Consumer complaint received 2024-09-11
Product: Checking or savings account — Other banking product or service
Issue: Managing an account — Problem using a debit or ATM card
Company: SOFI TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (CA)

On Monday XX/XX/XXXX, I was a victim of a scam through a XXXX payment processed through my bank Sofi Bank. I was tagged by a known family member on XXXX regarding the sale of a XXXX XXXX XXXX for {$2500.00}. I responded through XXXX on XXXX to Known family member and said I was interested because I just started college and needed a car. In the conversation on XXXX with this person ( who I thought was my family friend ) it was asked for a deposit. And the person gave a XXXX email. So, I logged onto my Sofi bank account and used the XXXX application on my Sofi Bank account site. I was forwarded to the XXXX application, and I proceeded to send {$800.00} for the deposit to the email that I was provided in the XXXX XXXX conversation. Shortly after the person was asking for a screen shot of the transaction. I found that to be strange coming from my Friend. So, I immediately text my friend directly on their personal phone number text message. I asked if they had advertised a car for sale on XXXX and had they received my XXXX payment of {$800.00}. The reply was, Nope, not me. I couldnt believe it! I had just been scammed! Continuing to text with my friend on her personal phone text, she told me that her XXXX account had been hacked and she cant even login any longer. She said that someone had completely taken over her XXXX account. As soon as she responded to my personal text that it was not hers, I immediately logged onto my Sofi Bank account and disputed the transaction through the chat function on the Sofi website/app. I gave them all the information that they asked for. The chat person let me know that the dispute had been filed and I would receive a response within 10 days. Well just about 24 hours later I received an email informing me that my dispute was closed, and nothing could be done. 
I am writing to make known that I do not agree with the decision and need a better look into the handling of my dispute regarding this scam by some criminal. I was a victim of a hacked XXXX account claiming to be someone I thought was my close family friend. I am going to attach the emails between myself and Sofi Bank. I am attaching the screen shots of the transaction, the screenshots of the messages between the criminal on XXXX XXXX. 
I believed This was for a car that I was placing a down payment on. I am a college student, and this {$800.00} money was part of my federal grant money for college. I know that YOU big banks and companies have the power to reverse or refund my {$800.00}. That amount of money means absolutely nothing to YOU, but for me that is almost literally all I have. 
I am requesting a full refund of my {$800.00} that was stolen from me by a criminal through Sofi Bank via XXXX. 

I believe that my scam by this criminal fall under the rule below : Regulation E allows you to dispute an ATM withdrawal, debit card purchase or electronic funds transfer. The regulation, authorized under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act ( EFTA ), protects consumers when they transfer funds electronically. 

CASE INFORMATION : XXXX Transfer ID : XXXX ( from my Sofi Bank account transactions online ) My information : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX CA XXXX Criminals information : XXXX The name I was given XXXX The email that I sent the XXXX to. 
Amount of transaction : {$800.00} Date of Crime : Monday XX/XX/XXXX Date initially reported to Sofi Bank : Monday XX/XX/XXXX ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NEEDED, CONTACT ME ANY TIME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.