Consumer complaint received 2024-03-21
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: CITIBANK, N.A. (CA)

I was looking to purchase a car on XXXX and found one I'm interested in. I responded via email. I got a response back from another email address identifying as the person who placed the ad on XXXX. This person attached all pictures of the car, along with XXXX report, service records, title ( pink slip ) and a driver 's license picture of the owner ( female ), indicating address on the ID is the same as the address on the pink slip. The address of this person is in Illinois and that's where the vehicle reside. This person took my phone number and began our conversations thru texts. At the time, this person said she ( not sure ) was hospitalized with XXXX, and it can take time for her to get back to me. At one point she said they were taking her to XXXX  for some procedure. I felt really bad for her so I was patient and waited. Few days later, I got a text message if we want to go forward with the business. I said yes. The asking price of the vehicle was {$28000.00}. I re-negotiated and offerred her {$26000.00}. This person accepted the offer. This person told me, going to put the ad on XXXX as " private sale '' meaning nobody but me can bid on it. This person reassured me that its the safer transaction with XXXX XXXX protection. Money will transfer to a " broker 's account '' and will not release the funds until the buyer received and inspected the car. Also reassured me that vehicle will be delivered in an enclosed shipper. I logged into XXXX and didn't find the said ad. This person told me will be sending me a direct link to the ad via email. I got the email link and clicked on it. It opened to XXXX page complete with all the XXXX item numbers, where to click to buy now and instructions where to send payment. It has a delivery charge as well so price of the car {$26000.00} + {$950.00} ( shipping ) = {$26000.00}. The payout intstructed me to to do bank to bank wire transfer to the brokers name : XXXX XXXX XXXX, address : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX CA XXXX. The money was wired to receiving bank ; CITIBANK, address XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, CA XXXX. I have the receiver 's account number and routing number. I did the bank to bank transfer on XX/XX/XXXX in the amount of {$26000.00} for the purchase of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. That same day, this person texted me saying payment confirmation from XXXX is received. On XX/XX/XXXX, I got a text from this person saying, booking confirmation from the shipping company and will load the car and begin shipment by XXXX that day. Delivery to my house will be on XX/XX/XXXX -Wednesday. I was excited and patiently waiting. On Tuesday morning XX/XX/XXXX, received a text message saying delivery has been rescheduled to Saturday XX/XX/XXXX, citing shipment issues along the route. This person was very apologetic. On Saturday morning got another text mesage to check my email. On the email, there is another delay on the shipment due to issues with another vehicle being delivered and was held by police. This time this person asked me if I wanted to continue or have the vehicle returned to Illinois. I didnt suspect anything, mainly cause I'm very excited to get the car, so I said just continue the journey bring the car to me. It makes sense to deliver it if already made that travel. This person again sounded very apologetic and guaranteed that the car will be delivered on Wednesday XX/XX/XXXX and stated that delivery charge of {$950.00} will be refunded upon delivery as an act of good will from the inconvenience. Finally Wednesday came and I texted this person see if the delivery is on time to make sure I'm home to receive it. No answer... sent another message and hour later, still no response. I decided to call this person. My heart dropped when it said the number is disconnected. That's when it hit me that I been scammed. I went back to click on the XXXX link and that is also erased. My heart is crushed, was so sick to my stomach knowing that the money I sent which was borrowed from my sons college funds has been taken away from us. 
Please anyway possible help us in recovering what was lost from us. and bring these XXXX awful criminals to justice. I have screenshots of the XXXX transactions, saved emails and text messages from this person and can provide it to help for an investigation Please help us..