Consumer complaint received 2021-12-16
Company: Square Inc
State: TX
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX contacted me via a social media forum called XXXX XXXX. When he learned, I was planning to renovate my home, he advised me he was an experienced contractor and that could handle the job. In fact, he said my job was so easy and small that he would normally not accept such a job. He lied and said he had handled many jobs before ( up to three hundred ). He had a XXXX page for his supposed business, XXXX XXXX. On it were photos stolen from other pages/people and his former employers. He lied and said he had renovated 300 homes. He had actually only ever renovated ONE home, his father 's home, which he inherited upon his father 's death and " flipped '' to sell. He also told me he had worked with his " subcontractors '' for 30 years - that was also a lie. Most of them had never met him until this job ( and even they agreed that he had no idea what he was doing ). I signed a contract for {$74000.00} for all agreed renovations, with credit to me if I purchased any materials or paid for any labor directly. The first thing XXXX XXXX did BEFORE WE EVER SIGNED THE CONTRACT was to ask me for a check for {$10000.00}, claiming he had already spent {$10000.00} on material orders ( he had not, he had only spent slightly under {$3000.00} ). After I handed him the check, he went into my restroom, deposited it via remote deposit ( unbeknownst to me ), then came out and said that he didn't like to be paid with checks and asked if I would pay him with my debit card instead, via his Square XXXX ( which was registered as " XXXX XXXX, '' his supposed business ). I agreed and took the check back, tore it in two and placed it back in my check book. It was my understanding that he was not going to deposit the check. I even voided it in my check register. I paid him {$10000.00} via Square to his company, XXXX XXXX, not knowing he had surreptitiously also deposited the {$10000.00} check. I was shocked and dismayed to later see that he had deposited the check AND took {$10000.00} via Square. He only had the check in his hands for perhaps 15 minutes, never left my home with it, and handed it back to me advising that he had not cashed it. I tore it in two, saved it, and voided that transaction in my checking ledger. XXXX XXXX deposited all of my construction monies into his personal bank account, which is a violation of Texas law. He did not keep track of spending, nor did he provide receipts, but kept asking for more money. By now they had done demolition and much of my house had no walls, floors, sinks, toilets, etc. I kept paying because I had already invested so much, I was afraid to back out. We quickly surpassed the agreed {$74000.00} contracted agreement. XXXX XXXX NEVER issued me ANY invoices or change orders. I began to get suspicious when I paid him money to pay subcontractors or buy material and the subcontractors were never paid and materials never purchased. I had to pay subcontractors personally and also buy materials using my debit cards. He even bounced checks to subcontractors after I had paid him to pay them, because he had spent the money on himself. In total, I gave XXXX XXXX {$52000.00} - most of which he deposited into his personal checking account with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I do not know why he spent it on. At least {$23000.00} ( and likely more ) was never accounted for in any way. For at least that much money ( and likely more money, as he did multiple very devious things that led me to believe that even money that was allegedly accounted for was actually never spent on my home renovation. I paid XXXX XXXX for at least {$23000.00} in products and services that were never rendered ( and likely more ). Beginning on approximately XX/XX/2021, XXXX XXXX essentially stopped paying for anything. He also purchased materials with my money and then returned them and kept the money or credit ( and did not return that cash or credit to me or credit my account ). He also purchased materials with my money and then took them to his mother 's home ( where he lived ) and also used them on other unrelated projects ( like insulation or HVAC work for other clients ). This was witnessed by subcontractors. XXXX XXXX was extremely deceptive, evasive, and dishonest. When I confronted XXXX XXXX or asked for an accounting or receipts, he either accused me of being XXXX, made me feel guilty, became irate and threatening, or attempted to cajole and flirt with me. At one point he gave me a pair of XXXX with his photo on them, which made me extremely uncomfortable. He would also promise to provide receipts or accounting, but ultimately perpetually stall and evade doing so. Ultimately, I have already spent well over {$100000.00} on this project and will need about another {$50000.00} to complete and fix the mess that he left. Again, {$52000.00} of that went STRAIGHT TO XXXX XXXX. AND AGAIN, HE NEVER FINISHED THE WORK, HE JUST QUIT, LEAVING ME WITH NO MONEY AND ONLY 2 OF 7 ROOMS FINISHED. He also stole other things from me, including a television, a gold coin from my grandfather, and about {$8000.00} ( US value ) in foreign currency, as well as one XXXX package and one package from XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX. He also stole construction materials. Some of XXXX XXXX transactions were unauthorized completely ( like the check that he sneakily remotely deposited which I did not authorize him to deposit, in addition to multiple debit card transactions ), while other transactions were authorized but the monies were not spent on what we had agreed the monies were intended for ( he would buy items I had not authorized the purchase of ), and/or the services and products that I paid for via