Consumer complaint received 2023-05-17
Company: Apex Mortgage LLC
State: MD
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX, Executive Vice President for Apex Mortgage intentially defrauded me by offering a business line of credit that requires $ XXXX in reserve. XXXX XXXX claimed the $ XXXX would sit in Apex Mortgage escrow account and would be return upon closing on this loan. XXXX XXXX 's requests, I transferred {$43000.00} to his XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX personal account on XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, I transferred {$7000.00} to XXXX XXXX 's XXXX account. On XX/XX/XXXX, my friend XXXX XXXX transferred XXXX XXXX another {$30000.00} into his State Credit Union Account. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I transferred another {$10000.00} to XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX account. At this time, XXXX XXXX had a total of {$90000.00} that were " supposed '' to be held in Apex 's escrow account. On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX XXXX promised we would close on our loan on XX/XX/XXXX but that did not happen. On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent a formal email to XXXX XXXX and his assistance XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and requested cancellation of my loan and to return the funds immediately. XXXX XXXX called my husband, XXXX XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX and asked if we could close on the loan and funds will be returned on XX/XX/XXXX which did not happen. On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX and email [ again ] requesting my total funds back and to cancel this so called business line of credit. I also threaten to file a police report and report this to the FBI. I also email the president of Apex Mortgage, XXXX XXXX XXXX providing the chain of events and our demand for our money back. XXXX XXXX agreed with our concerns and advised XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX to return our funds. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I was able to speak with the Compliance Manager for Apex Mortgage her name is XXXX. XXXX stated that there is no active application on file containing my name of my business name and no loan was applied for since XXXX. XXXX stated that there are lots of clients that XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX has defrauded. XXXX XXXX also stated that Al has been running this scheme on many people lately and she is available to assist with your investigation. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I filed a Declaration of XXXX with my bank XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX via phone call and message upload also providing XXXX with the chain of events. 

On XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX provided with a letter on XXXX XXXX 's letterhead stating he would have the funds to pay me back on XX/XX/XXXX. The Security Manager working for XXXX XXXX confirmed the letter was fraudulent and 1 ) they did not have any records with XXXX XXXX visiting the branch on XX/XX/XXXX and 2 ) requesting a letter from XXXX. 
On XX/XX/XXXX, I met with XXXX XXXX XXXX for Apex Mortgage in person. XXXX XXXX stated that Apex Mortgage does not have an escrow account and provided me with a letter stated their employees are not allowed to take funds or charge for any service except for approvals and credit reports. XXXX XXXX agreed that this is an intentional crime. 

This is a crime because XXXX XXXX intentionally tricked and deceived me into giving him {$90000.00} for his personal gain. The funds transferred to XXXX XXXX were transferred into his personal bank accounts that were supposed to be transferred into Apex Mortgage Escrow account that would have 1 ) been returned to me immiately after I close on the business line of credit 2 ) show the lenders proof that the business has equity. This crime happened at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, MD XXXX. This crime was committed through bank transfers and wires. 

As of XXXX XXXX, the funds have not been returned to me from XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation