Consumer complaint received 2022-01-14
Company: BANK OF THE WEST
State: CA
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I, XXXX XXXX, have been scammed {$2600.00} from XXXX XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX reached out to me by phone after over 6 years of no contact. He claims he just thought of me out of the blue and found my number via XXXX where my business number is linked to. He said he has a business proposition for me and wants to help me start my own business prior to him leaving for XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX for a business trip. He said he wants to start a car rental business for me as well as a congregate living facility that I will be managing. All I had to worry about is finding the house to get under my name as well as the vehicle he wanted me to get. He claimed the clients and nurses were already ready and his team already created a portfolio for me. On XX/XX/XXXX, I had a singing gig at the 3rd Annual XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( which is mostly supported by law enforcement ) and told XXXX XXXX where Ill be along with my now fianc, XXXX. He said he would like to attend and would I prefer for him to buy a ticket or donate to the charity. I said Its up to you and linked him with one of the head coordinator XXXX so they can discuss the details XXXX would need if he was going to make a donation. That evening, I reunited with XXXX for the first time since XXXX and he claimed he made a large donation to the organization. Towards the end as they were announcing the biggest donation for the event, I started filming XXXX while XXXX announced the biggest donator who wanted to remain anonymous, XXXX said that he wanted to stay anonymous and to my surprise XXXX said he donated a total of {$5.00} XXXX to the foundation. Everyone was in awe. On Monday morning, XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX called me and said, Hey Im going to give you {$15.00} million and have it transferred to your account so I can help you. All I need is for you to send me the wire fee which will be emailed by XXXX my assistant in the XXXX. I was in awe and I said you dont have to do that but he insisted because he claimed I was one of his best friends. I sent XXXX from my Bank of the West account transferred him {$2600.00} to his XXXX XXXX account because he claimed thats the fee for the {$15.00} million but not to worry he will pay that money back soon. His now estranged wife is not to be trusted. He said his soon to be ex wife, XXXX XXXX, only used him for money so he needs real people which he claimed I was in his life. He attended a meeting with a Technology company and promised them {$25.00} million for 20 percent stake in the company. He wanted my fianc to be a part of the business and he had me and him run around to meet with multiple people from car salesman to different business owners he was claiming he wanted to invest in since he has {$400.00} plus million dollars that will be coming in from the XXXX due to all his businesses and itll just go to taxes if he doesnt spend it or help his friends with. He told my fianc he doesnt need to go to his job as a supervisor for XXXX anymore because the millions will soon be in my account. 2 months later the money is still not in my account and he also stopped contact with the XXXX XXXX XXXX. When I would call him and ask him where was the money he kept choosing a random new day and said it was being delayed from some reason. Hes claimed he bought XXXX XXXX, Real Estate all over the country, dialysis centers in the XXXX etc, I confronted him about it and he said theres just some hold up, he would make up an excuse after excuse.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation