Consumer complaint received 2022-04-26
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: GA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
Issue with Bank of America scam.

To whom it may concern, Around XX/XX/XXXX I got a text on my phone from XXXX saying they were looking for people interested in wrapping their cars for an extra income and if we were interested in the offer to send them our name and address for them to send us the a welcome package. So we went ahead and proceed but we werent sure because we didnt knew it was a scam. 
On XX/XX/XXXX We received a letter supposedly from XXXX welcoming us and giving us instructions on what to do and to wrap our vehicles for a certain amount of money they would Pay us {$600.00} a week to have XXXX all over our vehicle, we also got a priority mail envelope as well with a check of {$2900.00} saying that was the money we were going to use, we were going to keep {$600.00} out of the {$2900.00} and pay {$2300.00} to the person wrapping our vehicles. Everything seemed very legit, from the letter, to the check, and since we needed the money to support our family and the extra income we decided to proceed. So That day I went directly to the branch on XXXX XXXX of Bank of America to ask if the check was real and they told me yes, so I got out and I went to the drive-thru to deposite the check, this check was deposited around XXXX PM on XX/XX/XXXX, After the check was deposited me and my husband came back home and Had discussed that we will not use that money for any purpose until the check was cleared To make sure that the check did not bounce. 
Two days went by and on XX/XX/XXXX we get a call from XXXX saying that they saw the check has cleared into our bank account and that they were ready for us to proceed with the Transaction to pay the guy to wrap our cars. So because my husband and I have children and we were concerned about the check bouncing I went head and called Bank of America immediately right after the phone call from XXXX manager To make sure that my check was cleared and that it was safe for me to pay these people without the check bouncing. 
I spoke to the Bank of America representative around XXXX XXXX  on the XXXX number, when the lady that answered the call I have told her all my concerns about the offer and about the check being legit and I told her we thought it was kind of tricky and we were worried that if we sent any money out the money would get stolen and then the check getting bounced. She then told me you have deposited the check more than XXXX hours on Monday the XXXX so because its been XXXX hours the check has been cleared so there is no issues. I again asked her are you sure its not going to bounce, She then said girl the check is good it went through and it will not bounce its no scam girl, go for it!!!, so then I questioned her once more as we are worried that the check will bounce are you sure? Because we dont want to pay any money out of our pocket and then the check getting rejected and she again said NO girl this is not a scam go right ahead its not going to bounce!!! So she gave me the confidence and the thumbs up to go right ahead and proceed with the transaction, She made me feel so good that the check was not going to bounce that I felt so safe enough to go ahead and proceed with the transaction and I sent {$2600.00} to the scammer via zelle. 
So after this phone call with the Lady I got back to the XXXX manager and I told him I could go ahead and proceed and we set up an appointment for the following day for the guy to come over and wrap our cars. Then he asked me to go ahead and sent XXXX payments to make sure the money went through to the wrapping car guy. 
First {$1000.00}, then other {$1000.00}, and then {$390.00} more. 
But what I want you to keep in mind is that everything I did is because the representative I spoke to on the phone told me it was No Scam and to go for it. 
Going back to the story, a couple hours went by and something told me to check on my bank account so I got on my app on BofA and thats when I realized that the check had bounced and I was overdrawn for {$1500.00}. I immediately started to shake and freak out about the whole situation because that was exactly what I was so worried about, I could not believe I have fallen for the words of these Bank of America representative!!!!! 
So I called the XXXX number to put a complaint, so the next woman I spoke to I told her everything that had happened and then she put me on hold to listen and see the previous conversations I had with a girl that told me to go for it, she comes back and tells me that it was affirmative everything I had stated and what the other girl told me, she told me she was going to put notes and file a report for the matter and she told me I needed to wait a few days, she also told me she couldnt share the name of the girl that I spoke to but that there was a recording and if I wanted to know who that was I had to go to the branch and request that information. We hung up and I waited about five days and didnt hear nothing back, so I started to call Bank of America and every time I spoke to a representative All they kept telling me was we are very sorry theres nothing we can do about this, they keep transferring me to XXXX and XXXX kept telling me I needed to Talk to Bank of America since Bank of America was the one who told me to go ahead and proceed with the transaction. So all I did was going back and forward with Bank of America and XXXX for a few days until I could no longer take it and I asked for a manager branch someone in the higher position. I got a phone call from one of their internal managers she was rude and pretty much told me there was nothing left to do and that if I didnt pay I was going to collections for the money that was overdraw. I am beyond disappointed because ive been loyal to Bank of America for the past 14 years and I have never in XXXX XXXX years thought they would do this to me and my family!, now we are struggling and lost all the money we had in our bank account, we are now behind on every bill and rent thanks for the ignorant representative that told me this was not a Scam and to go for it. 
I did not get a single tear of sympathy from this people. I cant believe they would do me like this. 
I Also I want to state that the internal representative that I spoke to she told me she would not share the recording from the girl who told me to do this because this was Bank of America property. I told her we were going to do whatever we could to get that money back because it was her to give us a thumbs up to go ahead and use that money. 
I have now filed a police report and I want to take action for this matter and I will not let this slide because thats a big amount of money that has jeopardize my familys well being and Bank of America should be held responsible for this matter. 

So I am just asking and begging for help and to please give us our money back to take care of our family. 

Sincerely XXXX 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 monetary relief