Consumer complaint received 2017-02-13
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: CA
Product: Money transfers
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
I got a phone call last week, the caller claim they are Wells Fargo Fraud department and I have a suspicious check that may be withdraw from my checking account. I ask the caller about the check number and withdraw amount because I written a check to the termite service recently. The caller reject me the detail information and keep claim this is privacy information. Then I ask them to send me an email to verify the information but also got rejected and claim they do n't have my email or other contact information. In addition, they ask me the date that I open my checking account which trace back to decades ago. Then I refuse to continue the conversation because the way they talk are very suspicious and can not verify my back account number and etc. I check the phone that leave on my cell phone, it is not a phone line on Wells Fargo bank. I also found out on internet that someone report the phone number is a scammer. Tel XXXX, The message on internet reflect they have been call many people who does not have WF account or business with WF and unable to prove their identity. I also go over WF website and found no similar number from them. Few days later, the termite company told me that my check is rejected even I have good balance on my checking account. I call the WF, they claim that the penmanship is unusual and check number is not consequent. I check my signature and there is nothing wrong and I had written XXXX dollar check to the car dealer without any problem. I am a former service member that is why I really aware identity theft. The way that WF fraud department did not mention any detail about the check on phone, they just threaten me the thing may ruin my credit rather than help me or the people who did my service. They claim it is not proper because it is a check pay to the business so the signature on the back of the check looks suspicious but there is nothing wrong for a person sign on the check back during the regular deposit. WF fraud department did not know what they are doing, they do n't even know how to clear a case rather than mess up the bank transaction. There are multiple messages on internet from 2015 claimed they are calling people randomly whether the person has a Wells Fargo account or not. They also leave a message in my phone with a case number but did not link with the Wells Fargo 's contact information that published on WF website related to fraud cases. Overall I did not receive notice like text or email before my check is being suspended and rejected, this is very rude and improper. WF fraud department just intend to interfere any transaction they want rather than verify the transaction is real identity theft or just general business. It does not give a credible source to verify they are not phone phishing or scamming and that refers to the general Wells Fargo customer service at all.

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