Consumer complaint received 2022-04-01
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: PNC Bank N.A. (IL)

On XX/XX/2022, I was sent an email for a job opportunity through the companXXXX XXXX  to be a graphic designer. Through this, I had a conversation with a man named " XXXX XXXX '' ( I later found out that this was not the real XXXX XXXX by reaching out to the real man directly ). I was told that I would have an interview via XXXX XXXX to be interviewed for the position. After the interview was conducted, I was told by " XXXX XXXX '' ( The fake XXXX XXXX, that I received the job and was hired. As this continued, I was told by him that a check would be sent to me in the amount of XXXX via check, and that I would have to print it out, take a picture of it, and send it to my bank via my online banking app this occurred on XX/XX/2022. After doing this, I was told that It would be deposited into my account over the next few days ( it went in the next day ). On XX/XX/XXXX, I continued talking to " XXXX XXXX '' ( again, the fake XXXX XXXX and he told me that I would now have to send a man named XXXX XXXX ( phone number XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX ) money through XXXX for the amount of {$1800.00} and that would cover the cost of my work equipment, because he was the " vendor that XXXX  orders their graphic design equipment through ''. After doing this, A few minutes later, I saw via my PNC app that my account was in the negative - {$1600.00} ... taking the amount of my personal money that I had in my checking account. 

When I got in contact with " XXXX '', I told him this, and he constantly told me that the check was not fraud, and that the amount was simply sent back to the business ' bank because there was probably an error on my bank holding the amount. 

I got in contact with my bank, and they confirmed that they believe the check is fraud because it was a check they've never seen before, and the amount of money was being held until the given bank was able to confirm that it was an okay check. I was told by my bank that this was INDEED fraud, but they can not help me, because I sent the money out of my account through XXXX, so I would have no choice but to pay the bank back ; even though they understand that its fraud and I do not have the money that put my account in the negative. 

I continued to confirm " XXXX '' about this, and he continued to tell me that the check was indeed, not a fraud check. I asked him to tell me how things were looking on his end if the check was not fraud, and he ended the conversation, and never responded back to me. He even took it as far ( to prove that he worked for XXXX ) as to provide me with a contract to sign and a W-4 form. 

I was able to get in contact with the REAL XXXX XXXX, and he told me that this was a situation that has been happening for months, where this person has been stealing his identity to scam people. 

While this was going on, I was able to get the following information from the fake " XXXX XXXX '', as well a printed screenshots from each conversation we have had since XX/XX/XXXX, along with the fraud check he emailed me. 


Email used to contact me : XXXX XXXX Name that the conversations were held : live : XXXX Name that the XXXX XXXX XXXX sent to : XXXX XXXX XXXX Number that the XXXX XXXX XXXX sent to : XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX I also have printed copies of every conversation that was had via XXXX XXXX and Email, along with the " Check '' that the person has sent to me.