Consumer complaint received 2024-05-31
Product: Payday loan, title loan, personal loan, or advance loan — Personal line of credit
Issue: Struggling to pay your loan — 
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY (TN)

On Monday, XX/XX/XXXX, I received an email from XXXX XXXX, XXXX  XXXX for XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX  regarding XXXX XXXX  contracts I had been working and asked to see associated paperwork. Little did I know, as this would unfold, after I provided the requested documentation, it would be confirmed that I was a victim of a XXXXXXXX via my company, XXXX XXXX. XXXX and I conversed during this process, and she provided a flyer from Homeland Security, Reporting a XXXX Complaint Tip Card, with instructions on how to report what I have endured over the past few months. 

For some background, the XXXX XXXX XXXX ( formerly XXXX  XXXX ) ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) assists businesses in competing successfully in federal, state, and local government contracting and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense . XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX profile was activated on XX/XX/XXXX. 

I received XXXX XXXX and responded in good faith under the impression I was communicating with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ), XXXX XXXX XXXX for the U.S. House of Representatives. On the morning of XX/XX/XXXX, I spoke with someone in the XXXX XXXX XXXX office and informed them that I been the victim of a XXXX, and that the responsible party impersonated XXXX XXXX. I was thanked for that communication and advised to report the incident. 

In my communication with XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX, per verification she received in her office possibly from a XXXX expert, it was explained to me that while a legitimate email address appeared for XXXX XXXX in the From section, XXXX, the tell-tale sign, even though the Reply-To sender name reflected the aforementioned address, the actual email address showed XXXX. Additionally, spoofing activity was pointed out to me on the XXXX, particularly with the U.S. Congress logo. 

I responded to the following XXXX not knowing I was being defrauded : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Compatible US Congress XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Sales, See the attached bid invitation of the United States Congress/U.S . House. This proposal is for all interested companies in the United States. Please acknowledge the receipt of this email. 

Contents in the PDF : XXXX portable external hard drives. 

NOTE : We added a personal email address to backup our conversations and to avoid any delay. OUR TERM OF PAYMENT : Net XXXX days Best Regards XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  , How are you doing today? Can you confirm if your company is willing to supply XXXX units of XXXX products? The item will be given to our senior staff members as a present. 

Please review the attached quote and get back to us if you are interested. 


NOTE : We added a personal email address to backup our conversations and to avoid any delay. 

Best Regards XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX at United States Congress/U.S. House ( XXXX XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
XXXX Having signed purchase orders, I was operating under the premise that my company, XXXX XXXX , had been awarded these contracts. To fulfill the first one, I obtained the maximum loan amount of {$42000.00} from my American Express XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and transferred it to my XXXX checking account at XXXX  XXXX XXXX. Monies were used to purchase XXXX XXXX from XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX, for a total cost of {$40000.00}. The other XXXX XXXX were purchased from XXXX XXXX with my American Express XXXX XXXX XXXX for a total cost of {$22000.00}.

I was told by the impersonator it was more professional for me to receive the items and send from my company to their delivery address and that it would build up a good reputation for my company and build more opportunities. Therefore, I did so, initially shipping with XXXX from the XXXX location where I have my box. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received communication that delivery agent XXXX XXXX was in XXXX XXXX due to her mothers XXXX and to have the items returned to me. Upon doing so, I would be provided with a XXXX XXXX address to resend, which I did so via XXXX as requested also adhering to instructions not to require a signature to prevent any delays. Due to the value of the shipments, XXXX XXXX would not allow drop-off without signature unless I would have decreased value less than {$500.00}. Operating in good faith, I added insurance to shipments. However, upon communicating to impersonator I had done so, prior instructions regarding no signature were reiterated. This prompted me to call the store, which the shipments had not been picked up. Transactions were cancelled and redone per the instructions. 

On the second XXXX, those devices were ordered from XXXX. I was hesitant about responding because I had already tied up {$63000.00} with the first one and was awaiting payment. However, I was told my quote would be accepted without any effort, which sounded strange. I mentioned to my wife, told her I would submit and pray about it because I did not have the XXXX credit at the time. I submitted signed purchase order on XX/XX/XXXX and would procure devices from XXXX XXXX, which I was able to obtain a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Those devices were ordered on XX/XX/XXXX, delivered to me on XX/XX/XXXX, and after shipping via XXXX from XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX location, delivered on XX/XX/XXXX. I sent invoice the same day. 

Expecting XXXX payment based on knowledge of government procedures, also recalling from XXXX XXXX XXXX as it relates to payment, I inquired about an update and was told both would be paid by XX/XX/XXXX. However, when I requested an update on XX/XX/XXXX, after not receiving payment, I received the following communication : On XXXX XXXX, XXXX, at XXXX, XXXX XXXX wrote : XXXX , XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, please be patient with us. 
After we sort out the account, we will pay all our vendors this month. 

We need to protect this information because we don't know what caused her to XXXX XXXX XXXX 

To keep your business moving forward, I plan on personally sending you a check, and you'll balance me once we have paid you in full. 

