Consumer complaint received 2021-12-01
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY (MI)

XX/XX/2021 - First meeting with XXXX at our home, XXXX XXXX XXXX to review the work request for landscape design XX/XX/XXXX - XXXX Meeting with XXXX at our home to accept the proposal and sign the contract. Deposit of {$3400.00} was made to XXXX XXXX. 
XX/XX/XXXX - Email from XXXX stating that the work will start in a few days time. 
XX/XX/XXXX - Landscaping work commenced at our home. 
XX/XX/XXXX- XXXX tried to reach XXXX at XXXX to discuss selected plants. Phone kept going strait to voicemail of a person named XXXX so I stopped calling XXXX and opted for email instead. 
Email to XXXX requesting to return the XXXX of XXXX and exchange them for XXXX. That same day XXXX emailed saying he would make the exchange. 
XX/XX/XXXX- XXXX and XXXX exchanged emails regarding the stones, placement of trees, and additional material needed. 
XX/XX/XXXX- XXXX and XXXX exchanged emails on moving trees around and final discussions to close out the project. Final invoice for the project was sent via email and XXXX reviewed and requested that the final cost for mulch to be re-considered. 
XX/XX/XXXX - XXXX emailed to agree to reduce the invoice by {$200.00} with a final amount due of {$9200.00}. XXXX XXXX confirmed that XXXX can pick up the payment by check anytime on this day. 
XXXX XXXX received an email from XXXX XXXX asking for an electronic payment through wire transfer or bank transfer for the amount of {$9200.00}. 
XXXX XXXX emailed to say that payment could be made electronically via XXXX XXXX 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) confirmed to that for XXXX payment we can use the email XXXX to transfer the money. 
XXXX XXXX paid 1/3 of the money ( {$3000.00} ) as XXXX has a limit of $ XXXX and sent a copy of the payment confirmation to XXXX. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX emailed XXXX at XXXX to ask if the money wire went through. XXXX confirmed receipt of the payment and requested the final 2/3 of the payment. 
XX/XX/XXXX- XXXX paid the XXXX payment of {$3000.00} and sent confirmation to XXXX XX/XX/XXXX- XXXX paid the XXXX payment of {$3200.00} and sent confirmation to XXXX XX/XX/XXXX- XXXX called XXXX stating that he did not receive any payment and he doesnt use electronic transfers. He also claimed that he received emails that from XXXX that stated we didnt have any money and couldnt pay the invoice. XXXX texted a screen shot of XXXX of the emails from XXXX XXXX filed a fraud claim with XXXX XXXX XXXX to try and recover the funds.Claim- XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX filed a claim with the Internet crimes center with the FBI XX/XX/XXXX - Filed a report with the XXXX XXXX police. We provided all of the email exchanges and history of the case. We also informed XXXX that we filed a police report. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Police contacted XXXX XXXX get additional information. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Wells Fargo to recover funds. 
XX/XX/XXXX - Texted XXXX to inform him that the money that was wired went to an account holder in Wells Fargo and that XXXX XXXX XXXX needs more time to trace the money. 
XX/XX/XXXX - XXXX requested an update XX/XX/XXXX - Received uncertified letter requesting payment in full from XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX requested an update and informed me that a letter will be coming to request the payment in full. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX called to ask for an update. i explained that we will be responding to his letter in kind stating that we have made the payment in full and he is responsible for securing his business. XXXX was audibly upset and raised his voice saying that he will make this situation worse for us, that we have no idea what we are walking into. He said that his lawyer told him that he in the right, and we were in the wrong. He called us the true scammers. I told him that we should no longer speak on the phone and hung up. 

Sent certified letters to all involved regarding our position on the matter. 
XX/XX/XXXX - Received certified letter requesting payment in full from XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX. 
XXXX XXXX Received certified letter from XXXX XXXX XXXX asking to collect the debt. 
XX/XX/XXXX- Wells Fargo responded to XXXX XXXX XXXX that they will not return the money.