Consumer complaint received 2019-10-18
Company: FIRST REPUBLIC BANK
State: NY
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: International money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
The wire transfer happened on XX/XX/19 at XXXX. 

I had been on the phone with a person claiming to be a US Marshal with a name and badge number, as well as my case number. Long story short, this person took over three from XXXX saying that my social security number and identity were used to rent apartments in Texas where they found drugs and also to wire money internationally. So they said that they have to verify my own money and put them in federal custodial account while they prosecute these identity thieves. So they eventually got me to take a cab to First Republic bank in XXXX and wire transfer the money to a XXXX XXXX bank. As I was getting back home and trying to communicate with my husband ( I was told to not involve him, but he was freaking out knowing that something was wrong ), I began to realize I was being scammed. Immediately, I called First Republic at XXXX to recall the transfer and explained that I was being scammed as I was walking over to XXXX XXXX precinct. Now the bank is saying that they could not recover the funds. I don't understand how this is possible, as even if I transfer money from my account from one bank to another, it takes 4-5days to clear. Also, the security measures taken by the bank was  nonexistent, as I didn't even have my driver 's license with me or any photo identification at the time I went to the bank. Later, I was also told by another bank 's teller that not only they wouldn't do such transfer without photo identification, but also they wouldn't execute such transfer of large amount of money without my verification that I know the receiving person. I have been in contact and keeping in touch with people at First Republic bank, and they have been responsive but not helpful. If these international wire transfers are so instantaneous as First Republic says, then there must be more security measures taken including checking my photo ID. Also, I was there in completely shock state reading off the information of the XXXX XXXX bank, recipient name, account number, etc in spelling-letters fashion from papers that I had scrabbled these onto and when the banker asked me what the money was for, I couldn't answer him until I scrambled to find what I was told to say on the next page of the paper. All of these should have set some alert ... Something so that this kind of transfer can be stopped when I called less than four hours later.

Of note, I found out through US Marshal and FBI to email complaint to them, then later found out on website about FTC complaint that should be filed, then when I called to follow up, I was told be file IC3 complaint, all of which I have done and shared with First Republic -- again, they responded to my calls, but gave me no help with any  information regarding these complaint filings. Again, from another bank, I was also given information and instruction regarding identity theft and protection, but no one at First Republic gave me any information of such.

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