Consumer complaint received 2023-07-05
Company: MOUNTAIN AMERICA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
State: UT
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Virtual currency
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
I have now been served papers and have 10 days to respond. I'm not sure where or what else to do. I am planning on going to the Attorney General after work today. I have filed complaints with the FBI/IC3 and the FTC. 

I have all the chats and pics on my phone you can have access to. I also know the name of the actual person the scammer is stealing pics from. I'm even willing to video chat with the scammer to get a good image of him to help catch him and the group he works with/for. 

Met on XXXX XXXX on XXXX XXXX. His name " XXXX XXXX ''. He said he lived in XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and worked for XXXX, which has since closed down at that city. 

He told me he was born in XXXX XXXX, due to father 's job they moved to XXXX XXXX when he was XXXX. Said dad was XXXX, mom XXXX and sister XXXX. He told me he had to go to Oregon to the main branch to cover for a coworker vacation time and was leaving Sunday night but would be back in 2 weeks. 

When that time came he said they got a contract with the XXXX to do some software program and was leaving for Maryland on Saturday. He had me believing that we would buy a house, get married etc when he got home. He told me to open and account at MACU so he could transfer XXXX into it and then had me move it to XXXX. He said it was so he could trade and increase it to XXXX and then he would have me put it down on a house. He was delayed 2 times coming home. In the last week of XXXX, he told me he was done and waiting for his last check. He told me that he wanted to put me as the beneficiary on his work records. He said they would verify me and my identity through XXXX off the IRS website. When I checked on the website it did say they use that verification system for other government offices, so I didn't question it. I did a video meeting with the XXXX XXXX ' representative, which also looked legit. 

Here is a list of notes I kept on ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : I did an email to keep separate from my personal emails. It is XXXX The following accounts were opened due to how smooth this scammer was. 
Mountain America Credit Union ( account is closed ) and XXXX. 
XXXX ( which I do use, but originally opened for wire transfers to put down on house ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( account closed per my request ) Opened ATM and IRA. 

ACTIONS DONE : He transferred money from an account into the MACU account. He told me to keep {$500.00}, and transfer {$9500.00} to the XXXX account. I didn't pull that {$500.00} out. I have receipt for the wire transfer done. I didnt know it wasnt an unauthorized transfer until weeks later. I did use {$130.00} for tires for my car, which I am willing to pay back that amount. 

He had me try to add 2 more accounts manually to MACU, which didn't attach. 

He told me he wanted to add money to my IRA. He mailed a check to my CU in XXXX XXXX off XXXX XXXX. The check was for $ XXXX. There was a letter with the check from XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX. The check from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, ck # XXXX. This was shipped via USPS from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX TX. My CU refused this payment and scanned it all in. 

When this one didnt work, he sent me another check to my home address and wanted me to deposit it myself. The check was from XXXX of XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX FL. Check # XXXX, through XXXX Bank, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, FL. It was mailed via USPS from XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, MD XXXX. 

I had no idea the transfer was an 'unauthorized '' transfer until a month later when I received mail from Mtn AmerXXXX XXXX I told them I would get it taken care of. I told XXXX and he said he would fix it when he got back home. 

Now that collection is at a law office and I don't have that kind of money. I went on their website and wrote them telling them it was a scam and I was completely unaware when all of it happened. I need to get this removed off my name as I can lose my job, security supervisor. I would have never done anything like this because first I'm honest and have worked hard to better my life and credit. Second this will have bad ramifications on my job which I've been with the same company for over 8 years. 

I worked really hard at earning his trust and got him to tell me his real first name is XXXX, XXXX XXXX name. He said he is in XXXX XXXX. I have earned XXXX 's trust and he sent me a pic but kept his face hidden. He is willing to video chat with me, but I haven't done it yet. I don't know if it's smart to keep him thinking I'm not reporting him, so as to keep an open line of communication to use for your or any other government investigation. I have kept good records of everything and hope it can help somehow. 

I need help to stop this lawyer and Mountain America from trying to get money back from me or garnish my wages. I barely make ends meet as is and anything extra will push me to homelessness. I'm barely keeping my mental health together as I lost my husband on XX/XX/XXXX to XXXX. I can't even pay for his cremation to bring him home and feel horrible for that, not to mention the whole scam thing and damage done to me and the person whose money was stolen from XXXX. 

I can be reached via email : XXXX or phone ( XXXX ) XXXX but won't answer if I don't recognize the number due to all the telemarketing calls, so leave a message and I will definately call back. I don't need any more problems.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation