Consumer complaint received 2022-08-04
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: CA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Problem caused by your funds being low
Sub-issue: Non-sufficient funds and associated fees

Complaint:
Hello I was recently victim of a work at home job scam which eventually lead to the closing of my bank account being closed. My bank ( Wells Fargo ) had put a check through which I received at the inception of this scam but lead me to believe that this entity was legitimate. Especially since I had recently been informed of a charge in XXXX which they contact me on and I denied so they closed my account with my permission and sent me a new card with a new ATM number and also, I am going through a separation/divorce and my partner deposited funds on the second settlement from a savings account rather than the checking he normally did and the bank froze the funds for 7 days. With this kind of protection in the recent past I assumed that when the check cleared from the unknown scammers it was a sign that the bank authorized it and it was a legitimate account. After the so-called job HR person had me transferring funds via money apps I figured something was not right. Three days later my bank sent me an email telling me they closed my account and the check was a fraud.

I contacted them and told what happened and they reopened a new account for me but placed the fraud check charges into my new account as a debit and has left me negative and anything I deposit as payment for this scam. I have sent them all of the documentation of the scam and asked for a manager to contact me ( see below ) but received no response. 

What can I do? 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX, CA XXXX mobile. XXXX email. XXXX Email to Wells Fargo Online Fraud Department : Dear Online Fraud Department, I called on Friday to request that a manager call me regarding several claims that are being investigated due to a work scam I fell victim to. At the present time my account ( ATM # XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) is in a negative balance due to transfer done using apps and cash at an XXXX atm. The whole start of this process began when a check was deposited by myself via mobile app ad was approved by Wells Fargo it was that moment when I assumed that the individuals I were dealing with were legitimate. I have had experiences with Wells Fargo where I was protected immediately one a deposit from my husband for a settlement that was made from a different account and these funds were held for 7 days. Another is a call from Wells Fargo where some activity was occurring in a foreign country and I was contacted and the charges were stopped and my account closed and a new card issued. 

I find it hard to believe that a fraud check would not have been caught within the days that it took to contact me regarding these scammers. 

I am now in the process of a divorce and limited on funds and my account has already begun sending back charges due to the negative amount from this scam. 

I would like to speak to a manager and go over what I feel, as a member of Wells Fargo for over 25 years are having to feel the impact of a scam. 

Thank you for your time and attention. My contact info is below.

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