Consumer complaint received 2024-02-01
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (CA)

I'm an oXXXX XXXX  at the XXXX XXXX XXXX and I received an email addressed to XXXX saying that there was a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  available with one of the XXXX at the school, so I reached out to the number in the email. I explained my situation to them and they requested I send my resume. He asked some interview related questions, all sounding very in line with a XXXX XXXX XXXX They offered me the job and stated they would send documents vial email, at first glance, it showed that it was from the professors edu email, so I continued communications. He said i'd be starting right away and sent me my fist task, which was wo look up a laptop model, a laser ink printer, and a line dater stamp, and then he said to send him a cost estimate of the items, which I did.After completing the task he said he'd be sending me my first payment of {$350.00} along with the {$2000.00}, which I would need to purchase the items. He gave me very specific instructions on how to do a mobile deposit for the check, which included printing it the check, then endorsing it and adding my account number to the back of it for future direct deposits, and to then send him a screenshot proving it had been deposited. He said the funds would need to be available immediately to purchase the items. After doing this, he stated he had reached out to a sales rep who had the items ready, and that I would now need to send them the funds immediately so that they could ship me the items. He eventually told me that I was going to have to pay for the items out of pocket, and I proceeded to tell him that I did not have those kinds of funds. He reached back out saying he had spoken with his rep and that only half would be required to get the items shipped, fearing I was now holding up the Universities money, and desperately needing this job, I told him that I had {$800.00}, which he said was ok to get things moving. He then told me to XXXX the {$800.00} to XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX and to send a screenshot afterwords. However, my bank thought this was suspicious and said since it was a new recipient that it was going to take 24 hours to release the funds. I sent them the proof he requested showing that I had initiated the transfer, and he responded back shortly stating that the funds had not been received, and to call my bank and see if I could recall the money and send it through XXXX instead. I called the bank and advised that the funds had been sent out, so I called them back and told them that the bank said the funds were already in his account. By this time my older brother responded to my earlier request to borrow money, and told me it sounded like a scam, so I quickly called my bank, explained the situation and filed a claim with them. They used XXXX to initially contact me, advising me to contact XXXX XXXX XXXX at ( XXXX ) XXXX for the internship opportunity, which I did, and then I was contacted from the email XXXX showing, as well as XXXX I have all of the emails. I filed a police report with the XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX ( XXXX ), as well as a report with IC3.gov, and one with the FTC ( Report # : XXXX ).