Consumer complaint received 2021-11-19
Company: Early Warning Services, LLC
State: MN
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
Hello, So this all began with a job posting on XXXX for a CXXXX XXXX position within the company XXXX, an activewear clothing store online. The job would be as a remote copywriter. The pay was more than I anticipated but I was not going to argue. After getting accepted, I began talking with a XXXX XXXX via XXXX ( a different person from the XXXX XXXX that posted the original job listing ) and we discussed the role, I filled out an employee questionnaire, and then I was sent an Employment letter to sign and date. After all of that, the next step was to accept a check of {$2100.00} that I would use to purchase tech equipment for the role, i.e. a XXXX with certain specifications. The check was deposited into my account with a hold message that said it would be on hold for about a week before officially being deposited, however, unbeknownst to me, my bank account accrued tenure over the years and when my bank ( XXXX ) transitioned to new ownership ( XXXX ), that tenure carried through, allowing an XXXX XXXX feature which put the deposit into my account overnight ( XXXX ) with an available balance visible for use. Upon further communication with XXXX, that {$2100.00} was instructed to be transferred via the Zelle feature on XXXX. {$1500.00} was sent to a XXXX XXXX, maxing out the daily {$1500.00} limit. The remaining {$600.00} was instructed to be sent to a different individual via XXXX. After receiving a notification saying that the XXXX transfer worked, I received another notification saying that the Zelle transfer did not work. They said I should try XXXX with the still remaining {$1500.00}, which didn't go, then they said I should try either XXXX or even XXXX before sending a usable email address for the Zelle transfer to work. Which it finally did. After all of that, they explained that their vendor gave them their official bill for the XXXX : {$4300.00}, another {$2200.00} more than what was expected. They figured the best course of action was to cut me another check, this one only worth {$1300.00} and we would start the process over again the following day ( today XX/XX/21 ). At this point, I've contacted XXXX and explained everything. They could only advise me to wait until hearing about these checks and if they went through, which at this point, I highly doubt will happen. So what my main concern now is that the fraudulent {$2100.00} that I have received is not real and the money I did manage to transfer will be taken out of my own funds, which will not be enough to cover the cost and I will be completely out of money. I have kept screenshots of the conversation I have with XXXX, and copies of the checks I received for further documentation. Essentially, it appears that since Zelle is through XXXX and can not be contacted for this issue, XXXX instructed me to wait on those checks, and I informed XXXX of the report of fraud as well, however, no response has been sent from them as of yet. So at this point, I await these checks to bounce and a storm of issues regarding disputes, reports, etc to follow. 

Please let me know if there are any further steps I should proceed with. I intend to research Victims Assistance/Compensation lines as well as reporting the fraud to the FBI, but as of right now, that is all I know I am able to do. Any further advice would be greatly appreciated. 

I have included XXXX screenshots of my XXXX conversation with XXXX XXXX as well as copies of the checks I received in the documents attached. 

Thank you, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation