Consumer complaint received 2021-03-26
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: GA
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX I responded to add about two pit bull puppies that were being given away for adoption since their son, who was a breeder, died from XXXX XXXX. There were questions that I had to answer to determine if I would be a good fit for the puppy. 
Hello there Thanks for the interest in regards to the PitBull Puppies I have for adoption. There is 1 male ( XXXX  ) and 1 female ( XXXX XXXX and they are brother and sister. They are 12 weeks 2 days old, presently vet checked, and will come with all papers needed. The puppies are very playful and are all of the absolute temperament as they also love playing with kids and other household animals. Attached to this mail are pictures of the puppies. We are giving the pups out for adoption because they belonged to our late son who was was a breeder but he just passed away after a long term XXXX thus we can't keep all of them as our home pets but we'll keep their parents, so we had to relocate to his home to give these puppies away and some property. I will be very willing to give you these pups if you can promise me never to sell them because they have been like kids to him, also do get back to me with the answers to our question below so I can have an idea of where our puppies will be going to. 


1 ) What is your phone number?

2 ) Have you owned a pet before?

3 ) Do you have a vet doctor?

4 ) where precisely are you located ( State/City?

5 ) Are you a breeder?

6 ) Do you have kids at home to play with the puppy/puppies?

7 ) What will be your reaction if in case they destroy something worth XXXX $? 
8 ) Will you be taking the male XXXX, female XXXX, or both? 
9 ) Give me a Brief Description of your Environment?

They informed me that I was moved to the top of the list based on my response. 

After reading through your mail, you moved to the number one spot in my heart for potential adopters of my XXXX XXXX More details on his personality. 

****** My Boy****** -he is not neutered. 
-he eats 2 times daily -he is socialized with other household pets especially Dogs. 
-he likes to be carried a lot and be spoiled. 
-he likes to be kissed and likes Licking your legs. 

My wife and I have decided to give out these puppies to anyone who is ready to take good care of them and we are happy you are willing to do so for him. All we need from you is your love for the baby. I really wanted to meet with you so you can pick up yourself but since you are not in our area and it's a distance ride on the car I don't know if you will make up the ride to come to pick up today or tomorrow. We just relocated a few days ago to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX where our late son lived. Better still if you can't make it up, they can be registered to a nearby pet 's transportation company and will be home delivered to you okay. All you will have to do is pay for the transportation fee so he will be home delivered to you right at your doorsteps. We are giving the puppies for free since they were owned by our late son for if he was alive today he couldn't have sold them so that is why we are giving them away for FREE and all I want in return is just you to take care of him and send me monthly pictures so we can see his progress. HOW CAN YOU ASSURE US THAT? I will appreciate it if you get back to me with your opinion so we can stop searching for someone to take care of him. 

We then preceded to discuss the delivery since I lived in GA and they were in TX. 

We would like you to give me your delivery details in this order that will be needed to get him home ... 

Your full name ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ....? ( for processing the change of ownership documents XXXX. 
Email Address ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...? XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX  or XXXX Mail ) Any of this so I can use at the agency Full home address ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... XXXX? ( for doorsteps delivery XXXX State/City ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ....? ( delivery guide XXXX Postal/zip code ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..? ( delivery guide XXXX Contact numbers ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..? ( for communication during delivery ). 
The nearest airport to your location ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..? ( delivery guide ) We will start necessary arrangements and get everything together including his toys, crate, and other accessories with paper works, we will register and get him on board with the next available going trip to your location and you will be alerted on payments by the delivery Agency which will take care of the delivery to your location or house address, you will have all the delivery details and tracking number status schedule sent to you in which you will use in tracking the puppy till he arrives your location. Once that is done, the delivery will be carried out, we will be looking forward to the details for registration. 

The agency contacted me and stated the delivery fee would be {$350.00} and this is the agency website. https : XXXX I paid the {$350.00} to XXXX XXXX through XXXX through my Wells Fargo account XXXX 

After paying the {$350.00} I get the following email. 

XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  REGISTRATION NO. XXXX. 
VAT NO. XXXX, provides comprehensive services to address the relocation of pets. We specialize in the international transport of pets that requires documentation and permits for complex rabies-free countries such as XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX. Whole of the UNITED STATES. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX DIAL / TEXT : ( XXXX ) XXXX IF THE LINE IS BUSY DUE TO NETWORK CONGESTION XXXX XXXX  XXXX  XXXX. : ( ( XXXX XXXX XXXX Email if numbers are busy or no answer because of too much work. 


EMAIL : XXXX WEBSITE ... XXXX https : XXXX DEAR CUSTOMER, XXXXXXXX XXXX WISHES TO INFORM YOU ABOUT YOUR PITBULL PUPPY HERE AT OUR REGIONAL HEADQUARTER, WITH THE REGISTRATION NUMBER XXXX. COPY THIS NUMBER YOU WILL GIVE IT TO OUR PET DELIVERY AGENT WHEN THEY COME TO YOUR HOME TO DELIVER YOUR PUPPIES. 

WE HAVE YOUR PUPPIES FROM MR/MRS XXXX XXXX Here at XXXX TX to be transported using the address below. You have to confirm this address. 

ADDRESS OF CONSIGNEE : NAME : XXXX XXXX COUNTY : USA SATE/CITY : XXXX, GA XXXX ADDRESS : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : XXXX XXXX XXXX TELEPHONE : ( XXXX ) XXXX PLEASE EMAIL BACK TO CONFIRM THIS ADDRESS! 

WHAT & # 39 ; S INCLUDED : HEALTH CERTIFICATE, VACCINATION RECORD CARDS, SHOTS RECORDS, TOYS, AND ACCESSORIES. 

THE EXPERIENCED PET MOVING SPECIALISTS AT XXXX XXXX TRAVEL SERVICES WILL HANDLE YOUR PET TO MOVE WITH CONFIDENCE, PROFESSIONALISM, AND TRUST. NO TRANQUILIZER RULE IS DESIGNED FOR THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF YOUR PET DURING AIRLINE AIR TRANSPORT. XXXX XXXX  TRAVEL AGENCY REGISTERED WITH THE USDA AS AN INTERMEDIATE HANDLER IS UNITEDLY GOVERNED BY THE RULES, REGULATIONS, AND MANDATES OF THE ANIMALS WELFARE ACT THE AWA THE LAW GOVERNING SCHEDULED AIRLINE AIR AGENCY TRANSPORTATION COST. THIS PUPPIES WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOU THROUGH THE VARIOUS ADDRESSES BY OUR PET CARRIERS. 