NOTE : We added a personal email address to back up our conversations and to avoid any delay. 

Best Regards XXXX XXXX XXXX 
XXXX XXXX XXXX at United States Congress/U.S. House ( XXXX XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
XXXX However, upon searching for news articles, nothing could be located. Please see following email dialogue : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  , Have instructed a friend of mine to send you XXXX checks of {$38000.00}, {$38000.00}, and {$37000.00}. 

Here is the checks tracking numbers through XXXX ( XXXX ) You are to proceed to deposit the checks to clear in your account within XXXX hours. 

NOTE : We added a personal email address to backup our conversations and to avoid any delay. 

Best Regards XXXX XXXX XXXX 
XXXX XXXX  XXXX at United States Congress/U.S. House ( XXXX XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Sent from my XXXX On XXXX XXXX, XXXX, at XXXX, XXXX wrote : Good morning, XXXX please confirm full name to be on your check and full address to send it to. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX  On XX/XX/XXXX, the following exchange occurred : From : XXXX XXXX XXXX Subject : Re : US Congress XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date : XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX To : XXXX Got it. 


Sent from my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, at XXXX, XXXX wrote : XXXX , The total checks sent to you is {$110000.00}. 
I'll provide you with an account to transfer {$20000.00} and {$4000.00} to my grandson. For the time being, you will keep the total of {$90000.00}. 

These funds are being provided by me to keep your business moving. After XXXX makes all of your payments in full, you will return all of my money. 


XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX -- -- On Fri, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX wrote -- - Deposit has been made. 


Sent from my XXXX On XXXX XXXX, XXXX, at XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX wrote : Just picked up and headed to the bank now. 


Sent from my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, at XXXX, XXXX wrote : XXXX , The checks have been delivered to your address. Please contact me as soon as you deposit them. I will instruct a friend of mine to authorize the funds immediately after depositing them. If you're unable to make it to the bank, you can deposit through an ATM machine. 

NOTE : We added a personal email address to backup our conversations and to avoid any delay. 

Best Regards XXXX XXXX XXXX 
XXXX XXXX XXXX at United States Congress/U.S. House ( XXXX XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
XXXX Upon receiving checks, I immediately went to the XXXX XXXX XXXX location at XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to deposit. Being defrauded was nowhere near my mind, and I was told that holds would be put on the account considering the amounts. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I received account alerts from XXXX  XXXX XXXX, and the following exchange occurred : From : " XXXX '' XXXX Subject : Re : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date : XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX To : " XXXX XXXX '' XXXX XXXX , I instructed him to authorize the payment, the funds will be available. I believe your bank hold the payment because of the amount. 


XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX  -- -- On Mon, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX wrote -- - Good morning :, I woke up to the following message in each of the XXXX account alerts about holds from XXXX XXXX XXXX : We've placed a hold on your deposit because we have information indicating the check ( s ) may be returned. 


Sent from my XXXX By this time, I had learned from XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX XXXX that I had been defrauded. 

I emailed XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX, and XXXX XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX XXXX about the XXXX attack I have endured. That email was also forwarded to XXXX XXXX XXXX at XXXX Police Department. I also emailed XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX alerts have been added with all three credit bureaus as well as XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

Report XXXX  XXXX was filed on XX/XX/XXXX, with the XXXX XXXX Sheriff Department, which was amended on XX/XX/XXXX with XXXX XXXX XXXX due to multiple inaccuracies. I spoke with someone on XX/XX/XXXX, at XXXX  XXXX XXXX upon being unable to login to online banking and was told I need to visit branch with two forms of ID. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I received communication that my email address was deleted, and account has been closed. There was also a third attempt to defraud me, which someone was impersonating the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. According to her XXXX profile, XXXX XXXX XXXX, she departed this role in XX/XX/XXXX. 

In addition to the police report with XXXX XXXX Sheriff Department, I have also filed with the following organizations : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX  ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ( XXXX ) Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) I will likely file something with the XXXX  Attorney Generals Office as well. 

Dealing with American Express XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX has been quite challenging and caused a great deal of XXXX XXXX. Of the XXXX creditors I have had to deal with in this matter, which XXXX have at least put the amounts in question on hold for the time, American Express XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX has been the least cooperative over multiple conversations. While this not being a credit card account could be a factor, they seem to be more concerned with me paying the debt and at times have seemed insensitive under the current circumstances. The sad reality is that I have been an Amex customer for XXXX years and departed multiple conversations with them just feeling exhausted, XXXX, and at times, belittled. Although this a XXXX line of credit, it also involves a personal guarantee. This morning, I was asked me how long I thought it would take to resolve this case. While I could not provide an estimation, I informed them that it had been assigned to the XXXX XXXX unit at XXXX XXXX Sheriff Department and per XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX would likely get involved since the overall amount including them is near the {$100000.00} threshold. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me via mobile at XXXX or XXXX email at XXXX with any inquiries. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX.