Consumer complaint received 2024-09-29
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem — 
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (CA)

On XX/XX/XXXX I sent {$3500.00} to recipient " XXXX XXXX - ( XXXX ) XXXX '' via XXXX through my XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX bank is Bank of America so the transaction went from XXXX XXXX to Bank of America. 

The next day on XX/XX/XXXX the recipient, XXXX, blocked all communication with me so I called XXXX XXXX and told them I got scammed and wanted to file a fraud claim. XXXX XXXX told me I would get an update in 10 days. From XX/XX/XXXX up until XX/XX/XXXX I have called XXXX XXXX numerous times asking for an update on the location of the {$3500.00} as well as how I can get it back. They informed me that retrieving lost money through XXXX is difficult. The only communication I have received from XXXX XXXX was around XX/XX/XXXX, where I had to call them and ask for the status of my claim. XXXX XXXX told me that my fraud claim was denied. I asked " So who gets my money? '' and XXXX XXXX replied " The recipient has the {$3500.00} ). However on XX/XX/XXXX I was able to get back in touch with the recipient, XXXX XXXX. It turned out to be a big misunderstanding and I no longer believe XXXX XXXX is a scammer, but this is not confirmed. 

XXXX informed me on XX/XX/XXXX that the {$3500.00} had been taken out of his account shortly after he received it on XX/XX/XXXX. Meaning neither XXXX or me have had the {$3500.00} for over XXXX weeks ( 16 days to be exact ). XXXX XXXX has been telling me numerous times from XX/XX/XXXX to present day, that they do not know where my money is nor have access to it. However XXXX XXXX did inform me that it is possible for funds to be frozen, but that they can't give me any further information at this time. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, the recipient, XXXX, confirmed with Bank of America that the {$3500.00} was " frozen/on-hold '' due to the fraud dispute. This means that after I filed the fraud report with XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX, Bank of America seized the {$3500.00} from XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX bank account. Bank of America did not communicate this to XXXX XXXX, did not communicate this to XXXX XXXX, did not communicate this to ANY party involved. Every piece of information regarding this investigation has had to be pried out of bank representatives after hours of calls. On XX/XX/XXXX XXXX also informed me that his Bank of America checking account had been closed by Bank of America, and that Bank of America said " we mailed you a check for the balance of your checking account ( XXXX ), and we no longer wish to do business with you ''. 

I am submitting this CFPB report on XX/XX/XXXX. As of today, my {$3500.00} is in the hands of either " Bank of America '' or " XXXX ''. XXXX XXXX has contacted Bank of America and requested the funds be sent back to me, the sender. Bank of America has denied this request by XXXX. Bank of America has also denied this request by me. Bank of America has also yet to answer if they put the {$3500.00} in the check that they sent to XXXX XXXX before they closed his account. At this point in time, Bank of America or XXXX is refusing to give me back the {$3500.00}, despite them having seized it from XXXX 's account. 

If the recipient, XXXX, had taken the {$3500.00} and ran, and the bank told me they couldn't get it back, I would understand. However, Bank of America immediately seized the {$3500.00} from XXXX 's account after I filed the fraud claim, yet still has yet to return it to sender or provide any update after 16 days. 

I am requesting the government step in, to force either XXXX or Bank of America to return the {$3500.00} funds to either me or the sender. If the Bank can not return the {$3500.00} back to me, I request for it to be sent through to the recipient, XXXX XXXX, as he has told me he will send me back the money himself if that is the necessary route. It is unacceptable that either XXXX or Bank of America has stolen my {$3500.00} and it needs to be investigated.