Consumer complaint received 2023-06-08
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Closing an account — Company closed your account
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. (NY)

I am an XXXX  student at XXXXXXXX XXXX When I came to New York last year, it was my first time abroad. I opened my account at Chase Bank in XX/XX/XXXX because I heard many students from my university were doing the same. I did not have a smooth experience with Chase because I had to block my card and get a new one 2-3 times because of unauthorized transactions ( one of them being over {$50.00} ). 
On XX/XX/XXXX, I received an email from the University ( XXXX ) about a XXXX XXXX XXXX in the XXXX department shared on behalf of Professor XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX, Title : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ). I looked her up on the Internet to confirm and applied for the job since it was well-paid. I was accepted and asked to estimate the prices of office supplies like printers, staplers, etc., which came out to be {$2600.00}. The Professor asked me to directly pay this amount through XXXX to someone called XXXX. I thought I had to order these items from XXXX so they ( the Professor ) issued a check for the same amount for compensation. I thought it was a genuine check so I uploaded it to my Chase bank account. I returned the items to XXXX and asked the Professor to wait for the payment till I get my refund back. Thereafter, I made two payments of {$500.00} to XXXX because the bank limited the amount since this person was new in my payees ' list. The first payment went through but the second one did not. This is when I got suspicious and talked to my seniors. They said that it is a scam and that they did not receive this email at all. I immediately blocked this Professors email and number and went to the XXXX XXXX Chase Bank to complain on XX/XX/XXXX. A lady with dark hair gave me a number and asked me to call and complain. I talked to someone called XXXX and was able to file a claim for the second payment only because it did not go through. I was completely transparent about the whole scam on the call. The claim number was XXXX. XXXX also asked if I wanted to file a separate claim for the check amount that I had uploaded ( {$2600.00} ) to which I explicitly replied that since it is a fake check, I am not entitled to the amount and so, filing a claim for that doesnt make any sense. I got my {$500.00} back and thought that the issue would be resolved. I kept sufficient amount of money in my account so that the Bank could withdraw the check amount ( {$2600.00} ). I came back to XXXX for my XXXX  XXXX and landed on XX/XX/XXXX. However, on XX/XX/XXXX, I received an email from XXXX that the access fund amount ( {$500.00} ) I had applied for earlier was returned to the University because my account was frozen. I opened my Chase mobile app and saw a notice for me saying that To protect against potential fraud, we restricted your account and may close it soon. It said act quickly ( call us at XXXX ) to better understand the restriction on your account- you may be able to provide information needed to keep it open. I called on the number and there was a lady who told me that the XXXX XXXX XXXX has asked Chase to close my account within 7-10 working days because of the fake check that I uploaded. She asked me to call XXXX XXXX  XXXX and refuse to provide other information. I called XXXX XXXX XXXX and since it is an automated call, it first asked to enter my account number and I obviously do not have an account in XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX so it was of no use. I decided to call Chase again to hopefully get a better person to speak to. Fortunately, I was connected with a person called XXXX who was extremely helpful in gathering evidence and claim numbers for me to talk to a Chase banker. The worst part was that I could even go to Chase physically because I am in XXXX right now and they decided to do all this during the summer break. As a last resort, I called XXXX XXXX XXXX, a Chase banker at the XXXX branch whom I had met in XX/XX/XXXX when I opened my account. She said she cant do anything because I am not physically present in front of her. 
First of all, I was completely transparent throughout the process even though I unknowingly fell trapped in such a huge scam where I even lost {$500.00}. This is a huge amount for an international student like me who is struggling to meet ends. 
Secondly, there isnt any awareness of such scams for international students like me. So, the XXXX and Banks popular with students must make us aware of these. 
Thirdly, I was prompt and honest at each step and so, the XXXX  XXXX XXXX so-called back-end team should take this into account and should be open to communication with the bank and/or the customer rather than just abruptly shutting down the account even when the customer has intentionally kept a sufficient amount for the Bank to withdraw. 
Lastly, the Bank should at least grant an extension to me so that I can at least clear everything in person when I return in XXXX. This is because I have to pay monthly rent, electricity bill and I am also having a hard time getting my University stipends. 
I am very disappointed with how Chase has ruined things for me to say the least. I provided all the information to keep my account open in accordance with their notice on XX/XX/XXXX, that Ive mentioned above, act quickly ( call us at XXXX ) to better understand the restriction on your account- you may be able to provide information needed to keep it open.