Consumer complaint received 2019-10-25
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: CA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Cashing a check

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I applied to a job posting on XXXX for an opening as a XXXX XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX, CA. In several hours, I was contacted via email by an individual named, XXXX XXXX ( Recruiter ) from XXXX. In her initial contact email, I was told that the online recruitment team has selected my resume for an on-line interview. For more details about the position, I was to contact Ms. XXXX XXXX ( Senior HR Specialist ) through XXXX XXXX or XXXX at { XXXX }. Within about an hour, I went through a XXXX XXXX interview with XXXX and acknowledged the terms of employment. Upon further discussion, I was told that the job is strictly remote work from home and will require the purchase of specified office equipment. A check from XXXX 's assigned vendor would be mailed to my home address and be put towards the purchase of home office equipment. That same evening, I signed and dated an Offer Letter from XXXX VP and CIO, XXXX XXXX. It took three full weeks, but on Saturday XX/XX/XXXX, I received the check in the amount of {$4900.00} and deposited it into my primary checking account with Chase Bank. The teller reviewed my account and then the check. She didn't suspect anything was wrong nor did I. {$500.00} of my initial deposit cleared immediately while {$4400.00} of the remaining deposit was delayed. Come Monday, XX/XX/XXXX, the funds delayed funds where 100 % cleared into my primary checking account and I followed a very specific set of deposit and purchase instructions. I was told by Mr. XXXX via email to place a Money Order at my local Chase branch for {$3000.00} and deposit it into the XXXX   vendor 's Primary checking account at XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ). Next, I was told to purchase {$2000.00} in XXXX Store cards and send images of the barcodes to secure my XXXX   employee account ( Username and Password ). In total, I spent {$5000.00} to meet my employer 's request. On XXXX during XX/XX/XXXX, I woke up to the shock of seeing my primary checking account overdrawn due to the initial check deposit being flagged for " Alteration '' by XXXX  XXXX XXXX. I spent hours since getting into contact with fraud and recovery agents from Chase Bank to claim my innocence and reach a respectful business resolution. I tried very hard to work this ordeal out with Chase Bank but in the end, I was notified via mail on XX/XX/XXXX that Chase Bank has decided to end our banking relationship. In closing, Chase requested that I pay the remaining overdrawn amount of - {$3700.00} in 10 business days or be subject to collective action. After six consecutive years of upstanding business with Chase Bank, one bad check led me to an unfavorable series of events that turned my personal finances completely upside down. My account access was restricted, and Chase debited all my personal savings in the amount of {$1000.00} to my checking account without my prior consent or authorization. This situation left me in need of emergency cash access from my personal savings and my local branch was notified to deny my withdrawal. In addition, Chase Bank took it all even further by debiting my beginning checking balance of {$2500.00}. Altogether, I was left with zero cash access, bowing to the mercy of my credit cards as a last resort. In desperate need of help, I've since filed a Police Report with my local law enforcement and have been assigned a detective. An investigation is underway for Grand Theft. XXXX has since informed me that XXXX XXXX is working with local law enforcement to find the ones responsible for stealing the digital identities of their official employees. Overall, to be victimized in a professional scam then vilified by your banking institution is a process I never encountered before. Rather than conducting a full fraud investigation and adhering to federal regulatory affairs, Chase Bank noted that I should have followed their undisclosed deposit protocol. I've had to make CC cash advances to pay Chase Bank off. Ive had to contact all three major U.S. credit bureaus to place a fraud alert and credit freeze report. It took me weeks to establish a new primary checking account at a new financial institution. The worst part of it all, Ive had to delay payments towards monthly bills because of not having a primary checking account during the gap period. One of the worst situations of my life has cost me the financial security I worked my whole life to obtain. Please see all attached documentation as supporting case evidence. I will mail more evidence in correspondence to this case.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation