Consumer complaint received 2022-12-13
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: CA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Savings account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX I found an online job listing for a data entry clerk for XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX based out of XXXX, Kansas. I found the job listing on XXXX website and thought she was applying for a work from home data entry position. After I completed the job application, I received a response from the hiring manager, about being interviewed. The hiring manager via text message asked if I would be willing to interview through a web application service called XXXX XXXX is an online form builder that makes it easy to create robust forms and electronic documents. 
I agreed to an interview, and I received a hyperlink to the XXXX website. I clicked on the hyperlink and was routed to an online questionnaire. After completing the questionnaire, the hiring manager told me she would be in touch with me in the next few days. 

XX/XX/XXXX I received a text message from the hiring manager with a job offer. I accepted the position and I started the following day. 
XX/XX/XXXX The hiring manager messaged me about needing special equipment to do my job. The hiring manager told me she would send me a scanned check as soon as possible. I received an e-mail with a copy of a check for XXXX to cover the equipment. 

XX/XX/XXXX The hiring manager told me to send {$500.00} via XXXX to what I believed was a partner company for the equipment. Then I was told to send {$580.00} via XXXX XXXX. 

XX/XX/XXXX I was told to send {$320.00} to another associate via XXXX for equipment. After paying the amounts, the hiring manager told me to expect packages in the next few days with the equipment and supplies I would need for the job. 

XX/XX/XXXX I was notified by my bank Citibank via e-mail that the check I deposited a few days earlier bounced in my XXXX account due to insufficient funds. Citibank charged me a non-sufficient funds fee. After following up with Citibank I learned it was the scanned check I received from the hiring manager. I tried to follow up with the hiring manager but received no response. I then contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX department and explained to the HR representative the check they sent to me had bounced. The company told me they had been dealing with these fraudulent job postings and had received numerous calls about the same job posting. Then I called XXXX XXXX XXXX and spoke to the company 's owner about the check having bounced from non-sufficient funds. The owner told me I needed to contact my bank to try to get my money back. I contacted Citibank and opened a claim with their fraud department. Citibank told me that they would not pay me back for the missing funds unless I acquired a police report. 
XX/XX/XXXX I received a full copy of the police report. I contacted Citibank and they did not accept my claim or pay my missing funds although I acquired a police report. I filed at least 8 claims for the {$500.00} & {$320.00} via XXXX and the {$580.00} via XXXX XXXX from XXXX I have filed XXXX claims to Citibank to have my missing funds returned to my account. My claims have been denied. I have had the displeasure of dealing with this injustice, Citibank representatives have not been pleasurable to work with while filling and having my claims denied. I had to speak to a supervisor about the last claim I filed because the representative was so rude and insensitive to my scam situation. After this interaction with a supervisor, I was told on the phone that my claims would be sent to a specialist department to get the claim handled. The claim was still denied. During the process of dealing with these scam charges to my Savings account, my account has been closed by Citibank due to insufficient funds. Citibank has not shown me the customer service deserved of a customer who was a victim of a scam and provided the documentation, time, and patience to multiple claim denials as a result of a criminal scam.

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