Consumer complaint received 2023-08-01
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: CA
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: Gift card
Issue: Problem with a purchase or transfer
Sub-issue: Charged for a purchase or transfer you did not make with the card

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX I use my XXXX to call XXXX XXXX car company. It was first at XXXX but was told their hours of operation was XXXX on XXXX. I had a meeting to attend that morning so when I got home at around XXXX I again call XXXX . XXXX number that I called is still in my search engine each time I called XXXX I would XXXX the number. I attempted to call to rent a vehicle while visiting my mother in XXXX Louisiana. I called XXXX XXXX XXXX I was asked some question so I follow the question prompts I wanted to know hours of operation I listen and went to 1 after that I was prompted to make reservation press 1 I did another question came up I pressed 2 and employee answered the phone and routed me to someone name XXXX XXXX between this XXXX and XXXX this is when I believe the scam started. This was the number for the XXXX I called so this must have started at the company but routed some how to the scammer. I feel it was an inside job because I called XXXX XXXX. I was placed on hold for about what seem to be 10 minutes. First person was XXXX, after the hold XXXX. I asked of any promotions going on He said yes that American Express and XXXX are together on a promotion and that it would be a daily rate of {$25.00} per day however I would have to go to a pharmacy store like XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, to get a American Express Pre payed for {$300.00} I said I could use my debt card he advise me not because the promotion called for the American Express prepaid and that card only or I would not get the promotion. I explained I did not have a way for all this which is the reason I needed a rental. But I would see what I could do. Finally my neighbor give use a ride to XXXX XXXX I purchased the first card call the while still at XXXX XXXX gave the the information requested. They had me to send receive of transactions and front and back photo of card. To XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX supposedly to be XXXX number and he would process the card. I was to sent the information to this number above so my card could be activated. Card number to that card was XXXX XXXX XXXX. Exp : XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX numbers on front f card. XXXX on back. He came back on the line saying the card was good after I got home he then said it was denied that the card had to be exact. He repeat American Express pre paid Gift this time and said I could also if not that get the XXXX XXXX XXXX prepaid card I said no because I didnt have a way and they told me what I need already they went back and forth with me saying it was no one fault but could I will return and this time I could go to XXXX because they had the gift card it had to be gift. So I went to XXXX looked for the American Express gift didnt find it but found the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX number XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX card expires : XX/XX/XXXX sec. Code XXXX. 
I again would have to activate send the three pictures to the same number then they Said they would Return to me {$610.00} A car for 5 days 40 per cent discount for up to a year Bring me the car I was so angry but I had spend the money XXXX said he would make it right that they were at fault but the promotion and membership would only work if it would be an American Express gift card. They I would have to get that card I was so angry that I hung up. XXXX call me back for they got my name and number in case we got disconnected earlier. So promises were made and I went to be each time they were also in route with the car but at the last hour the said they had to call the driver back. The last card finally went through it was an American Express card from XXXX card number XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX front of card XXXX security code XXXX. This card was purchased on the next day someone took me to XXXX. We asked which XXXX they were located at they asked for the card so they could be processed we went back and forth I asked for a manager some XXXX person got on the phone pretending to be a manager. Said they needed to process the card first she gave me XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Louisiana I said I would pick up the car then the XXXX gets on the phone says they needed to process first and he would bring the car. the money and I could keep the car until Thursday for inconvenience me. I gave them the pictures and then told me this was my membership code reservation number XXXXand I could pick up at the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX but if he gave me until XXXX they would deliver the car. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Louisiana XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX This was all a scam the number for the XXXX I called so this must have started at the company but routed some how to the scammer. I feel it was an inside job because I called XXXX XXXX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation