Consumer complaint received 2025-06-06 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I was notified by mail from an attorney ( the attorney is in the state of XXXX, where I used to live ), I live in XXXX  now, that I was heir to some money that came from a lawsuit my late Father filed while he was still alive. The base of the lawsuit was my Father had XXXX XXXX which was proven he got from using the product " XXXX weed killer ). He filed the lawsuit again XXXX while he was still alive. He passed away from the XXXX XXXX and the attorney saw the lawsuit through. The lawsuit was won and a settlement was issued from it. I was issued a cashiers check in the amount of {>= $1,000,000}. I opened XXXX checking accounts and 1 savings account with XXXX Morgan Stanley Bank, ( putting my daughter on 1 of the checking accounts and the savings account along with my name ). I deposited the cashiers check on XXXX. The funds were made available to me on the next day XXXX. I began to spend the money on things for my family. Every other transaction I made they stopped it up and blocked the transaction prompting me to call them every time to verify it was me spending the money and that it was not fraud. They unblocked it each time allowing me to spend the money. On several of the calls I explained to them that some of the money was for me to buy a used car as my family does not have a car and more importantly our very much loved dog ( our baby ), needed urgent vet care as he is very sick and needs meds, and treatment. They questioned me and asked for very detailed information about the car and the vet, ( which I felt was an extreme violation of our privacy ). They then refused to let me have access to that money desperately needed. Out of nowhere on XXXX they abruptly closed all XXXX accounts and removed my access online to get into my accounts. With no explanation until I received a letter in the mail stating they suspected it was fraud and possibly someone stole my identity and opened the accounts. After a lot of phone calls to them they asked me for documents to prove I am me and asking me for many documents. As well proof that I was issued the cashiers check and where it came from. I uploaded all documents they requested. ( I uploaded all the documents the attorney sent me as proof ) and more. They kept telling me they mailed a letter to me explaining why they will not let me have my money. I never got any letters and every time I called them, they treated me like I was a criminal and treated me with demeaning behavior. Now after countless calls to them, now they won't even speak to me on the phone and will not give me a single explanation for why they will not give me my money. I reminded them that the money is legally mine and they can not withhold it from me. My Father XXXX  for the money. With no results at all. With closed accounts they still have my money ( approximately {$38000.00} ), and are refusing to give me a way to retrieve it at all. Our much loved pup is getting so sick and we fear for his life causing extreme stress, fear, heartbreak and beyond for our family. The amount of sadness and stress our family is under can not be measured. Our hearts are shattered! I still have not received a letter or any correspondence at all from them and as each day goes by my family is taking the ultimate beating in so many ways. We need that money for our family desperately and my Father would not have wanted this to happen. I am legally entitled to that money and feel they are committing theft of it!

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation