Consumer complaint received 2024-07-04
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Problem caused by your funds being low — Bounced checks or returned payments
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY (TX)

XX/XX/XXXX, around XXXX am i was inquiring a person about a XXXX XXXX looking for a pet/house sitting job near me. After discussing the details about the position, i was hired and told that i would start the next day. Apparently, the contractor was in the army and out of town so i would have to receive pay via check. And be toured by his neighbor to take on the neighbor 's role. I was told i would be sent a check to cover a deposit, home supplies and pet food. Before the check was received, i came into my local Wells Fargo in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and spoke to XXXX, explaining to her the situation and id i would be able to deposit this check in person or online. XXXX told me that i could deposit this check via either form. I went home and I was sent the check at XXXX via an encrypted email. After attempting to deposit the check via XXXX app, i could not figure it out, so i called Wells Fargo and told them what was happening, i asked what there was to do. After brainstorming we came up with the idea of scanning the check via another screen. I asked the banker if it would work if i scanned the check with my phone and it being displayed in my computer, he said yes. The banker remained on the phone as the check went through just to make sure there was no complications. The check went through and i ended the call. I was told by the XXXX to send a verification code when the check was deposit and so i did. He told me to pay the driver via XXXX pay what had cleared and the rest when i would meet him tomorrow. I did that and called my mom to tell her the good news about my job. She immediately told me to send her the inquiry post and that she felt like it was a scam within the first XXXX minutes of talking. I told her that i had already deposited a check and send some money. She told me to go to my bank immediately and let them help me. I told her that i had been following along with them already, she said to just go. I come back to my local branch at XXXX and I'm greeted by the same banker that i had spoken to previously, XXXX. I tell her that i deposited the check but that my mom believed its a scam, so she scans the check and looks up the account and account signature and she tell me that it confirms to be valid. But that she will ask her higher up to revise it with me. I wait in the lobby until i speak to the XXXX, he asks to see the check and shows me where the errors were. He says is watermarked and that why would an insurance company issue out checks? I am scared and i thought i was being cautious and protecting myself by speaking to the bank throughout about it. I ask him what my next steps are, he says that i should call the bank and tell them the situation. My mom messages me and tells me that i need to take all my money out of account, to make sure that i don't get unauthorized charges, i did that before i left the bank. 
I call Wells Fargo, they open a fraud claim, and they open a claims case, then credit me temporarily {$400.00}, for what i had sent out. I talk to XXXX pay since that's the wired transfer i used to send this person the money, i file a police report to protect myself some more. XXXX pay can't do anything, police can't do anything. I wait for my claims to come back on XX/XX/XXXX, the resolution was that the check has not returned at loss to me but then the {$400.00} would be deducted back on XX/XX/XXXX. My account currently stands at a negative due to the {$400.00} deduction, i have not being able to utilize my account since. I did everything i could as a consumer to allow Wells Fargo to intervene as my bank, i provided all the facts and i have been trusting for their aid. However, despite the facts, i had been met with negligence and dismissal. From the start i involved my bank and searched for guidance and the guidance led me to a debt. A debt that they refuse to acknowledge or relief.