THIS PUPPY CAME WITH ALL NECESSARY PAPERS NEEDED, INCLUDING THE MICROCHIP IDENTIFICATION WITH THE MICROCHIP NUMBER ISO XXXX RECORDED ON THE RABIES IMMUNIZATION CERTIFICATES, BUT AS THE US VETERINARIAN MUST CONDUCT ANOTHER TEST TO BE SURE OF HIS HEALTH STATUS, IT WAS DONE ALL WAS FINE AND MEDICATION PAPERS WERE ACCURATE. THE TEST RESULTS SHOWS THAT THE PUPPIES ARE FREE FROM SUCH DISEASES THAT MAY ATTACK OTHER ANIMALS LIKE XXXX DOGS AND CATS ). SO THE PUPPIES IS NOW READY FOR MOVING AND HOME DELIVERING SERVICES. BUT IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE PROCESSES CAN NOT BE CARRIED OUT UNLESS THE FEES OF ( {$350.00} ) IS PAID FOR. XXXX XXXX THIS FEE WILL COVER ALL TAXES INCLUDING AIRLINE TAXES AND AIRPORT TAXES ) _._ THE PUPPIES WILL COME ALONGSIDE WITH TWO OF OUR PET CARRIERS. DUE TO THE HIGH RATE OF IMPORTS AND LIVESTOCK MOBILIZATION IN THE US, ALL OUR DEBIT CARD PAYMENT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER AUDITING TO INCREASE CLIENTS ' SAFETY AND WILL LAST FOR ABOUT A MONTH. SO THE PAYMENT IS TO BE DONE USING_XXXX  MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR BANK APP DOWNLOADED ON YOUR PHONE. DOWNLOAD THE XXXX PAYMENT APP FROM THE XXXX XXXX XXXX OR CLICK ON THE LINK AND GET STARTED. ( XXXX [ XXXX ] ). YOU NEED TO DOWNLOAD THE APP ON YOUR PHONE._ NB. XXXX PAYMENT DIRECTIVES GET STARTED WITH YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. 
GET THE APP Make sure you have your bank app downloaded on your phone ENROLL Enroll your mobile number or email address with your bank account so you can start sending money SEND MONEY COPY AND PASTE OUR XXXX PAYMENT ACCOUNT AND ENTER THE AMOUNT TO BE SEND XXXX PAYMENT ADDRESS ADDRESS : XXXX AMOUNT : {$350.00} SEND TO : XXXX XXXX MEMO/REASON : DELIVERY This payment should be done as soon as possible so that the puppy can be delivered to you on time today, you are to make the payment available today, if the fees are not provided the puppies will not be dispatched from our destination and you will spend more on daily feedings until the manager confirm the payment of the {$350.00} _ KINDLY EMAIL US A SCREENSHOT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHEN THE XXXX PAYMENT IS COMPLETED_. IMMEDIATELY THE PAYMENT IS CONFIRMED THEN THE TRACKING NUMBER, AS WELL AS THE FLIGHT RECEIPT WILL BE SENT TO YOU SO AS TO ENSURE A 100 % ASSURANCE FOR THE TRANSACTION. XXXX NOTE : We DON'T accept payments into our ACCOUNT which is less than ( {$2000.00} ) that is why we are using the XXXX method of payments because we also have their branch here in our agency. 

FULL DELIVERY REPORT KIND OF PET ... ... ... .... PUPPY BREED ... ... ... ... ... XXXX PITBULL NEW PUPPY OWNER ... ... XXXX XXXX Delivery Report>>PENDING Medical check>>>>CONFIRMED ELECTRONIC AIR CONDITIONED CRATE>>>>>>>NON? 
Anti pressure Vaccine>DONE Micro Chip>>>>>>>>>>DONE Departure>>>>>>>>>>>>ON HOLD Arrival.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>PENDING ( WILL BE EMAIL TO YOU AFTER PAYMENT ) What's Included : Health certificate, Veterinarian Certification, Shot records Toys ( sender`s expense ) Health guarantee Accessories. 

PAYMENT Due to the fact we have to urgently transport these puppies, we request you to do the payment through XXXX PAYMENT, to Increase clients safety fast and same-day delivery. Payments are made based on Flight Time and our system has been redesign temporally. All payment are done to our company 's XXXX address IMMEDIATELY YOU MAKE YOUR PAYMENT AND THE PAYMENT IS PROCESSED, THE TRACKING NUMBER OF THE PUPPIES WILL BE SENT TO YOU SO THAT YOU COULD TRACK THE PUPPIES FROM YOUR DESKTOP AFTER PAYMENTS. 

STAY TO ENJOY THE SERVICE OF INTERNATIONAL TRANSCOURIER DELIVERY SERVICES AGENCY! 
Thanks MANAGER XXXX XXXX I knew at this point it was a scam. XXXX called me to explain the need for the crate and I stated I was never going to pay thousands of dollars for a crate and I wanted my money refunded. Of course it was not. 

I forwarded the email to the " supposed owners '' and this was the response. 
Hello XXXX I got the same email and you will have to choose which of the crates you want we can take the last crate which is {$1000.00} refundable please read the email well. 

I responded I will not be paying for any kind of crate. This is their response : Hello XXXX please calm down I just talked with my husband and we are willing to help work this out since the money is refundable we manage to come up with {$800.00} so if you can complete the {$200.00} balance that will be fine since we will be getting the money back. 

I never responded back.

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