Consumer complaint received 2024-03-13
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (MI)

My husband and I are both XXXX. My husband is a veteran w XXXX XXXX XXXX failure. Both of us on XXXX and weve been in a difficult situation trying to find housing. We have a litigation against a previous landlord and its prevented us from renting anywhere. 
A friend sent me a link to a home from a private owner she had seen who was renting a house he was going to sell. 
I inquired and he responded and asked if I was still interested. I said yes and explained our situation being up front and honest about our situation. 
He said he understood and would be willing to work with us but still had to submit an application which was a fee of XXXX $ per applicant. I sent it to him via XXXX and it is linked to my checking acct off my debit card and it came to XXXX after fee. 
XXXX hours later he responds and says its approved and that he was sending us the application via email as like the application we had done. 
We filled it out and he needed the deposit and first month rent which came to XXXX $ and was sent through XXXX. 
We sent the money and he said he would meet us with the keys the next day. We get to house the next day and time is passing Im trying to contact him but cant reach him on phone. We called the realtor which was posted in front of the house and realtor informed us that he had never heard of him and believed we were scammed. 
We went straight to the bank to dispute transaction but it was Saturday and they were getting ready to close and informed us it had to be done online or via phone. 
We went to police station after bank and filed report. 
Monday came and I called the bank which sent me to fraud division. They informed me they would give me the XXXX back but with the XXXX $ I had to wait a couple weeks while they gathered information and investigated. I called on it and was informed my case was closed because they couldnt retrieve the money from the receiving bank whichbis XXXX XXXX. I asked for more information so I at least could give it to police and they said no. A week later I called back again trying to fight it. My aunt who was a bank XXXX XXXX Bank of America years ago got on phone with BOA and said because I had police report and doing due diligence I should be able to be credited especially when I received the XXXX back and it was same card same situation and I paid for goods or services I didnt receive. They hung up on her. 
Bank of America refuses to acknowledge my situation XXXX in that it was all the money we had left and the fact that despite the fact they gave me my XXXX back from pay pal it was no different with the XXXX money. 
Bank of America and XXXX do not refund money per their policy even if youre scammed or fraud rd and in our case paid for goods and services we didnt receive which would be no different if I was calling a contractor and paid him and he didnt complete the job for example. 
Im very disheartened by this whole situation on top of my husband and I having difficulties finding housing and having had to stay in hotels drained of what was left of our money, and Bank of America who could very well have refunded the money as it wouldnt have dented them in the least and having working with law enforcement to retrieve the person who stole it and having better resources to go after the guy in partnership w law enforcement still unwilling to refund me the rest of my money. My account for record is under my maiden name of XXXX XXXX XXXX Any help in this matter is appreciated