Consumer complaint received 2026-03-05 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Other banking product or service
Issue: Managing an account — Fee problem
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: SC

Complaint narrative:
Back in XXXX, I ordered what turned out to be counterfeit pills for an item I DO have a prescription for from a website I at the time deemed to be credible. I placed an ordered and was instructed to call immediately afterwards. I was told they would have to give me the same medication but in a different milligram and amount which was fine, and at a very high price, higher than the initial price I thought I would be paying. But because I, in all honesty, sometimes run out early or run low early on this medication, decided to take the plunge with the much higher price quoted because if it had been the real medication arriving on time, it would spare me much grief literally and figuratively. I happened to have had the funds at the time and decided to go for it because it should have last for many, many months as a backup. I received pills within a few days as promised alright but they were counterfeit. They did NOT work, and because I ran out of my regular script from a pharmacy, which is what I tried to avoid, but the pills being fake which I soon realized, and having gone so long without a dose of the actual medication, I ended up calling XXXX to come take me to the XXXX as I had never been so sick in my life. I do believe part of the illness was made worse by other factors, but being without my medication caused the main part of it. Either way, even had I not ended up in the XXXX I was given counterfeit medication. After I got well and was able to get my actual refill locally, I tried to call the company twice and both times was immediately sent to a voicemial and did not get a person on the phone. They were quick to respond before they sent the fake pills to me, but now all of a sudden no one can answer the phone. So I called Wells Fargo and explained that what I received was NOT was I ordered, and was fake medication. I not only was scammed out of {$680.00}, but now have an XXXX bill to try and figure out how to pay as well as paying monthly payments to the XXXX Either way, I contacted Wells Fargo and they opened a claim. I receieved a letter soon after asking for more information and I explained everything to the representative. He asked if I could send any documentation to help my case. I spent hours and hours putting together screenshots and everything, showing how if you google the phone number, these people were running under multiple websites that look the same but with different names, etc. I had my receipts, everything and still do. I received a provisional credit soon after. But, just the other day, I recevied a letter in the mail from Wells Fargo that they sided with the scammers and will be withdrawing the {$680.00} back out on XX/XX/XXXX, money I don't have, and even if I did, I was scammed. So now they are taking the money back, and the reasons they gave made no sense- on the letter it said that the item was received on time and that I didn't make any attempt to contact the merchant and return it. Before calling Wells Fargo back to reopen the claim, I tried accessing the website and guess what, it's got a logo that I took a screenshot of that includes the URL saying it's been seized by the Department of Justice. I XXXX the phone number and found site after site that had the same thing. I called Wells Fargo with this information and I told them I received " it '' on time but it was FAKE. And that I did try to contact the merchant but they didn't answer, and what was I going to send back? I have what's left of the pills in case they could be tested, and I'd be happy to give them their trash back, what's left of it, if they would have refunded me. I explained that the merchant was fake and scam, and that they'd been seized by the DOJ. The lady kept telling me to contact the merchant and I kept saying mam, there is NO merchant to contact ... they've been seized by the DOJ, can no one take a look at this and see that I was telling the truth? I requested a supervisor who said the same thing, they told me to call the local police which I told them made no sense as these people have already been shut down, and the police can't get me my money back. They refused to do anything further and I am now filing a complaint. I opened a new bank account this morning, set up my direct deposit for my job to go there going forward and will be moving my money over. Please, please someone get on Wells Fargo about this because I don't need another mess of having scammed money taken back out of my account and a bank that sides with obvious scammers instead of loyal customers.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation