Consumer complaint received 2020-08-28
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: WA
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems
Sub-issue: Other problem

Complaint:
To Whom It May Concern, My name is XXXX XXXX, I am a XXXXyear-old man whose life has been greatly affected by Covid-19. Looking for work has been very challenging due to these unforeseen circumstances. On XX/XX/2020 A potential employer ; XXXX XXXX who stated worked for XXXX XXXX XXXX in the XXXX XXXX Department emailed me about a potential job opportunity. We spoke about the position available and in the end seemed like the perfect job opportunity for me. A couple of days go by and I received an email from him stating he was offering me a 4-week paid training period that included studying and taking exams for this position. Explained that payment would be made at the end of the four week training period. Upon passing all exams, they would be sending me to their New York office after completing the training to start all the new hire onboarding paperwork and hands on training. I accepted the offer. After 2 weeks into the training, he offered me a XXXX XXXX - XXXX XXXX XXXX to complete if I wanted to earn extra income. They informed me that accepting this project, I would be viewed as a better potential candidate for this position. They wanted me to buy some new XXXX XXXX XXXX for their new office they are opening in XXXX. They were going to wire me {$7100.00} as available credit on my Bank of America Credit Card. That {$7100.00} was for the purchase of XXXX, XXXX & XXXX, and my {$400.00} bonus for this project. I waited for the wire to go through and for the bank to release the funds ( Called and confirmed with Bank of America that fund had been released ). After about 5 days, the funds were released from Bank of America and showed available to use on my credit account. I went on my computer and purchased the laptops. Upon receiving the laptops, I drove down to XXXX   and had them shipped to the address they provided me on their purchase order ( attached in supporting documents XXXX. 

A couple days later I was able to study up for the next exam that was due that Friday. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) Forwarded me another purchase order to order more laptops to have sent to their New Office. I accepted. I was very hesitant and repeatedly asked XXXX if this job opportunity was legitimate. I specifically asked him if this is fraudulent. After four weeks of studying and exams, I was reassured multiple times that this was a promising opportunity via email and phone calls. This time, the wire transfer would be {$13000.00}. I asked XXXX if they could send the funds as a paper check instead of wire transfer. He said they could not because this is the way their corporate office did their business in XXXX. End result, they submitted the wire transfer to my Bank of America credit card again. Bank of America at this point would not release the funds. They let us know that this was a scam. They said they see these types of situations all the time and that I am a victim of someone committing fraud. The funds that XXXX XXXX released through XXXX XXXX Bank of America before XXXX {$7100.00} was returned. So now that I have already bought computers and shipped them, I am now responsible to pay Bank of America {$7100.00}. The Bank of America Representative on the phone let me know that I need to make an in person appointment with a Financial Representative to go through my options and to find out if Bank of America released those funds to begin with or If XXXX released those funds. Bank of America is saying this is all my wrongdoing and I am responsible to pay all this money back. I made an appointment with a Financial Representative with Bank of America in hopes to find a resolution to this scam. He let me know that I need to call XXXX and have them call Bank of America to find out who released the {$7100.00} wire transfer fund without investigating it. I filed a claim with the fraud department, I called the police department, I have called and probably spoke with more than XXXX individuals about this problem. Nobody seems to want to help me. 

I called XXXX. They will NOT call Bank of America while a claim investigation is open. After MANY phone calls, I got the same answer. This was all my fault, or you need to file another claim, or you need to talk to this person. I tried to call one more time. I FINALLY was able to get through to someone who cared about this terrible experience I went through. I filed another claim and was told I would be getting a letter in the mail which would explain if they would help me through this or if I would have to pay back a {$7100.00} fraud charge. It has been over a week and I still have not received anything in the mail from them. Just statements that remind me I am a victim and I am still being charged. Being a long time customer of Bank of America, I was surprised and absolutely dismayed that they did not consider helping or resolving this matter with myself and XXXX. As a XXXX old man trying to take care of my wife and XXXX XXXX daughter during these unprecedented times, I simply can not afford this {$7100.00} fraud charge that has been pulled on me. Bank of America and XXXX are multi-billion dollar corporations, I am a single person who genuinely wanted to work and support my family. This experience has caused me severe mental distress to the point where my medical professional has recommended that I seek your help and anyone in the state government that could possibly shed light on this situation that seems to be increasing with people who are unemployed, desperately looking for work, and being taken advantage of. At my age, I feel extremely vulnerable. I have been unemployed for over a year. As you may surmise I am overwhelmingly discouraged and beaten down. 
I am praying and hoping that this email reaches the appropriate folks within your group. I have exhausted all other options and am very desperate for a miracle from your team. Please help me as this is not something me, nor my family can afford at this time. I look forward to hearing back from your team on my unfortunate problem. I look forward to your reply/help in the upcoming weeks. 

Thank you, XXXX XXXX

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 monetary relief