Consumer complaint received 2015-10-21
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: VA
Product: Money transfers
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
On XXXX XXXX, 2015, I received an email from a XXXX XXXX, a XXXX, residing in XXXX, XXXX and that he was an art gallery owner, in need of a personal assistant. XXXX stated he was away a lot due to business trips. XXXX mentioned in the email that he found my contact information through a job directory. So I accepted the job. On XXXX XXXX, I received an email from XXXX stating that he was negotiating with a long-term client on one of his paintings. The next day, XXXX XXXX, XXXX emailed me with instructions on what to do because he and his client had come to an agreement of {$5500.00} for the painting. The client was given my address to send the payment for the painting to my home that day through XXXX.When I checked my front door there was a XXXX overnight envelope in my name from a XXXX XXXX or XXXX ( writing is a little hard to read ) from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( street hard to read ), XXXX, XXXX XXXX. The envelope contained a cashier 's check for {$5500.00} in my name from a XXXX XXXX. I then headed to XXXX XXXX XXXX to open a checking account, only to use for work, and deposited the check. Afterwards, I sent an email to XXXX with a picture of the deposit slip with my account # marked out. I do n't remember why I thought the funds were going to be available the next day, maybe I thought I saw it on the deposit slip but I text him that 's when some of the funds would be available. XXXX texted back that he did n't see that on the deposit slip but, he would have fund disbursement instructions the next day, XXXX. 
In morning the next day, XXXX XXXX, I received an email from XXXX with instructions after letting him know when the funds were available to withdraw {$5000.00} from my bank account. XXXX specified that {$400.00} of it was for my pay for the week, and {$50.00} was for supplies for his newsletters. The remaining money XXXX {$4600.00} ) was to be deposited, in cash, into his son 's Wells Fargo account. The name on the account number XXXX given by XXXX was XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. XXXX also asked for a picture of the deposit slip for this transaction.On XXXX XXXX, I read the email and logged online to check my checking account to see what was available. The available balance was {$5000.00}. So, I emailed and texted him back and informed him the balance and suggested that I could withdraw {$4600.00} from my account. Use {$50.00} for the supplies needed for the newsletters, deposit the {$4600.00} into his son 's account at Wells Fargo and just withdraw my pay later when available. XXXX texted me back that it was a good idea and asked to be notified once completing the tasks. So I headed to XXXX XXXX XXXX and withdrew {$4600.00} at XXXX am with no problem. After completing the tasked I emailed XXXX a picture of both slips, the withdraw of my account and the deposit into his son 's account. I also emailed a copy of the receipt for the stamped envelopes purchased. Then he texted he was working on the newsletters that would be available that Sunday and reminded me about the painting being shipped to me on Tuesday. 
I received an email from XXXX XXXX XXXX that day, XXXX XXXX, that my account went below negative {$25.00} at XXXX night, then I checked my account and the balance was negative {$4600.00}. My attorney mailed a letter on XXXX XXXX, 2015 to the company of the account I deposited the money into and asked for the money back but did n't receive a respond from them. We researched the company and it was located at XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX. On XXXX XXXX, 2015, I received an email from the XXXX, XXXX XXXX, saying " Your lawyer did a great job, that client must be nailed. ''

Company public response: Company chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed