Consumer complaint received 2018-05-23
Company: PNC Bank N.A.
State: WA
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT : ( include names, date, times, location, specific quotes if applicable ) I posted an ad on XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. Here are the details of conversation I had with the person who did the fraud. 

Fraud : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Hi, I am very much interested in your AD. Please kindly revert back if it is available. 

Victim : XXXX XXXX XXXX Yes it is. What is a good time to talk? 

Fraud : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I am very much interested.I will appreciate it if you will be kind to provide me with the following details : renting price/utilities, deposit if applicable, photos of the place, and also when is the move in date? I do follow clean and healthy habits. Non smoker and drinker. Do get back to me soonest. 

Victim : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I am only looking currently for 2 months : XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX and then from XX/XX/XXXX until XX/XX/XXXX. 

The rent is XXXX dollars including utilities for 2 months. Will be XXXX starting XX/XX/XXXX. 

I can send you the XXXX video of the place If you text me your number. Where do you work? How long are you wanting the accommodation for? The move in date is XX/XX/XXXX and the move out date is XX/XX/XXXX. I have a XXXX month old so let me know if you are ok living in a house with a kid. 
Fraud : XXXX XXXX XXXX Hi, Thanks for your prompt response. I work with an organization engaged in XXXX XXXX. I am currently in XXXX, XXXX. And am originally XXXX ( XXXX ) .I appreciate the details you gave out to me about your room. Since i m unable to view it in person that helps my judgment. 

I m okay with the rental fees/utilities.I will be needing your help for much understanding. I can only make my first month Rent /Utilities payment through check because my sponsor is going to be responsible in handling my accommodation for the first month payment for my rent plus other expenses for my relocating and after the first month payment. I will be handling all other payments in person afterwards. 

Bear with me on this, due to a long distance from XXXX the only way of communication for now is through text Msg or email. And have attached a copy of my ID so you know am serious about getting the place. 

Can I Trust You to refund any extra balance back to me after deducting rent plus utilities from my first payment you will receive from sponsor because you will be receiving more than the rent on the first check the extra amount is for my travelling and relocating expenses. Let me know if you are comfortable with this and i will be so glad if you can. 

If you agree I will be needing you to reply back with your Full Name, Address and cell phone on where my company will make out the first payment to secure the place for rent plus utilities, Do get back to me soonest. 

Victim : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I apologize, I only wanted a female roommate, Sorry it won't work for me Fraud : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Please I am renting the place on behalf of my daughter who is relocating from XXXX to the US I will be needing you to reply back with your Full Name, Address and cell phone on where my company will make out the first payment to secure the place for rent plus utilities, Do get back to me soonest. 

Victim : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, I have another person looking at the place tomorrow. She had contacted me first, I want to be fair to her. I can let you know by tomorrow end of the day if the place is still available for sure if you can wait. I don't really have anyone else right now lined up for the apartment other than that one person. 


Victim : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX My name is XXXX XXXX. My new address will be : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX  XXXX. 

here is the link to the XXXX  video where you can see the apartment XXXX XXXX XXXX there is a guy doing the voice over explaining the apartment- he is the current resident. 

My cell phone number is -XXXX Fraud : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Hi, Thanks for the detailed information. I am going to instruct my sponsor to issue out the soft copy of the check payment to you today. So you can print it out and deposit check via mobile deposit using your bank app on your phone. Like I had explained to you in my previous email there is going to be an extra amount on the check, After the deduction of rent amount. It is meant for my daughter travelling and relocating expenses. I will also like you to take down the AD on XXXX   since we are both confirming. I am going to keep you posted with the check payment today. 

Victim : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Sorry XXXX. I have not confirmed anything. Please don't issue any check,. In my email, I have mentioned that there is one other person who is interested and she will be seeing the apartment tomorrow. If she confirms then I will give her priority. If she is not interested, I can confirm the place with you on Friday.Please don't make any payments right now. Just give me time until Friday to confirm if the place is still available. 

Fraud : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Please can i send the check today Victim : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Give me till the end of the day today. If the other person is not interested, yes you can send the Check. Will let you know by evening today Victim : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Hello XXXX, sorry for the delay in getting back. 

You can send me the check today if you are still interested in the place. 

My address is XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX WA XXXX Fraud : XXXX XXXX Hi, My financier has issued the check payment on your name which am attaching with this email. It can only be deposited via MOBILE DEPOSIT using your bank app on your phone. 

Here is the Mobile Deposit Instructions 1. you have to print out both front and back of check 2. Cut both front and back check out carefully to check size. 

3. Endorse check back with " For Mobile Deposit Only '' and sign. 

Deposit the check into your bank account today before XXXX which is cut off time for mobile deposit. Funds will be made available to you next business day. You are to deduct the first month rent and the excess money to my travel agent as per my instruction. 

Please notify me once the check deposited. You are to send me a pic of the deposit screenshot for my reference. 


When I deposited the check on XX/XX/XXXX, the money showed up instantly in my account. I made 6 transfers. 3 transfers from XXXX ( an instant money transfer service ) to the email id the Fraud person gave me. The email id I transferred the money to was XXXX ( XXXX XXXX ). The first transaction was for XXXX dollars, the second for XXXX dollars and the third for XXXX dollars. The money was withdrawn from my account on XX/XX/XXXX. 

The other email id I transferred the money to was XXXX. I transferred XXXX dollars using XXXX and another XXXX dollars using XXXX ( another instant money transfer service ). The money was deducted from my account on XX/XX/XXXX. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, the XXXX dollar check the fraud person sent to me was withdrawn from my account. 

I called my bank- PNC on XX/XX/XXXX. I told the bank what had happened. The person I spoke to was XXXX XXXX ( who is in the retail team of PNC ). He told me that once they know why the check was withdraw they can help me file a fraud case. He asked me to call him on XX/XX/XXXX. He also mentioned that he will call me. 

I didn't get any call from him. I tried calling him many times on XX/XX/XXXX but he didn't answer the call. I left voice messages but he didn't respond. Then I called another customer service member at PNC and they basically told me that they can't file a fraud because I authorized the payments. They said they are sorry that someone in their team gave me incorrect information about helping file a case but they said sorry. 

I filed a police complaint on XX/XX/XXXX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation