Consumer complaint received 2023-04-05
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: CA
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
On Saturday, XX/XX/XXXX, I saw a property listed on XXXX XXXX and contacted the seller, " XXXX XXXX '' to ask if I could visit the unit. She asked me to contact " XXXX XXXX, '' the local leasing agent, who responded immediately and set up a visit for Sunday, XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX. He provided the name of his company, his California broker 's license number, and various other points of information that made the transaction seem legitimate. 

He did not appear at the unit, but called me and provided an access code and directions to an unlocked apartment for viewing. I toured the property with XXXX XXXX on the phone and fell in love with the space. XXXX XXXX stated he would send an application, screening guidelines, deposit instructions, etc. by email for my consideration. 

I received the application and it seemed fair and legitimate. I provided the requested paystubs, proof of employment, etc. and waited for an answer. XXXX XXXX informed me that my lease was approved and that I could move in on XXXX. He asked that I wire $ XXXXsecurity deposit + {$1500.00} first month 's rent to the property management account to hold the unit until XXXX. This is not an uncommon practice in XXXX XXXX, especially when holding a unit for more than 30 days, so I thought nothing of it. 

After submitting my payment at XXXX on Monday, XX/XX/XXXX at Chase Bank in person, I confirmed the transaction # with XXXX XXXX and waited for him to confirm my move-in instructions. After 24 hours, I had not heard back from him. I began to suspect something was unusual when I saw the same unit listed on XXXX under a different property company and a different monthly rate ( {$2300.00}. ) I began to research XXXX XXXX and discovered that he did not work for XXXX XXXX XXXX, did not represent this property, and quite possibly was not even XXXX XXXX at all. I traced his number back to a website representing " XXXX XXXX XXXX  '' which did not list this property as a site. I believe this website is also an attempt to legitimize the scam operation. 

As it turns out, XXXX XXXX is impersonating an agent living in northern California, even using that agent 's broker license number to misrepresent his connection to the property! I do not understand how he obtained an access code to the property or keys to the unit, but he most certainly committed fraud on multiple levels, including the collection of a wire transfer under false pretenses. 

XXXX XXXX finally responded to me on the morning of XXXX and said he would provide a rental receipt " when he got to the office. '' He also said that my agreed-upon move-in date of XX/XX/XXXX was " no longer available per policy '' and that the soonest I could move in was XX/XX/XXXX. I have notified him that is not feasible as I've already given notice at my current rental, and asked to terminate the lease agreement per the printed terms and conditions ( 3-day cancellation prior to arrival date, with a {$100.00} penalty. ) I have not yet heard back from XXXX XXXX. I have reported this to the local police, notified the local FBI office, and filed FTC and IC3 FBI complaints. 

I contacted Chase Bank and requested a XXXX reversal of the transfer within 24 hours. I also contacted XXXX XXXX, notified them of the fraud, requested a XXXX transfer, and suggested a potential freeze on the receiving account. XXXX XXXX  said they were dependent on Chase Bank to direct them ; Chase Bank said that they could not consider the wire transfer to be fraudulent because I initiated it myself. This does not make sense to me. Any purchase, whether I initiated it or not, could ultimately be fraudulent. I would expect the bank to provide consumer protections if a customer had been victimized by a scam. Chase Bank does not seem to be doing anything with my concern at all. 

Please advise.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation