Consumer complaint received 2022-07-05
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: FL
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I got scammed by someone who supposedly was a officer XXXX he spoofed called me thru XXXX which is the US DISTRICT COURT CLERK number, Which made me believe him, he told me to go somewhere away from everyone in the house he has something serious to tell me and also told me not to call anyone or speak to anyone until the case is dismissed he also knew my name and knew that I had a clean background XXXX stated that my phone is tapped, He also called me thru XXXX which he claimed was his personal number, He began by saying my full name and that I had a clean record, He claimed that I texted a female and it was considered soliciting to prostitution, I questioned him, denying it and said who he said he couldnt disclose that information because it is a on going investigation that is connected to human trafficking, he claimed that I was wanted and had a arrest warrant, he claimed that I had to either cooperate or get picked up and get a lawyer, while he is telling me these things Im hearing police radio calls in the background, I was scared and didnt want my freedom to get taken from me, I cooperated and he told me I have to go thru a program and get tested by a psychologist  having another person on the line which was a supposedly a phycologist he asked me a lot of personal questions like what do I do on my off time, how is my XXXX life and even what do I plan on doing in life, after that they made me read out loud claiming multiple people on this case is hearing this and its part of the program you need to pass to clear your name, He made me read on XXXX XXXX XXXX for victims of trafficking act 2015 He made me read section 101 to 104 which at the top stated {$5000.00}. At first I told them I couldnt pay it I didnt have enough they kept saying its going to be fine, At first I sent the money too the wrong person, instead of the scammers, I was so nervous I sent {$1800.00} to a similar number But I was able to cancel that transaction because the number I sent it too wasnt set up with XXXX then I kept speaking to the scammers they told me dont worry everything will be fine just send the total today to our financial officer XXXX XXXX  XXXX they stated but dont lie to us we can check your bank accounts, They asked me how much can I pay today so maybe you wont have to pay the full amount, I said almost {$3000.00} they told me okay send the most you can today so when I speak to my boss maybe if he sees you payed almost {$3000.00} XXXX let you off the hook with the rest since you have a clean record, I sent him two transactions one with {$2500.00} because that was the most I can send in one transaction and one with {$390.00} because it didnt let me send any more, I maxed out the amount I can send that day, he made me put XXXX under the payment in the message bar so they can track the transaction. I kept speaking to him asking him when will I get a receipt or proof that I paid this fine he said 24 to 36 hours after, the fine is paid.He said he had bad news his boss said due to the fact that you are XXXX XXXX XXXX you are a grown man and dont deserve any special treatment he told me I need to pay the full {$5000.00}, I felt terrible he already took all my money left me with {$90.00} in my account, He made me so desperate to pay this that I told my mom to help me out and pay the rest I told her to XXXX XXXX so I can free my name and drop this case, I begged her and told her my freedom was on the line Ill explain later, she ended up XXXX in them {$2000.00} thru XXXX the same day, she ended up XXXX in {$2000.00} and not {$2100.00} to complete the total that I had supposedly owed because the limit she could send was {$2000.00} at this point me and my mother sent these scammers {$4800.00}, I still owed {$100.00}, I agreed with these scammers I was going to send it the next day but after I finish doing all of this I spoke to my mom and she told me it was a scam to get receipts and records I told her theyll send it in 24 to 36 hours. I was skeptical but still believed these scammers, I couldnt take it no more, I thought my phone was tapped so I drove to my job and told my co worker face to face what happened he told me he believed I gotten scammed as well, I told him to ask his brother who answers phone calls for the police and he told I had been scammed, I called them they didnt pick up he texted me he was in a meeting, then he finally answered and I told him send my money back Ill take it to court and he hung up and blocked me. This is when I finally realized I had been scammed for $ XXXX.I filled a police report my case # XXXX, I feel terrible, that was the money I was saving to pay for my XXXX XXXX it is completely gone, I dont deserve this Im a college student at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX has a job and a business that works super hard for this money that these scammers took from me by threatening my freedomXXXX already refunded my mothers money back after her claim but Bank of America hasnt refunded none of my two transactions one of {$2500.00} and the other {$390.00} to XXXX, I did the claim XX/XX/XXXX and I still havent received my money 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