Consumer complaint received 2022-07-29
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: OH
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Opening an account
Sub-issue: Account opened as a result of fraud

Complaint:
On XX/XX/2022 I started receiving emails saying someone applied for a Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking Account. The second email was from Bank America also asking me to confirm my email address by clicking on a link ( which I did not since I assumed this was a scam ). The third email I received was from Bank of America telling me my new account was opened! It said Great news! The following account ( s ) are open : Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking Account # XXXX. At this time it didn't seem like a scam to me anymore, but I wasn't worried since I had a freeze on my XXXX since the beginning of 2022 and I had fraud alerts and freeze alerts on all of my credit reports since the beginning of 2022. I called in the morning just to make sure and sure enough Bank of America opened up a checking account in my name in spite of me having a freeze on my XXXX! 
XX/XX/2022 XXXX am first email asking me to confirm my email address ( note this email is one minute prior to the email saying that an account was opened ) I never clicked to confirm my email address, but they opened the account anyway. 
XX/XX/2022 XXXX XXXX  email saying my online application was in progress. 
XX/XX/2022 XXXX XXXX  received a third email saying my application was approved. 
XX/XX/2022 called Bank of America XXXX XXXX XXXX and spoke with XXXX who told me to call XXXX and to press the pound sign to talk with customer service. 
XX/XX/2022 called XXXX and hit # a few times like I was told to by the teller at Bank of America in XXXX. 
Spoke with XXXX from Arkansas at XXXX XXXX  XXXX transferred me to XXXX Fraud Department XXXX Spoke with XXXX at XXXX XXXX  after being on hold. XXXX said she was from the Maryland Office. She told me the online application came in from Indiana. 
She sent me an email with info about identity theft. She supposedly closed the account and told me to file a police report and to file with the IRS. She said the account was just opened this morning and no transactions, no debit card was requested, and no pending transactions were on the checking account. She said the person knew my name, address, email address, social security number, but they didnt have my phone number. 
She gave me a case # XXXX. She said she would send me application information and I should fill it out asap. I asked her how Bank of America could open this account when I had a freeze on the XXXX and fraud alerts on all three credit bureaus. She said she didnt know. At XX/XX/2022 XXXX XXXX  she sent me an email with information on identity theft. She gave me the number of XXXX and said if I have any questions about anything else regarding fraud prevention to call. 
IT IS NOW XX/XX/2022 AND I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY CONFIRMATION THIS ACCOUNT HAS BEEN CLOSED! She did NOT send me an application to fill out like she said she would so I could obtain information as to who did this. 
This has caused me a great deal of stress because for the last three days I've been on the computer calling the credit bureaus ( found out there is still a freeze and fraud alert ) also contacted XXXX ( I have proof there is a freeze alert and has been ) so I would like to know how Bank of America could have possibly opened this account. I have NEVER done business with Bank of America and never will.

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