Consumer complaint received 2025-12-31 00:00:00
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: U.S. BANCORP
State: CO

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/XXXX and XXXX 2025, I was the victim of an online pet purchase and shipping scam involving the sale of two ragdoll kittens and a fraudulent pet transportation company. 
I was contacted by an individual advertising kittens for sale on a XXXX XXXX XXXX. The seller provided photos and information about the kittens and represented themselves as a legitimate seller. Based on these representations, I sent {$300.00} per kitten ( total {$600.00} ) via XXXX to the seller. The total for both kittens was supposed to be {$1600.00}, the {$600.00} was the deposit for the two of them. 
After payment, the seller instructed me to work with a pet transportation company to arrange delivery. I was directed to a website called XXXX, which appeared to be a legitimate pet shipping and tracking service. The shipping company provided me with a tracking number ( XXXX ) and a tracking page showing the kittens in transit. '' I later learned that this website and tracking system were fake. 
I was instructed to send an additional {$700.00} via XXXX for transportation fees. After sending this payment, I was contacted again and told that the kittens could not be delivered unless I paid a refundable crate rental fee of {$1400.00}. I was sent a document titled Crate Rental Fee Agreement that appeared official but contained false information and a fake shipping company name. 
When I questioned this additional charge, I spoke directly with the individual by phone and specifically asked to speak with a manager. During this call, I was pressured to send more money via XXXX and was instructed to send it to a different phone number than the previous payments. This raised serious concerns. 
The caller claimed the fee was mandatory, refundable upon delivery, and that the kittens were already in transit and also showed proof of a picture of one of them. I was told the delivery could not proceed unless the payment was made immediately. 
These statements were later determined to be false and intended to pressure me into sending the {$700.00}. 
After further investigation, I discovered that the shipping company, tracking number, and documents were fraudulent and part of a common pet delivery scam. No legitimate shipment existed, and the kittens were never delivered. 
In total, I lost {$1300.00} through XXXX payments related to this scam. I have reported the fraudulent transactions to U.S.Bank and attempted recovery however, the claim was denied because the payments were technically authorized, despite being induced through deception and fraudulent documentation. I am filing this complaint to document the fraud, the fake logistics website, the false documents, and the use of phone calls and multiple XXXX numbers to deceive me into sending money under false pretenses. 


With U.S. Bank, I contacted them on XX/XX/XXXX in the morning. They had me explain to them what happened which was stated up above. They did tell me that it does help my case having the pictures saved of the kittens, contracts and conversations. I received the denial letter in the mail on XX/XX/year>. I am contacting them today on XX/XX/year> to see what the next steps are to file an appeal since they never did get any of my evidence yet.

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