Consumer complaint received 2019-11-21
Company: BMO HARRIS BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: FL
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
At this time, I am putting a claim against BMO Harris Bank, the beneficiary of the funds that I sent through my XXXX  XXXX XXXX account which subsequently turned out to be a scam. I feel this is the only way BMO Harris Bank will see my very detailed documentation detailing a scam/fraud which will hopefully assist them in deciding to return my funds. Below are the details which I included in my original complaint ( COMPLAINT ID XXXX - SUBMITTED ON XX/XX/2019 ) against XXXX XXXX  XXXX which XXXX XXXX  XXXX has since denied. It is important to note that on XX/XX/2019, I did speak with a representative of BMO Harris Bank by the name of XXXX. I called their 800 customer number ( XXXX ). After explaining my predicament to XXXX, she put me on hold and when she came back on the line, she said that she had spoken with one of their fraud investigators by the name of " XXXX '' and that he had told her that he was aware of this fraudulent online puppy company, " XXXX XXXX '' and that they were investigating them. So that's why I want to make sure that they see my documentation and help me get my funds back. 

Below is what happened : On Sunday, XX/XX/2019 I found on the internet a company, XXXX XXXX, that was supposedly selling puppies. I contacted them on the phone number listed on their website ( XXXX ) XXXX. When they replied to me the phone number changed to ( XXXX ) XXXX. The seller/scammer told me his name was XXXX XXXX and his address was XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, Texas. We negotiated for two puppies to be shipped to us from Texas to Florida for {$1400.00}. We agreed on 1/2 ( {$700.00} ) deposit to be sent to an e-mail address ( XXXX ) they provided me to send the deposit thru XXXX. I did this on Monday,  XX/XX/2019 with the promise that the puppies would be delivered on Tuesday, XX/XX/2019. I was supposed to get a confirmation number first thing Monday, XX/XX/XXXX which was supposed to include flight information. I was eventually provided by e-mail with the confirmation and another website ( XXXX. ) I later found out this was also a fake website. Long and short - they had no puppies nor did they have any intentions of delivering the puppies just taking my money. As soon as I figured out that I had been scammed, that same Monday, XX/XX/2019 I contacted my bank, XXXX  XXXX XXXX, and filed a claim ( claim # XXXX. ) They proceeded to tell me during this first call that they would start an investigation that could take anywhere from 10 to 45 days. The bank told me to file a police report with my local jurisdiction so that same day, I went to my local police department and filed a police report ( XXXX, Florida Police XXXX # XXXX. ) I provided the police department with extensive documentation to back up my case which included e-mails between myself and the scammer as well as pictures of the fake websites, and more. The next day I made another phone call to XXXX  XXXX XXXX fraud dept. to give them the police report number and I was told that once I had the police report in my hands to go to one of my local XXXX  XXXX XXXX branches and have them fax my police report and any other documentation I had to the XXXX  XXXX XXXX fraud department. I was also told that I would receive a letter after the 10th day giving me the name of the XXXX XXXX XXXX investigator working my case. Once I had the hard copy of the police report, I met with a local banker from XXXX  XXXX XXXX who reached out to the fraud department. They proceeded to tell us that they didn't need that paperwork. I explained to XXXX  XXXX XXXX fraud dept during this meeting that the paperwork I had would give them backup to show the beneficiary bank, BMO Harris Bank, how I was scammed and that they should make every effort to retrieve the money for me. XXXX  XXXX XXXX proceeded to insist that if they needed it to fight my case, they would request it from me at a later time. I was anticipating receiving the letter which XXXX  XXXX XXXX had told me I would receive after the 10th day of me placing my claim. Well I did receive it on Monday, XX/XX/2019, and it did not include a investigator 's  name. It basically told me that they had finished their investigation and they were not able to get my money back from BMO Harris Bank. I made a claim against XXXX  XXXX XXXX through this agency, the CFPB. Approximately a week ago, I received a phone call from XXXX   XXXX XXXX telling me they had reviewed everything that was provided to them by CFPB and still concluded that they were denying my claim. I asked them how they concluded this, and they said that it was because I authorized the payment. I proceeded to ask them if they had contacted the beneficiary bank, BMO Harris Bank and shared the documentation with them, and they said " no ''. I went on to tell XXXX  XXXX XXXX that I felt that if they had shared this documentation with BMO Harris Bank, that bank would clearly see that I authorized these funds under fraudulent conditions and they would possibly consider trying to get my funds back. Therefore, at this time, I am putting a claim against BMO Harris Bank because I feel this is the only way they will see the my very detailed documentation detailing a fraud. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY PDF ATTACHMENT HAS BEEN BOOKMARKED FOR EASE OF READING. Thank you.

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