00} or credit my XXXX XXXX account in the amount of {$37000.00}. Bank of America is the second largest bank in the world and has the power and financial means to make me whole. Please note I have filed a report with XXXX XXXX XXXX Department who identified the owner in XXXX California of the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX in question. The owner had no idea that her vehicle was being offered for sale on XXXX. I have also filed a report with the FBI, Federal Trade Commission , Office of Comptroller of Currency and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, XXXX XXXX and XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. 

Please follow up with me, I can be reached at XXXX or at XXXX Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

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