Consumer complaint received 2018-12-20
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: FL
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Funds not handled or disbursed as instructed

Complaint:
XX/XX/2018 : Forged check showing issue date of XX/XX/2018 and made payable to XXXX XXXX XXXX in the amount of {$2300.00}. The forged check has the earmarks of a washed check as the signature appears to be my signature as does the memo line writing of vehicle fees. The rest of the information on the check is in a separate handwriting. The forgery was discovered by my wife while reviewing bank transactions on the same date. XXXX XXXX, Personal Banker with XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX Branch, NMLS XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, CO XXXX, was immediately notified of the forged check. Ms . XXXX reported that her bank would contact the bank which the check was presented to and notify them of the forgery. I learned today that the receiving bank, Wells Fargo, was not notified until XX/XX/2018. This notification was initiated upon my notifying XXXX XXXX that I had been contacted by XXXX XXXX of Wells Fargo Bank, XXXX, GA branch that a man was attempting to withdraw funds from his account that originated from a suspicious check. I informed Ms. XXXX that I had reported this to my bank as a forgery on XX/XX/2018. Ms. XXXX notified the XXXX County Sheriff 's Office as the subject was still in the bank. I had contacted the XXXX Police Department on XX/XX/2018 and notified them of the Forgery. A report was initiated by XXXX XXXX. This information along with the XXXX Police Department case number of XXXX was provided to XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/2018, Investigator XXXX of XXXX sent me an email stating she is still waiting for XXXX XXXX XXXX to respond to her request for information on where and how the check was deposited. On XX/XX/2018, I was contacted by XXXX XXXX of Wells Fargo regarding the check I had reported as a forgery to XXXX XXXX XXXX. She stated the individual was currently in the bank trying to withdraw the funds. I told her the check was a washed check and that it was a forgery. She notified the XXXX County Sheriffs Office. It is my understanding ; Wells Fargo froze the account and did not allow the suspect to withdraw the funds. I was provided the XXXX County case report number. Investigator XXXX XXXX of the XXXX County Sheriff 's Office, Georgia is the assigned investigator. HIs case number is XXXX. He stated to me that he had requested documents from Wells Fargo Bank to include video of the initial depositing of the check. He learned the check was deposited into the account via mobile deposit. The amount of my loss is {$2300.00} and the funds have not been returned to me. XXXX XXXX XXXX stated they had sent requests for return of the funds on XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/2018. They said it is not their responsibility to return the funds. They failed to timely notify Wells Fargo of the reported forgery, even though they were aware of the forgery on the same date it occurred. Wells Fargo reportedly had froze the funds in the account, yet no one is returning my money. Based on my 40 years of XXXX XXXX experience in investigating similar frauds, I find the actions of these two banks to be in violation of due diligence, particularly since the " washed '' check was mobile deposited which requires a special responsibility of banks to examine the document for watermarks and authenticity. IN addition XXXX XXXX XXXX would have been required to immediately contact Wells Fargo of the forgery to protect my funds, which was not done. Respectfully, XXXX XXXX

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