Consumer complaint received 2023-01-19
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Problem using a debit or ATM card
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. (WA)

On XX/XX/XXXX, I was contacted by an XXXX user saying that they would pay me {$500.00} for using one of my social media posts. Based off of successful past experience, I agreed to this. They then proceeded to say that they would have to send me a check to deposit for {$1000.00} and I would have to XXXX XXXX  them back {$500.00} due to the fact that they could not send me only the {$500.00}. I agreed and proceeded to deposit the check sent to me as well as send back the {$500.00}. The check went through without any issues and I thought that the whole situation was over. Later that day I looked at my account and more checks were deposited as well as more XXXX XXXX  was sent and payments through a wire transfer. On XX/XX/XXXX, I contacted my bank, Chase, when I realized I was being scammed and they immediately helped me get started with the claims process. I filed two different claims for all of the transactions. One claim was for the XXXX XXXX XXXXayments which were for XXXX different transactions that were all on the same date and all were for {$500.00}. Another claim was also filed for a wire transfer that was for the amount of {$1500.00}, however they filed it as a claim for another XXXX XXXX transaction. 

XXXX of the {$500.00} XXXX cash payments was initiated by me personally but the rest of the transactions were not personally sent by me. I was taken advantage of as well as promised a certain amount by this individual which I did not receive due to them getting my information. 

Chase bank helped me file my claims and sent me back the amount I had lost so my account was back to the original amount before the whole thing happened. However, they did not inform me over the phone that the money they " got back for me '' was only a credit provided by Chase. They sent a document saying what the claims were for as well as the amounts, how long it would take for them to review and come to a conclusion, as well as a brief explanation that the money given back to me was credit and not the actual money that had been taken from me. This information did not seem too extensive due to the fact that on the phone with the claims department they provided a lot of information regarding my claims and even said that the chances of me receiving my money back were 100 %. Essentially they gave me a false sense of hope and a false promise as well. 

During the period of time that I was waiting for the claims to be reviewed, I froze my account so no more false activity could happen. I went into a Chase branch and got a new account as well as a new debit card. They transferred over the funds that were on my previous account into my new one with no problems. 

After a certain period of time, around XXXX weeks, I was sent a message through my Chase Bank portal on XX/XX/XXXX saying that they had updated information about my claim. The information that they gave me basically said that after further investigation of my claims, they would be taking back the {$3500.00} that I had been given back due to the fact that it appeared I had personally made the transactions. Even after countless times of talking to representatives on the phone explaining I had not personally made the transfers and transactions. If all of this false activity had been done on my credit account, Chase would have been all over the situation and would have fixed the issue in a heart beat. They would have made the account back to normal no problem due to it being a credit account. But because this case was a debit account and the fact that it " appears '' I made the transfers, they would not recover my lost funds. After calling multiple times and being transferred another XXXX times on XX/XX/XXXX, they told me that nothing else could be done. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, {$3500.00} was taken out of my account which resulted in it being $ XXXX. I would have had to pay an overdraft fee if I did not transfer money from my savings account into this checking account. 

This whole situation has been awful for me emotionally, financially, and as a college student it has been devastating. I was not able to pay for my college tuition like normal because of the amount that was taken out. My education has been put on hold due to this fiasco and I have felt cheated by not only the people who made the transfers but also Chase bank.