Consumer complaint received 2022-12-16
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: CA
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
I am currently dealing with a person who is operating under a CA XXXX number that is attempting to lease me an apartment that he has no connection to. I recently found out that he is not dealing with the actual property owner and the apartment is not becoming available for lease anytime soon. I have signed a lease agreement and he has taken my down payment which I have filed for a fraud complaint with my bank. 

Timeline of Events : - XX/XX/XXXX : First contact with real estate agent via XXXX XXXX XXXX - XX/XX/XXXX : Rental application filled out by me and emailed - XX/XX/XXXX : Real Estate agent says that he is getting many inquiries but if I send my deposit and first month 's rent, then I can be in first position. He shares the lease agreement with details regarding a full refund if I view the apartment and don't want it. I wire money {$4000.00} to landlord 's Chase Bank account via XXXX XXXX and return signed lease agreement. 
- XX/XX/XXXX : I was doing research online and found that the photos in the ad are for a different unit, and some are of a different apartment completely. I call the agent to ask about this. He says it was his mistake, the units are very similar, the landlord owns all XXXX and i can have that one if i prefer. 
- XX/XX/XXXX : I email him that i prefer # XXXX since that is the unit that I have seen photos of. He confirms via email. 
- XX/XX/XXXX : He emails me to call him. He tells me that there is another company that wants to rent that apartment and says that I need to send him an additional {$4000.00} to secure that apartment. I tell him that I won't send any more money until I can meet him or the landlord and see the apartment. He tells me that I can meet the landlord at his house. I tell him I need to see the apartment first. He declines and hangs up. 
- XX/XX/XXXX : I visit the apartment on my own and see that they are doing work on the unit that I am renting. The worker puts me in touch with the person that hired him to do the work. Its a different real estate agent and she tells me that she has never heard of the people that I am dealing with, the apartment is not for rent, and the owner is a different person. I call my real estate friend and he confirms that the owner is who this 2nd real estate agent says, and that the other landlord does not own any of the units that he said. 
- XX/XX/XXXX : I ask my friend who works in the FBI who recommends that I file a claim with my bank to try to retrieve my wire transfer funds which I do. He says that they person can make it more difficult to retrieve my money if they are aware that I am attempting to get it back. 
- XX/XX/XXXX : I get a notice from my bank that my claim was denied. I call the real estate agent telling him that I spoke to the people currently in the apartment and that they told me that they are not renting out the apartment, and that the owner is different from who he has said. He tells me that I am wrong. I tell him that I would like him to refund my money. He says he has to check with the landlord and would get back to me in XXXX hours. I follow up via email to put my request in writing. I have not heard from him since. I have called him multiple times and the number keeps ringing.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation