Consumer complaint received 2025-11-27 00:00:00
Product: Mortgage — Other type of mortgage
Issue: Trouble during payment process — Trying to communicate with the company to fix an issue while managing or servicing your loan
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: NC

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/year>, XXXX XXXX, a Small Business Underwriting Associate at Wells Fargo XXXX XXXX XXXX sent me an email to inform me that my loan is in default ( when the loan is not in default ). 

I immediately emailed XXXX XXXX back and ask her why my account is in default, then she admitted that my account is not in default. I then requested to talk to her supervisor. She then said she filed an Executive Complaint on my behalf.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) has recently emphasized that under FDCPA/Regulation F, debt collectors may be liable for sending false, deceptive, or misleading debt-collection communications even if they claim they didnt know the statement was false.

1006.18 False, deceptive, or misleading representations or means. 

On XX/XX/year>, XXXX XXXX, a Senior Small Business Underwriter at Wells Fargo XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, AZ XXXX ) contacted me pretending to be the VP of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX When I questioned her, she then only used her senior small business underwriter instead of the VP title she added to trick me. 
I then filed a complaint on Wells Fargo website, then I got a phone message from XXXX at the Wells Fargo Executive Complaint office on XX/XX/year>. XXXX ant Wells Fargo asked me to call back at XXXX, which is XXXX XXXX customer service number. I tried XXXX just in case and that number can't be completely dialed. I then let both XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX at Wells Fargo know via email on XX/XX/year> about this official response from Wells Fargo giving me a fake number. As of today ( XX/XX/year> ), no one from Wells Fargo ever contacted me to offer any explanations. 
If bank employees falsely claim to be executives when contacting customers, the conduct can rise to several criminal and regulatory violations, depending on intent and impact. 
A. False Pretenses / Fraud ( 18 U.S.C. 1343 or 1344 ) If an employee falsely represents their position to gain something of value such as information, payment, or leverage in a negotiation that can constitute : Wire fraud ( 18 U.S.C. 1343 ) if done via phone, email, or electronic means ; or Bank fraud ( 18 U.S.C. 1344 ) if the deception involves the banks operations or a customers account.

Penalties : Up to 30 years in prison and fines up to {>= $1,000,000} for bank fraud.

B. Impersonation of an Officer or Employee of a Bank ( 18 U.S.C. 912 / 709 ) These laws make it a crime to falsely represent oneself as a bank officer, agent, or employee to obtain something of value or to mislead others.

18 U.S.C. 709 specifically prohibits using the name or title of a bank or officer with intent to deceive.

Example : A mid-level employee emails a customer claiming to be a Vice President of Credit to intimidate them into making a payment.

18 U.S.C. 912 applies to impersonation of federal officers, but 709 covers bank officer impersonation.

Penalty : Federal misdemeanor up to 1 year imprisonment and/or fines, and can escalate if part of broader fraud.

C. Conspiracy ( 18 U.S.C. 371 ) If multiple employees coordinate this misrepresentation, they can be charged with conspiracy to commit fraud or to deceive customers, even if the fraud itself isnt completed.

2. Regulatory Violations Even if prosecutors dont pursue criminal charges, such behavior can trigger : OCC enforcement actions ( unsafe, unsound, or deceptive banking practices ) ; FDIC Section 8 ( e ) removal and prohibition orders ( employees can be barred from the banking industry ) ; CFPB penalties for unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices ( UDAAP ).

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