Consumer complaint received 2025-10-09 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Problem with a lender or other company charging your account — Transaction was not authorized
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: MD

Complaint narrative:
Canvassing and Promotion Fraud Subject : This complaint is being failed for conducting a Bait and Switch, scam. 


The following entities are known as : Tax Lien XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX Throughout the week I received text message alerts via my mobile phone from Aria from Tax Lien XXXXXXXX XXXX 

Your training is XX/XX/year>, and & XXXX, located : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX, VA XXXX '' Friday XXXX Saturday XXXX Sunday XXXX Bring a notebook, snacks, and a jacket. Reply " Yes '' to confirm. Also, if you are planning on bringing a guest, please provide their first name Its count down time * * * This a sophisticated Bait & switch They claimed that we would be able to purchase a lien. That didnt happen. When mentioned they said that it would occur on the 2nd day and that was to delay you from canceling your transaction. The information shared was exactly the same from the initial intro and for the 3 day workshop. They then attempted to sale this program on the 2nd & 3rd day for {$35000.00}. Later in some cases reducing the price to {$25000.00} and again 24 hours after the workshop ended to {$3000.00}.

The participants were have given the opportunity to purchase a lien using the software but instead the host purchased the lien. 
Workshops ended by XXXX XXXX  or XXXXXXXX XXXX  on day 1 & 2 and on day 3 the workshop ended at XXXX XXXX dismissed the participants that did not purchase the program. 


This is a scam and they failed to deliver what was stated at the time of the original sales pitch and verbal agreement, which partially were not allowed to record. 

This company should not be allowed to conduct business in the Common Wealth. 

Code of Virginia Table of Contents ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) Title 59.1. Trade and Commerce ( XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) XXXX XXXX Virginia Consumer Protection AcXXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) XXXX. Prohibited practices Section Print PDF email ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) XXXX. Prohibited practices. 
A. The following fraudulent acts or practices committed by a supplier in connection with a consumer transaction are hereby declared unlawful : 1. Misrepresenting goods or services as those of another ; 2. Misrepresenting the source, sponsorship, approval, or certification of goods or services ; 3. Misrepresenting the affiliation, connection, or association of the supplier, or of the goods or services, with another ; 4. Misrepresenting geographic origin in connection with goods or services ; 5. Misrepresenting that goods or services have certain quantities, characteristics, ingredients, uses, or benefits ; 6. Misrepresenting that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality, grade, style, or model ; 7. Advertising or offering for sale goods that are used, secondhand, repossessed, defective, blemished, deteriorated, or reconditioned, or that are " seconds, '' irregulars, imperfects, or " not first class, '' without clearly and unequivocally indicating in the advertisement or offer for sale that the goods are used, secondhand, repossessed, defective, blemished, deteriorated, reconditioned, or are " seconds, '' irregulars, imperfects, or " not first class '' ; 8. Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised, or with intent not to sell at the price or upon the terms advertised.

In any action brought under this subdivision, the refusal by any person, or any employee, agent, or servant thereof, to sell any goods or services advertised or offered for sale at the price or upon the terms advertised or offered, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this subdivision. This paragraph shall not apply when it is clearly and conspicuously stated in the advertisement or offer by which such goods or services are advertised or offered for sale, that the supplier or offeror has a limited quantity or amount of such goods or services for sale, and the supplier or offeror at the time of such advertisement or offer did in fact have or reasonably expected to have at least such quantity or amount for sale ; 9. Making false or misleading statements of fact concerning the reasons for, existence of, or amounts of price reductions ; 10. Misrepresenting that repairs, alterations, modifications, or services have been performed or parts installed ; 11. Misrepresenting by the use of any written or documentary material that appears to be an invoice or bill for merchandise or services previously ordered ; 12. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, using in any manner the words " wholesale, '' " wholesaler, '' " factory, '' or " manufacturer '' in the supplier 's name, or to describe the nature of the supplier 's business, unless the supplier is actually engaged primarily in selling at wholesale or in manufacturing the goods or services advertised or offered for sale ; 13. Using in any contract or lease any liquidated damage clause, penalty clause, or waiver of defense, or attempting to collect any liquidated damages or penalties under any clause, waiver, damages, or penalties that are void or unenforceable under any otherwise applicable laws of the Commonwealth, or under federal statutes or regulations ; 13a. Failing to provide to a consumer, or failing to use or include in any written document or material provided to or executed by a consumer, in connection with a consumer transaction any statement, disclosure, notice, or other information however characterized when the supplier is required by 16 C.F.R. Part 433 to so provide, use, or include the statement, disclosure, notice, or other information in connection with the consumer transaction ; 14. Using any other deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, or misrepresentation in connection with a consumer transaction ;

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