Consumer complaint received 2025-03-16 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Other banking product or service
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.

Complaint narrative:
In XX/XX/XXXX, I opened an account with a digital bank by the name of XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ), They prompted me to make an initial deposit through their intermediary XXXX XXXX account holder XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX as shown in Attachment A. Given that it was a XXXX XXXX account, which is supposed to be a legitimate and trustworthy Bank, I felt comfortable making the deposit, and made a {$64000.00} USD wire transfer as shown in attachment XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  received the money from their XXXX XXXX XXXX and showed it as available in my online account as shown in Attachment C. 

After taking a closer look at their website ( XXXX ), I began getting concerned over some discrepancies and obviously fake impersonation of XXXX, so I contacted the XXXX at XXXX. With a phone call on XX/XX/XXXX, the XXXX agent XXXX told me to contact the FDIC at XXXX for more information. I spoke with FDIC subject matter expert XXXX, who told me that XXXX XXXX XXXX  has been tagged by the FDIC as a FRAUDULENT PLATFORM and advised me to seek recourse and file a fraud report immediately. 

It was very shocking to find out that a XXXX XXXX account was being used to perpetrate fraud, so on XX/XX/XXXX, I contacted the XXXX XXXX branch in Georgia that received the wire transfer in attachment XXXX XXXX with XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) confirmed that the routing number and account number on my wire transfer receipt were legitimate and actual numbers for the XXXX XXXX XXXX account held with their branch. I told him what happened, and he put a flag on the receiving account. He then mentioned that I needed to initiate the fraud complaint with the sending institution. I followed this guidance, and filed a fraud report with XXXX, my sending institution. XXXX XXXX XXXX manager advised me that he filed an indemnity and wire recall to the mentioned XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

I remained patient and waited for a few months to see if XXXX XXXX would return my money. On XX/XX/XXXX, I contacted XXXX for an update and was advised that XXXX XXXX had denied my request and stated I would need to hire a lawyer. I found this highly inappropriate as it was their institution that was enabling and possibly participating in de-frauding innocent consumers. The XXXX branch manager also informed me that Citi Bank had acted as intermediary to facilitate the transaction to XXXX XXXX, indicating that both Citi and XXXX XXXX had helped facilitate the fraud and theft. I contacted Citi bank several times throughout the following weeks but was denied assistance or guidance on funds recovery. I find both Citi and XXXX XXXX 's behaviors to be highly inappropriate and unethical, and am seeking recourse against XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX and Citi Bank for their roles in facilitating fraud and theft. 

To assist with my attempt to recover funds, I contacted the FDIC again to get their statement in writing, and they provided me with a written statement as shown in Attachment F that XXXX XXXX XXXX  ( sagetrustb.com ) is a fraudulent entity. It is clear that the FDIC is completely correct about XXXX XXXX being a fraud, as they have denied every withdrawal attempt, and have deactivated my account and stolen my money. XXXX XXXX and Citi Bank have denied any part in this, even though it is clear they both either facilitated or allowed a fraudulent e-bank to steal money through them. 

I find both Citi and XXXX XXXX 's behaviors to be highly inappropriate and unethical, and am seeking recourse against XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX and Citi Bank for their roles in facilitating this obvious fraud and theft. As shown in the attachments and written FDIC statement, I have more than sufficient evidence to prove that I was defrauded by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) through XXXX XXXX and CitiBank. I want to be repaid in full, and am prepared to provide wide public disclosure to notify future victims that XXXX XXXX and CitiBank are either actively engaged in facilitating fraud, or have such weak anti-fraud programs that they simply can not be trusted. I fully intend to file complaints with the OCC against both XXXX XXXX and Citi, while aiming for broad public disclosure across all platforms of the internet to warn future victims. 

I would like XXXX XXXX and Citi to repay me in full, while also proving that they have shut down the XXXX XXXX account used to steal from me. I would also like to see the sagetrustb.com website shut down, as it is likely they are actively defrauding other innocent victims as I type this. This theft has destroyed parts of my life and my children 's future, and attacks like this on innocent consumers should simply not be tolerated.

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