Consumer complaint received 2019-08-25
Company: FIFTH THIRD FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: OH
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
***This was a dispute letter I filed with my Fifth Third Bank in regards to my account being drained of {$2000.00}. I supporting documentation, as mention below. Fifth Third denied my dispute stating the transfer was valid despite approximately 40 pages of evidence I submitted that was ultimately dismissed with prejudice. I have edited out all identifying information such as name, account number, address, Social Security number, etc** On XX/XX/XXXX at approximately XXXX, I received a text message on my cell phone from XXXX XXXX thanking me for changing my password. Shortly thereafter I received 700+ text messages within a span of 30 minutes which locked up my phone. Fearing that every account I have was now compromised I began changing passwords as quickly as I could to limit the damage. Within the 700+ text messages I found the unknown party was going for my 2-factor authentication codes, allowing them access to not only financial sites but also sensitive information on XXXX and XXXX accounts. I was able to lock down the most important accounts within 20 minutes of the breach. I confirmed with my wife REDACTED that she was not on the XXXX XXXX website prior to changing all passwords. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I discovered a {$2000.00} withdraw pending from my Fifth Third Checking Account REDACTED to a payee listed as XXXX XXXX XXXX bearing account number REDACTED. The XXXX XXXX XXXX account was added as a PAYEE ; a service we have never used before to pay bills or transfer funds. Neither my wife nor any of my extended family bank with XXXX XXXX XXXX. We immediately went to our local Fifth Third Branch in REDACTED and opened new accounts and put holds on the old. We were advised by Personal Banker REDACTEDr to dispute the {$2000.00} payment once it cleared. During this time frame I attempted to contact XXXX  XXXX XXXX both by phone and social media, but they declined to speak with me as I was not an account holder with them after providing my name and State of residence along with the account number. 
On XX/XX/2019 I disputed the now-cleared withdraw with Fifth Third Bank customer service under case # REDACTED and were advised it would be investigated with an Investigator being in contact if more information was needed. In the mean time the identity thief opened up an XXXX XXXX  checking account along with a XXXX credit card under my name. I began freezing our credit through the Big Three to prevent further accounts being opened fraudulently. 

On XX/XX/2019, REDACTED called Fifth Third Bank to release the hold temporarily so that we could withdraw our direct deposit funds to pay bills. XXXX was advised by customer service that there was no update on the dispute case. The funds were placed in our new checking account and REDACTED contacted Fifth Third Bank once again on XX/XX/2019 to reinstitute the security hold. 

On XX/XX/2019 I received a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX from Fifth Third stating the {$2000.00} payment was determined to be valid and that the dispute was closed in the banks favor. A customer service representative at Fifth Third Bank advised my wife and I that the Investigator made contact with XXXX XXXX XXXX and reported the account to which {$2000.00} was paid was under my name, REDACTED. 

On the evening of XX/XX/2019, I was on the phone with XXXX  XXXX XXXX fraud line pleading my case that account REDACTED had no connection to me, other than having {$2000.00} of my money from Fifth Third Account ending in REDACTED. I spoke with REDACTED out of the XXXX, Maryland XXXX Fraud Department for approximately one hour. REDACTED was able to find the account and located the {$2000.00} payment that was credited on or about XX/XX/XXXX. REDACTED asked if I lived in Missouri to which I answered no, I reside in REDACTED. I gave REDACTED my name, date of birth, and cell phone number to compare against the XXXX XXXX XXXX account in question. Although he could not legally tell me the account holders name or phone number, REDACTED stated my name, SSN, phone number, address, and date of birth were in no way attached to the XXXX XXXX XXXX account ending in REDACTED. REDACTED advised I needed to file a dispute with Fifth Third Bank. I advised REDACTED that I had already filed a dispute with Fifth Third and that it was found to not be fraud according to their investigator. Perplexed, REDACTED continued to look into the account and found no notes on the XXXX  XXXX XXXX account in which a Fifth Third Investigator had reached out in regards to fraud. 

I wish to dispute the ruling of case REDACTED due to the following : 1 ) On XX/XX/2019 I was a victim of a security breach on my personal and financial accounts including, but not limited to : Fifth Third Bank, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX. The only known financial lost I have suffered thus far is {$2000.00} withdrawn to make a payment against XXXX XXXX XXXX account REDACTED. 

2 ) I did not authorize any payment to any XXXX XXXX XXXX account, including but not limited to account REDACTED 3 ) Fifth Third Bank advised the dispute from XX/XX/XXXX was found to be invalid and closed due to XXXX XXXX XXXX advising the account was under the name of REDACTED. 

4 ) Upon contacting XXXX XXXX XXXX independently on XX/XX/2019, I was advised account REDACTED listed owner did not match my name, date of birth, SSN, address, state of residence, phone number, or email. REDACTED of XXXX  XXXX XXXX Fraud Department advised there were no notes under the account in which any investigator made contact to confirm ownership of the XXXX  account ending in REDACTED. REDACTED completed his report while I was on the phone with him and advised it was being sent up to his superiors but that I needed to reach out to Fifth Third Bank. 

5 ) At this point I am being told by one large organization to file a dispute with a second large organization that dismissed my claim with no valid reason given. Attached to this dispute appeal is all paperwork I have gathered in regards to this breach, including but not limited to credits report showing I do not have nor have ever had a XXXX  XXXX XXXX account, credit or otherwise. 



As a two-decade account holder with Fifth Third Bank, I perceive I am being given the cold shoulder with no explanation of why because I am not a multi-million dollar organization or account holder. I have had no problems with Fifth Third Bank in the past 20 years and have entrusted them with my lively hood. As a person wiser than myself once said, The Bank of Trust can only accept deposits ; there are no withdraws. 

As a XXXX XXXX that has served for over 13 years in both REDACTED, I take my oath of Integrity very seriously. To be told an investigation took place and later independently discover the findings are based on falsehoods is, in lesser words, disturbing. Being on this side of the witness statement and trying to prove a negative is a lesson in humility that I do not wish upon anyone. The probable cause that I have submitted of fraud has been dismissed with prejudice and now my family will suffer due to someone elses transgressions. Despite what I have discovered on the evening of XX/XX/2019, I will withhold judgment and await an appropriate response to the above listed claims. Thank you for your review of this matter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation