Consumer complaint received 2022-12-14
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — International money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC. (SC)

I was a victim of a very sophisticated scam, where I was asked to do international wires to Transaction Type : WireTransfer If other, please specify : Transaction Amount : XXXX Transaction Date : XX/XX/XXXX Was the money sent? 
Yes Victim Bank Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX Victim Bank Address XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Victim Bank Address ( continued ) : Victim Bank Suite/Mail Stop : Victim Bank City XXXX XXXX Victim Bank Country XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Victim Bank State : XXXX XXXX Victim Bank Zip Code/Route XXXX XXXX Victim Name on Account : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Victim Account Number : Recipient Bank Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX 
Recipient Bank Address : XXXX. XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Address ( continued ) : XXXX XXXX, XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX Bank Suite/Mail Stop : Recipient Bank City : XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Country : XXXX Recipient Bank State : Recipient Bank Zip Code/Route : XXXX Recipient Name on Account : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Routing Number : Recipient Account Number : XXXX Recipient Bank XXXX Code : XXXX Transaction Type : WireTransfer If other, please specify : Transaction Amount : XXXX Transaction Date : XX/XX/XXXX Was the money sent? 
Yes Victim Bank Name : XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX Victim Bank Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Victim Bank Address ( continued ) : Victim Bank Suite/Mail Stop : Victim Bank City : XXXX Victim Bank Country XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Victim Bank State : XXXX XXXX Victim Bank Zip Code/Route : XXXX Victim Name on Account : Victim Account Number : Recipient Bank Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Bank XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Address ( continued ) : XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Suite/Mail Stop : Recipient Bank City : XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Country : XXXX Recipient Bank State : Recipient Bank Zip Code/Route : XXXX Recipient Name on Account : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Routing Number : XXXX Recipient Account Number : XXXX Recipient Bank XXXX XXXX : XXXX Transaction Type : XXXX If other, please specify : Transaction Amount : XXXX Transaction Date : XX/XX/XXXX Was the money sent? 
Yes Victim Bank Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX  Victim Bank Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Victim Bank Address ( continued ) : XXXX Bank Suite/Mail Stop : Victim Bank City : XXXX Victim Bank Country : United States of America Victim Bank State : South Carolina Victim Bank Zip Code/Route : XXXX Victim Name on Account : Victim Account Number : Recipient Bank Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX 
Recipient Bank Address : XXXX. de XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Recipient Bank Address ( continued ) : XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Suite/Mail Stop : Recipient Bank City : XXXX  Recipient Bank Country : XXXX  Recipient Bank State : Recipient Bank Zip Code/Route : XXXX Recipient Name on Account : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Routing Number : Recipient Account Number : XXXX Recipient Bank XXXX Code : XXXX Transaction Type : WireTransfer If other, please specify : Transaction Amount : XXXX Transaction Date : XX/XX/XXXX Was the money sent? 
Yes Victim Bank Name : FIRST CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY Victim Bank Address : XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX Victim Bank Address ( continued ) : Victim Bank Suite/Mail Stop : XXXX Victim Bank City : XXXX  Victim Bank Country : United States of America Victim Bank State : South Carolina Victim Bank Zip Code/Route : XXXX Victim Name on Account : Victim Account Number : Recipient Bank Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX 
Recipient Bank Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX, Recipient Bank Address ( continued ) : XXXX. XXXX XXXX Bank Suite/Mail Stop : XXXX Recipient Bank City : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX Bank Country : XXXX Recipient Bank State : Recipient Bank Zip Code/Route : XXXX Recipient Name on Account : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Routing Number : Recipient Account Number : XXXX Recipient Bank XXXX Code : XXXX Transaction Type : WireTransfer If other, please specify : Transaction Amount : XXXX Transaction Date : XX/XX/XXXX Was the money sent? 
Yes Victim Bank Name : FIRST CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY Victim Bank Address : XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX Victim Bank Address ( continued ) : Victim Bank Suite/Mail Stop : XXXX Victim Bank City : XXXX  Victim Bank Country : United States of America Victim Bank State : South Carolina Victim Bank Zip Code/Route : XXXX Victim Name on Account :. 
Victim Account Number : Recipient Bank Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. 
Recipient Bank Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Address ( continued ) : XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Suite/Mail Stop : XXXX XXXX  Recipient Bank City : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX Bank Country : XXXX Recipient Bank State : Recipient Bank Zip Code/Route : Recipient Name on Account : XXXX XXXX DE XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX  XXXX Recipient Bank Routing Number : Recipient Account Number : XXXX Recipient Bank XXXX Code : XXXX Transaction Type : WireTransfer If other, please specify : Transaction Amount : XXXX Transaction Date : XX/XX/XXXX Was the money sent? 
Yes Victim Bank Name : FIRST CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY Victim Bank Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Victim Bank Address ( continued ) : Victim Bank Suite/Mail Stop : XXXX XXXX XXXX  City : XXXX Victim Bank Country : United States of America Victim Bank State : South Carolina Victim Bank Zip Code/Route : XXXX Victim Name on Account : Victim Account Number : Recipient Bank Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX 
Recipient Bank Address : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Bank Address ( continued ) : XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Suite/Mail Stop : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank City : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Recipient Bank Country : XXXX Recipient Bank State : Recipient Bank Zip Code/Route : Recipient Name on Account : XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Recipient Bank Routing Number : Recipient Account Number : XXXX Recipient Bank XXXX XXXX : XXXX Transaction Type : WireTransfer If other, please specify : Transaction Amount : XXXX Transaction Date : XX/XX/XXXX Was the money sent? 
Yes Victim Bank Name : FIRST CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY Victim Bank Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Victim Bank Address ( continued ) : Victim Bank Suite/Mail Stop : XXXX Victim Bank City : XXXX  Victim Bank Country : United States of America Victim Bank State : South Carolina Victim Bank Zip Code/Route : XXXX Victim Name on Account : Victim Account Number : Recipient Bank Name : XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Address ( continued ) : XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Suite/Mail Stop : XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank City : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Recipient Bank Country XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank State : Recipient Bank Zip Code/Route : XXXX Recipient Name on Account : XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Routing Number : Recipient Account Number : XXXX Recipient Bank XXXX XXXX : XXXX Transaction Type : WireTransfer If other, please specify : Transaction Amount : XXXX Transaction Date : XX/XX/XXXX Was the money sent? 
Yes Victim Bank Name : FIRST CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY Victim Bank Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Victim Bank Address ( continued ) : Victim Bank Suite/Mail Stop : XXXX Victim Bank City XXXX XXXX Victim Bank Country : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Victim Bank State : South Carolina Victim Bank Zip Code/Route : XXXX Victim Name on Account : XXXXXXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX 
Victim Account Number : Recipient Bank Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. 
Recipient Bank Address : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX Bank Address ( continued ) : XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Suite/Mail Stop : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank City : XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Recipient Bank Country XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank State : Recipient Bank Zip Code/Route : Recipient Name on Account : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Recipient Bank Routing Number : Recipient Account Number : XXXX Recipient Bank XXXX XXXX : XXXX Transaction Type : WireTransfer If other, please specify : Transaction Amount : XXXX Transaction Date : XX/XX/XXXX Was the money sent? 
Yes Victim Bank Name : FIRST CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY Victim Bank Address : XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX Victim Bank Address ( continued ) : Victim Bank Suite/Mail Stop : XXXX Victim Bank City : XXXX Victim Bank Country : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Victim Bank State : XXXX XXXX Victim Bank Zip Code/Route : XXXX Victim Name on Account : Victim Account Number : Recipient Bank Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX 
Recipient Bank Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Address ( continued ) : XXXX XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank Suite/Mail Stop : XXXX XXXX Recipient Bank City : XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Recipient Bank Country : XXXX Recipient Bank State : Recipient Bank Zip Code/Route : Recipient Name on Account : XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Recipient Bank Routing Number : Recipient Account Number : XXXX Recipient Bank XXXX XXXX : XXXX Description of Incident Provide a description of the incident and how you were victimized. Provide information not captured elsewhere inthis complaint form. 
In May of this year I received a phone call from a company named XXXX based out of XXXX, this company wanted to purchase my vacation membership which is XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX. I spoke to one of the representatives who stated they were representing XXXX and his name was XXXX XXXX, we agreed on a sale of {$23000.00} for the price of this membership. The Representative from XXXX stated that they had lawyer in the U.S. who will be sending us the contract details. We receive a contract from the law firm identified as XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, with an addres in XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Tx XXXXXXXX XXXX  and started to do documents with XXXX XXXX who stated he was a lawyer for the firm. Following this I receive a certificate of transfer to be filled out and send. Initially the law firm stated that I needed to pay the taxes and that I would be reimbursed. This is when I pay the initial fees and cost for the sale. The stated they need my wire bank information to send me the amounts which now was the agreed price and I was expecting to receive a wire for {$31000.00} to close the sale. The bank named XXXXXXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX de XXXX email me stating they were sending a wire, later I received a call from a New York Number stating they were a wire clearing financial institution and needed to verify my information to receive the wire. After this they proceed to inform me that the bank in error had mail me via courier a Cashier Check XXXX, XXXX, and I was instructed to contact XXXX Customs or XXXXXXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, they stated that where holding the Other check but I needed to provide a XXXX Form XXXX and pay a fine for not declaring the check leaving XXXX. I proceed to pay the fine and asked them to release the check. XXXX XXXX said they had release the check back to the courier, and to trace it with them. The courier stated that they had lost the check and nothing the could do about it. The Lawyers in U.S. of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Firm represented by XXXX XXXX stated that XXXX Lawyer named as XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX represented by XXXX XXXX XXXX could help me suit the courier and the bank and get my money back. We signed a document giving her XXXX XXXX of Attorney to proceed to suit the XXXX and XXXXXXXX XXXX for the money lost and mishandled. Meanwhile, XXXX XXXX representing XXXX and us, stated they will give us Debt Settlement Letter to cover the losses and reimburse us for what we have lost. As we continue week after week contacting the XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, they had told us that they had received a settlement in favor of XXXX and us and that we needed to either pay taxes and fees on the settlement before having access to the fund which would be wired from XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. Everytime XXXX or the XXXX XXXX said the had attempted to wire the funds it had been detained by XXXX  XXXX, XXXX, XXXX insurance on the money and we would be refunded the monies paid to these entities within 5 days of concluding this transaction. I have documentation that was e-mailed to us from these parties. 
Which of the following were used in this incident? ( Check all that apply. ) Spoofed Email Similar Domain Email Intrusion Please specify : received a phone call Information About The Subject ( XXXX ) Who Victimized You Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX Business Name : XXXX Address : Av XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Address ( continued ) : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX City : XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Country : XXXX State : Zip XXXX : XXXX Phone Number : XXXX Email Address : XXXX Website : XXXX XXXX XXXX IP Address : Name : XXXX XXXX Business Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX ( continued ) XXXX XXXX Stop : City : XXXX Country : United States of America State : Texas Zip Code/Route : XXXX Phone Number XXXX XXXX Email XXXX XXXX XXXX Website XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Address : Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX Business Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX Address : XXXX XXXX  Address ( continued ) : Suite/Apt./Mail Stop XXXX City : XXXX Country : United States of America State : XXXX Zip Code/Route : XXXX Phone Number : XXXX Email Address : XXXX Website XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Address : Name : XXXX XXXX Business Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX Address : XXXX XXXX Address ( continued ) : Suite/Apt./Mail Stop : City : XXXX Country : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX State : XXXX  Zip Code/Route XXXX XXXX Phone Number : XXXX Email Address : XXXX Website : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Address : Name : XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Business Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Address : Address ( continued ) : Suite/Apt./Mail Stop : City : XXXX Country : XXXX XXXX XXXX Zip Code/Route XXXX Phone Number : XXXX Email Address : XXXX Website : XXXX Address XXXX Name : XXXX XXXX Business Name : XXXX Address XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX Sec Address ( continued ) : Secc, XXXX XXXX XXXX Suite/Apt./Mail Stop : City : XXXX Country : XXXX State : Zip Code/Route : XXXX XXXX Number : XXXX Email Address : XXXX Website : XXXX XXXX XXXX IP Address : Name : XXXX XXXX Business Name : XXXX Address : XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Address ( continued ) : XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Suite/Apt./Mail Stop : City : XXXX XXXX XXXX Country : Mexico State : Zip Code/Route : XXXX Phone Number : XXXX Email Address : XXXX Website : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXP Address : Other Information If an email was used in this incident, please provide a copy of the entire email including full email headers. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXXXXXX XXXXto meGood day XXXX XXXX, This email is to follow up with you according to our last conversation. I will be waiting for the documents needed with the characteristics of your membership in order to review it with my supervisor and negotiate the offer. If you can send the information before XXXXXXXX XXXX  CST would be great ; that way when I call you at XXXXXXXX XXXX CST your final offer will be ready.Kind regards, XXXX XXXX, Registered agent. XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Phone number : XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX XXXX / XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX XXXX | Fax : XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX XXXX Email : XXXX Address XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX de XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. XXXX  Are there any other witnesses or victims to this incident? 
My Wife XXXX XXXX XXXX the witnesses only the banking clerk that processed the transactions from our side. XXXX XXXX from First Citizens BankXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX from XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX from XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX from XXXX XXXX and If you have reported this incident to other law enforcement or government agencies, please provide the name, phone number, email, date reported, report number, etc. 
Called the FBI in XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, an agent forwarded me to file a compliant on this website.