Consumer complaint received 2025-10-24 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Cashing a check
Company: SANTANDER HOLDINGS USA, INC.
State: MA

Complaint narrative:
I have been banking with Santander ( long before it was even called Santander ). I am almost XXXX & have been using them since age XXXX. I have never had a problem with the bank. HOWEVER, on Monday XX/XX/year>, I deposited a check that was sent to me by a mystery shopper site. I thought it may be a scam so I did my due diligence first. I called the issuing bank & had the confirm the account number & name on the check. I also verified the routing number. Everything matched up. After I verified that, I deposited the check for {$3400.00}. I waited for the funds to clear ( which happened Wednesday XX/XX/year> ). Wednesday day, after seeing that the funds had cleared, I called Santander & explained the situation. The man I spoke with told me that the check had cleared, and the funds were in my account. Wednesday night after more investigating ; I discovered the whole assignment I was supposed to perform as a mystery shopper was a scam. I NEVER spent {$1.00} of the money from that check! Thursday ( after I did not due the assignment as a mystery shopper ), the funds were reversed & check was found to be fraudulent. I found this out Thursday XX/XX/year>. I had XXXX a week ago & had an event at my XXXX XXXX Thursday & planned to call Santander about the check today ( Friday XX/XX/year> ). However, by the time I called him, I found out that I no longer had access to my account because they had closed it that day. I explained the entire situation in depth to them. Since they were not out any money because I never spent any of the money and also because I have NEVER had ANYTHING like this ever happen to me before, I figured they would understand ( especially after my many years of loyal business with them ). They said their decision was final. Now I have to go tomorrow to close my account & find a new bank ( although that may be near impossible now thanks to Santander reporting me for fraud! ). I am terrified that the Federal Agents are going to come banging on my door any minute, not to mention the fact that I have a child to support & may not be able to open an account anywhere now! I am the person who almost was scammed out of {$3400.00}! If I had not done my research, I would be the 1 out that money right now. So I dont understand why, as a victim, I am being punished. The bank didnt care about my side at all. I told Santander that I reported the scam to the FBI ( because I did ). I tried also reporting it to the federal trade commission however they are closed right now due to the government shut down. I want to file a formal complaint against Santander because I do not believe I was treated fairly in any way, shape, or form ; especially since I was the one almost completely victimized. I would think Santander would be more concerned with getting to the bottom of this issue and contacting the issuing bank of the check to find out whats going on instead of penalizing me, the victim. I find this completely unacceptable behavior. I have spent decades banking with them for them to turn around & punish me for almost being scammed out of thousands of dollars. I want action taken. I plan to take this to social media, the internet, the papers, the news, etc. I am starting with you. I hope you take me more seriously than Santander. There are scumbag individuals out there who are getting people to fall for their scams and banks are penalizing the potential and/or real victims of this scam instead of working with them.

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