Consumer complaint received 2020-12-19
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Virtual currency
Issue: Money was not available when promised — 
Company: Block, Inc. (NY)

I was on the XXXX  Application one day as I searched through my online networks, and one peculiar individual appeared on my direct message feed. I actually initiated the conversation, hoping to receive funding from my financial state at the time. He encouraged me to provide sensitive information. I reluctantly provided them, and my intuition knew it was not right. Here is the following dialogue : ] XXXX  : Hey [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : Based on your name, I assume you have knowledge of Bitcoin [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : Yes sir XXXX XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I am XXXX from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : And you? 
[ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Call me Sai [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I have been receiving a plethora of opportunities to use e-money [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I need expert guidance on utilizing them all [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Okay [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Where are you from! 
[ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I am American [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : New York my comrade [ XXXX XXXX ] XXXX  : Okay sir XXXX XXXX XXXX ] XXXX  : I am also a college student of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Wow that's nice [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : will you like to invest on our platform [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : You will bless me with knowledge, I can intuitively sense it [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Yes please [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : We Offer good interest rate on investment capital [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Do you have a bitcoin wallet? 
[ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Not yet sir XXXX XXXX XXXX ] XXXX  : It is on my XXXX  [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : But you have means of e payment [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Yes I do [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : CashApp for example [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : To start you will have to create a bitcoin wallet [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : With cash app you can send bitcoin then [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Alright [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I am opening a new tab [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Okay [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : How much can you afford to invest so I know the plan to register you on [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Send me your email [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : At max, humbly XXXX dollars [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Our minimum is {$200.00} [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I see [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Send me your email and full name [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Alright [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : XXXX [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Can you afford {$200.00} for a start? 
[ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I can't afford it [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : XXXX : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Okay [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : But guide me on other apps that were sent to me [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : How much can you afford? 
[ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I will screenshot them for you [ XXXX XXXX ] XXXX  : Okay [ XXXX XXXX   ] XXXX  : Not much [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Send me screenshots [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : On your cash app home screen [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : ok [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : Tap the banking tab [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : And select bitcoin [ XXXX XXXX ] XXXX  : Send me a screenshot [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Let me see XXXX XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Im working on it in a sec .... 
[ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Okay [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Where should I go from here [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : Hello? 
[ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Click new [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Ok [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : But your balance is low [ XXXX XXXX ] XXXX  : And also you have coinbase [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Im using my phone [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : Okay [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : On your coinbase [ XXXX XXXX ] XXXX  : Do you have bitcoin on it? 
[ XXXX XXXX ] XXXX : I have bitcoin on my CashApp [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : On my phone [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : Okay [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : How much? 
[ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Do you know how to send? 
[ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I haven't put in anything yet [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Okay [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Fund it with your capital [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : Show me step my step [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I am new to this [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I have been living out doing this the standard way [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Can you fund up to {$100.00} now? 
[ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I think I will find out another way [ XXXX XXXX ] XXXX  : I will guide you through step by step [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Thanks [ XXXX XXXX   ] XXXX : To your first profit [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : My phone says " Deposit Bitcoin '' [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : The first thing to do is to fund your bitcoin wallet with the minimum [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : And has a XXXX  address [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Yes that's your bitcoin wallet [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Send screenshots [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : In order for me to get the funds neccessary, I saw a site called CashApp free money XXXX XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : No [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : That's not advisable [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Ok [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : How much maximum can you raise now [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : Yes that's it [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : That seems to be a very sensitive address [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : You will need to fund your cash app [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : That seems to be a very sensitive address Yes your bitcoin address is so sensitive [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : My goodness [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : You have to always copy address and paste [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : For transactions [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I'm sorry for bluntly doing this [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : Don't manually type it [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : It is like caring little for myself [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : How? 
[ XXXX XXXX   ] XXXX : I dunno, I just see an opportunity and I wish the best of it [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Fund you cash app even if it's {$30.00} now [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I will try [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Okay [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : But it might not be now [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Am waiting so we can proceed [ XXXX XXXX ] XXXX  : I will have to contact you much later [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : How about the {$10.00} to activate [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : The trade account [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I will let you know when I have it [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Okay dear XXXX XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I am looking at XXXX  perks [ XXXX XXXX   ] XXXX  : Especially when it comes to money [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Join our XXXX  server [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : ok [ XXXX PM ] XXXX  : I know the feeling of that [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : The invite, is it there [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : What about these [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I will have to remove the message [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I have lost most of my jobs though [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : How? 
[ XXXX XXXX ] XXXX  : What job? 
[ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I used to be a XXXX  [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : And my clients pay very little [ XXXX XXXX ] XXXX  : It is a rewarding experience to change lives [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : But I ask myself, what about my funding [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX : It is nice knowing you sir [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Are you helping me sir XXXX XXXX XXXX ] XXXX : If not, I have taken steps to help myself [ XXXX XXXX ] XXXX  : I am here to help you dear [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : As long as you are willing to learn and invest [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I tried to go to coinbase [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : I couldnt get a verification code sent to me [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : With your cash app we are okay with wallets [ XXXX XXXX  ] XXXX  : Ok My boss for my private XXXX  job called weeks later and asked if my funds for my shift were received. I said that I have not received them yet. I was wondering if this had a connection to the information, I sent to this XXXX person. My other boss was about to fund compensation for my work in posting real estate pictures for property he desires to invest. I told my other employer of this XXXX for fear of possibly losing my employer 's funds to the scammer also. My first employer was through a recommendation of a mother of my best college buddy. My second employer hired me after looking up the position via newspaper. The scammer 's XXXX  identity is XXXX  # XXXX.