Consumer complaint received 2025-07-07 00:00:00
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: Early Warning Services, LLC
State: NE

Complaint narrative:
I only use XXXX XXXX  and I moved to the country. 

The place I currently live in has few banks and other amenities, so it's difficult for me to deposit cash into my account. 

I gave cash to my XXXX  friend who lives in the same building and works at the same place and received a transfer via Zelle.

As soon as my friend sent the money, I received a text message saying that the transfer was complete. Since I didn't receive the money right away, I searched and found out that it might be pending, so I waited, thinking that I would be able to receive the money if I waited since I received a text saying that the transfer was complete.

A system error within the Zelle app itself resulted in it being linked to a non-existent XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX account, a bank I have never been to, created, or linked to. 

I have had over XXXX consultations with XXXX XXXX, each lasting over XXXX hours. 

The response I got back was that it was a system error that occurred within Zelle itself and that it needed to be resolved by Zelle. 

I have had over XXXX phone and email consultations with Zelle, and each call takes XXXX hours. 

They just keep repeating that they are truly sorry, do not solve the problem, just evade it and toy with the customer. 

Zelle continues to avoid and refuse to resolve the situation by connecting users to XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. 

I also called and emailed XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX several times.

The response I got back was that even if I searched for my account with my social security number and phone number, the account did not exist at all, so they could not resolve the issue and that I had to contact Zelle to resolve the issue. 

They said they couldn't even provide consultation because I don't have an account with XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. 

I had a phone consultation with Zelle 's senior executives. 

He just keeps repeating that he's really sorry and that he can't solve the problem. 

I asked why it was linked to a non-existent XXXX XXXX  XXXX and why when I send money to other people it links to my XXXX XXXX  account and the money comes out, but when I receive money from other people it links to a non-existent XXXX XXXX XXXX and I can't receive the money. 

They refuse to explain, saying they don't know, and just keep repeating that they are truly sorry. 

I asked them where the money I was supposed to receive was and if it made sense that the money was transferred to an account that didn't exist. They said they didn't know. 

I am a XXXX  citizen and the friend who sent the money is a XXXX  citizen. 

My friend uses XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX and since both of us are not good at XXXX, we use a language interpretation service. I have to consult with a XXXX  staff member and my XXXX  friend consulted with a XXXX  staff member. 

My friend and I are having a hard time talking on the phone with bank employees of different nationalities. 

I contacted XXXX XXXX, a Zelle employee, and XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, and they said that my account did not exist, the money was transferred incorrectly, and that the friend who sent the money had to call XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX directly to cancel the transfer in order to get the money back. 
My XXXX  friend called several times to request cancellation, but due to the wrong guidance from the XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX staff, the matter was not resolved, and misunderstandings between my friend and I only occurred, and our relationship deteriorated. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX said they could not return the money because the transfer had already been completed. 

When I checked it myself, it turned out to be a non-existent account, but other bank employees and Zelle employees said that it made no sense to say that a transfer was completed to a non-existent account. 

They said their XXXX  friend had to contact the bank directly to cancel the transfer because the XXXX  staff misunderstood and provided incorrect information. 

My XXXX  friend doesn't believe me when I tell him this and is instead believing what the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX employee said. 

I have been suffering from mental distress and false suspicion for months. 

I don't understand why I, as a consumer, am being harmed by a system error or security issue that occurred within Zelle itself. I'm really angry and in a difficult situation. 

When asked to explain in detail the problem that occurred and ask about the whereabouts of the money, they only reply that they do not know and apologize, and continue to deceive consumers. 

I have reported this to several organizations and have consulted with banks and counselors several times, but it has not been resolved. I am the one who has been directly affected, but I do not understand the system as it says that consultation itself is not possible and that I can not file a return because I do not have an account at the bank. 

XXXX, Zelle and XXXX  XXXX XXXX all pass the buck and tire people out by making phone calls. 

I want to know where my money is and why it was linked to a non-existent account and why the money was transferred to that account. 

And if the money was transferred to a non-existent account, I would like to know why it is not being returned

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation