Consumer complaint received 2023-02-18
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: Payward Ventures Inc. dba Kraken (ME)

XXXX XXXX Scam Timeline Date : Time : Correspondence : XX/XX/2023 XXXX Found ad on XXXX XXXX for XXXX XXXX XXXX. Texted my interest to a text phone number : XXXX. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX Received text response from cell phone number XXXX. She stated that she was trying to help her mom sell the tractor and requested my email so that her mom could reach out to me directly. ( when I tried to call this number there is no answer however the name on her voicemail was XXXX XXXX. ) XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX to XXXX XXXX expressed interest in tractor from XXXX XXXX response. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX to XXXX ; Emailed me description of tractor and serial number with pictures. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX to XXXX ; Stated she was out of town and Payward Logistics , IncXXXX were to handle this transaction for our protection. She requested name, address & phone number for P.L. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX to XXXX ; Agreed to purchase tractor. Gave her my contact info for P.L. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX to XXXX ; Stated the tractor is reserved for me and that I will be getting instruction from P.L on how to proceed. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX customer support manager. ) to XXXX ; Sent me instructions for transaction with escrow agreement & invoice. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX to XXXX ; Told him I aggreed to escrow & invoice, filled out I.D . verification. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX customer support manager. ) to XXXX ; Asked me to resend I.D . info to https XXXX XXXXXXXX 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX to XXXX ; informed him that I just resent I.D . info via my cell phone. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX customer support manager. ) Confirmed everything approved, enclosed wire transfer instructions. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX to XXXX ; Forward signed escrow agreement. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX to XXXX XXXX Informed her that I am wiring funds to complete transaction this morning. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX to XXXX ; Told me that I should be getting shipping details soon from XXXX XXXX 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX to XXXX  ; Requested a copy of the wire transfer XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX customer support manager. ) to XXXX ; Confirmed wire transfer is now in escrow and will prepare for shipment XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX to XXXX ; Sent her copy of wire transfer. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX customer support manager. ) to XXXX ; Requested Warranty Payment of {$5000.00} to ensure market value replacement during shipment. All refundable after delivery. Came with wiring instructions. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to P.L XXXX 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX customer support manager. ) to XXXX ; Gave me tracking number for shipment. Instructed to go to XXXX XXXX XXXX to track results. Stated date of XX/XX/2023. Tracked daily with no changes of delivery date XX/XX/2023 XXXX XXXX to XXXX ; Informed them that we are expecting delivery tomorrow, XX/XX/2023 per their tracking information. Requested name of carrier & phone number to verify time. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX Called sheriff department to file complaint XX/XX/2023 XXXX Started complaint with XXXX XXXX XXXX of XXXX. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX No delivery. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX Made several attempts to contact P.L. via their phone number only to find out through a recording that this phone number is no longer in service. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX Contacted via email XXXX XXXX XXXX inform him of this development XX/XX/2023 XXXX Tried to open website of P.L. only to find that it has been taken down. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX Notified XXXX XXXX XXXX  of the wire fraud and provided information on XXXX XXXX  to contact. 
XX/XX/2023??? XXXX. XXXX XXXX  reached out to XXXX XXXX  to inform them what has happened and requested funds to be returned. XXXX XXXX responded that the beneficiary is refusing to return the funds. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX I was informed by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX that he is in process screening subpoenas with the D.A.s office for his investigation. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX I called XXXX XXXX  and explained what had happened. I was told that my bank, XXXX, would have to contact then directly. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX I reached out again to XXXX XXXX  and was transferred to the ACH Team to follow up. I talked with a XXXXXXXX XXXX who informed me that XXXX needs to email XXXX XXXX  Investigation Team at the following email address : XXXX and file a complaint. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX Emailed XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  with the above information. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX Email XXXX XXXX the following : Hi XXXX XXXX I wanted to let you know that I have been having conversations with both XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  in regard to this wire scam. 
XXXX, Assistant Manager of the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, informed me that their security department reached out to XXXX XXXX, where the funds were wired to, to try to put a freeze on the transfer, but was too late and that the beneficiary, Payward Ventures, has it already. When XXXX informed XXXX that this was wire fraud, they asked XXXX. to return the funds. XXXX XXXX  got a response from the beneficiary, XXXX, that stated that they were " unwilling to return the funds ''. If this response is accurate, the fact that XXXX. acknowledges they had a conversation with someone representing the beneficiary, there are names and contact information that can be acquired. 
I reached out to XXXX XXXX  and explained the fraudulent wire transaction and was referred to their " ACH Team '' to investigate. I talked yesterday to XXXX XXXX of XXXX XXXX  ACH Team who instructed me to ask XXXX to email their " Investigation Team '' at : XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX has these instructions and I am hoping that will follow up today. XXXX can be contacted by calling the XXXX branch of XXXX or email at : XXXX XXXX XXXX  's phone number is XXXX. 

XX/XX/2023 XXXX Reviewed actions with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. He is waiting to hear back from XXXX. Att. for subpoenas. Informed XXXX that I would be reaching to XXXX. investigation team informing them of our actions and requesting cooperation in this investigation. He agreed of this action. 
XX/XX/2023 XXXX Emailed letter to XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX formally notifying them of the wire fraud and requesting full cooperation in the investigation. 
XX/XX/2023 Filed complaint with the FDIC against XXXX XXXX  : This was an internet scam started with XXXX XXXX about buying a XXXX XXXX XXXX tractor. Responder instructed me to deal with a company call Payward Logistics of XXXX, an escrow & shipping company. after verification, we wired XXXX payments on XX/XX/2023 and XX/XX/2023, totaling {$27000.00} to XXXX XXXX, routing number : XXXX, of New York, beneficiary of Payward Ventures of XXXX XXXX, CA. They never delivered the tractor. They disconnected their phone and took down their website. I filed complaints with my local law enforcement, FBI, Attorneys General of XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX and now FDIC. 
My Bank, XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX, XXXX. tried to stop the wire but was unsuccessful. They reach out to XXXX XXXX  and informed them that this transaction was a fraud and requested the funds be returned. XXXX XXXX reached out to Payward Ventured and requested that they return the funds but they refused to do so. We have requested from XXXX XXXX  the names and contact information of on the Beneficiary account so that they can be charged with wire fraud. So far I have not received any reply to my requests. 
XX/XX/2023 ; XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, that I filed complaint with the FDIC and requested her to look into XXXX filing a claim for this wire transfer. 
XX/XX/2023 ; Received response from the State of New York Office of Attorney General who added my complaint to their files and recommended that I file a complaint with the FTC.