those transactions were never provided or rendered to me ( he simply stole the money, diverting it for his own use ). He also took money I paid or authorized payment of to pay subcontractors and then never paid the subcontractors, instead keeping the money for himself. XXXX XXXX made a total of {$30000.00} in charges on my debit card via his Square Application, using the name XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX is XXXX XXXX, and XXXX XXXX is XXXX XXXX. Again, ultimately, I have already spent well over {$100000.00} on this project and will need about another {$50000.00} to complete and fix the mess that he left. Of the {$52000.00} that went directly to XXXX XXXX, {$30000.00} was taken via his Square Application, and not all of those transactions were authorized, nor did I receive the services or materials that I paid for via those payments. Another {$10000.00} was taken via the unauthorized check. The remaining {$12000.00} was paid in cash payments ( he would demand cash and then was always with me when I withdrew such cash, so that he could take it immediately ), or via ATM withdrawals that he made himself from my account. You can tell that he did so because those withdrawals were made at banks I have never used before in my life, which are nowhere near my home- and surely security footage would show him doing so. XXXX XXXX NEVER FINISHED THE RENOVATION ON MY HOME, AS WHEN I REALIZED WHAT HE WAS DOING AND DEMANDED HE ACCOUNT FOR MY MONEY OR RETURN IT ( AND LATER REPORTED HIM TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ), HE QUIT THE PROJECT, FAILING TO REFUND ANY OF THE MONIES PAID, LEAVING ME WITH NO MONEY AND ONLY 2 OF 7 ROOMS IN MY HOUSE FINISHED. I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN A SMALL BEDROOM SINCE APPROXIMATELY XX/XX/2021, WITH NO KITCHEN OR MASTER BATHROOM AND MANY OF THE ROOMS IN MY HOUSE WITHOUT PAINT, FLOORS, DOORS, OR FIXTURES. He also stole other things from me, including a television, a gold coin from my grandfather, and about {$8000.00} ( US value ) in foreign currency, as well as one XXXX package and one package from XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX. He also stole construction materials. When I met XXXX XXXX, I had {$140000.00} in my bank account, and had additional deposits of over $ XXXX {$40000.00} during the 6-10 weeks we knew each other. I now have about {$100.00} in my bank account. XXXX XXXX saved my debit card information in his Square App and wrote down the code on the back without my knowledge or permission, so that he could make additional withdrawals without my presence or having my debit card in his possession. He also provided my debit card information to subcontractors, who then made purchases of which I have no idea were. And again, he withdrew cash from my account without providing materials or labor for those funds, or even telling me he was doing so. Eventually I took my debit card away from him I asked for it back long before I got it back. Then I reported him to local law enforcement from the parking lot of my local XXXX XXXX bank. XXXX XXXX also got onto my phone and attempted to enter my social media and other accounts. He watched me enter my code and later used it to get onto my phone. He also asked to use my laptop. I also found packages addressed to me which had been delivered to my home in XXXX XXXX vehicle and home. I am XXXX and XXXX. I have a severe brain injury. XXXX XXXX took advantage of this. I have lost my life savings. I am devastated. And I am not the first-person XXXX XXXX has scammed, nor will I be the last. He has been arrested and sued previously for theft and fraud and tax issues, and there are several reviews online that state he took money for repairs he never completed. And again, he was claiming unemployment the whole time he was working on my job ( in reality, he never did any actual work ), just shopped with my money. XXXX XXXX had no income during the time we knew each other. He was unemployed and claiming unemployment weekly - but had been denied and was waiting for an appeal hearing. I reported his unemployment fraud to the State of Texas. XXXX XXXX, doing business as XXXX, used my money as his own personal piggy bank, and when caught attempted to turn the situation around and make himself look like a victim. XXXX XXXX also forged my signature on an altered contract ( which can be easily proven as it was signed electronically from his home on a day I was not there and the signature looks identical to his own ), but also on credit card receipts when he made purchases using my debit card. XXXX XXXX also tried to pressure me into committing insurance fraud, saying if I did not agree to make false claims I would never get my money back and he would take half of any legitimate claim I filed ( after he caused approximately {$30000.00} of damage to my home and property and dog ). Again, when I met XXXX XXXX, I had {$140000.00} in my bank account, and had additional deposits of over $ XXXX {$40000.00} during the 6-10 weeks we knew each other. I now have about {$100.00} in my bank account. I have lost everything, my entire life savings, and so far, no one has been able to help me recover a single dime of my money. I have reported this to the local Attorney Generals office, to the local District Attorneys office, to the Federal Trade Commission, to the Better Business Bureau, to the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, to the local XXXX, and to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as well as to both my bank, XXXX XXXX, and to Square. Both XXXX XXXX AND Square have REFUSED to refund any unauthorized transactions and any and all transactions in which I never received the services or products I paid for. XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation