Consumer complaint received 2023-09-24
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: CA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Other banking product or service
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
long story short: XXXX XXXX someone claiming to be from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  called me from a ftc satellite line starting in XXXX. busiest month at my small business, i said no leave me alone and he kept contacting me saying hackers from
XXXX  are using my ssn and identity and this is the only way to protect me, and that it is an underground secret anti hacking case so they were untraceable.  i fell for it and i was scared because of my business, changing everything over so much work, and i own a house i XXXX  that if my ssn was compromised or changed it would be so difficult to change all of XXXX XXXX XXXX  and so on. in the end transferred (ugh i know) $XXXX in 3 post pay from the hackers to wire transfer to my own alias account i would have access to. but the (ftc anti hacking agents) had to send the money first before they (hackers) got to it, and to wire trace them down and prosecute them (hackers) 
the ftc threatened me if i reached out to my bank or the real ftc they woukd shut down the case and my identity and ssn and money and all accounts would not be safe and because underground and anti hacking i woukd compromise there investigation which involved 7 other people targeted.  after 3 months of contstantly talking with 3/4 ftc anti hacking agents and then promising my that my money was safe and i had access to it, once the vault was full, but because i was taking to long (as i work and have a life this consumed it) that also i was making interest on my money as in a gov crypto account so another $XXXX would be mine. i was so desperate for this money, as my business suffered hard losses this year, had to take all my IRA out to save it, and then this. i refused to transfer the last post pay they say was out there and couldnt get my money until the vault amount was filled and they couldnt give me mine back because it was infected. i said no im not sending anymore you are the ftc you will fill the vault or i will go to fbi, again said do what you want but no one can find us and your identity and money will be gone. this has consumed my whole life, they ended up talking me into adding little amounts here and there from XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX  to trace. they also sent and wired money INTO my wf account to then see if it was secured for 48 hours to make sure the hackers were not active and it was beginning to sound and come so close to okay we send three more wait you send it back. they wired me money without telling me beforehand then woukd have me send back to XXXX XXXX alias account.  i had letters sent to me verifying them but anyone could make that. my dog got XXXX XXXX, that huge chunk of $XXXX XXXX about $XXXX in other things, i needed so bad.  one officer XXXX XXXX said i could use some ftc money to get by. my business was making money and i didnt have the time to see dollar for dollar whose was whose money as i was up all night and day talking to them.  i told them im sorry but i havent gotten any of my money back and i have the IRS taking taxes out, payroll, my normal expenses to run a 2 million dollar business and give the refund/ your superiors a heads up i cant control this, or the IRS and my accountants etc will start questioning and that will comprise yo out investigation and you have 3 months promised me okah today we send you some okay we send the interest in crypto and so on. different every day. but they worked me good.  i finally said keep the money of mine because a invoice from XXXX XXXX XXXX a real name in ftc department, was sent to me.  i have copies and recordings of all. they said they owe me $XXXX with the interest but i have to pay them back another $XXXX  as vault got bigger and also i owed them $XXXX  in ftc money i used and i will be prosecuted by the ftc if i dont do this, and i had barely any money in my accounts to cover this, plus payroll sales taxes coming out. i begged them as i was XXXX  at this point that to understand i cant pay them back until i have my money.  like makes perfect sense i will have $XXXX  and y you have not sent me $XXXX  of mine to use back. this invoice on my email did have link to ftc website buc also they can fake those.  after this direct threat among many others, and threatening to close my case, leaving me with nothing, i stopped contacting them.  blocked the numbers and said keep my money you made money leave me alone.  they called from other numbers and screamed at me and i was crying this is not right this is not anything the government would talk and threaten and treat me like when i have cooperated and NOT told anyone (my lawyer, the wf local branch knew that i may be targeted but i am not sure yet) and friends who i had help write down and record everything but i asked not to do anything yet, as my identity and maybe the only way i would get the money back.  XXXX XXXX made it very personal bringing my dogs XXXX  into it, says XXXX XXXX said we will
cover her vet bill today etc.  they threatened me so much i was terrified.  like that i would be XXXX  and they deny it all, even though i have every single thing recorded and every transaction and just had to stop it was making me so crazy and i am about to lose my business as a hard working single woman for 17 years tax payer. and then the next day i get a call and email from
wells fargo saying all my deposit accounts to be closed XXXX XXXX. i need to get them reopened and have an appointment with banker monday, i have a case # from the wells fargo prevention team to reference. i have not called it back yet as i feel i am in trouble and just trying to get the most important documents and conversations and amounts together and there is so many.  i cannot possibly survive without my business deposits going in. i took a $XXXX  cashiers check out to be safe with SOME of my money like 3 weeks ago which i still have, hoping that will still work.  

i have taxes and rent and moving my shop to smaller one within a month and am so emotionally and physically hurt from this, and then wells closing my accounts, i have not one extra minute to change my cards and open new account as everything is linked to these, and have so much catching up to do and i am scared to death.  hoping wells will reinstate my accounts, honor the cashiers check, and believe me as i have so much proof that this was not my fault. then realized the ftc deposits and then back and forth might be considered money laundering and i am terrified.  i did put a freeze on my credit reports but this will take my whole life and business away and my dog is XXXX  i am so scared.  thank you.

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