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: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: TN

Complaint narrative:
I was arrested on the night of Saturday, XX/XX/year>, and released on bail the following day, Sunday, XX/XX/year>. Later that day, I received a phone call from the number ( XXXX ) XXXX around XXXX. The caller claimed to be a XXXX with the XXXX XXXX XXXX Department. He introduced himself by name and rank, though I am unable to recall the name he mentioned. 

The caller informed me that I was required to pay {$2000.00} immediately, or a new arrest warrant would be activated. I explained that I had already paid my bail, so I hung up and put off his calls. Later he insisted and kept calling me back. In response, he sent me two PDF documents ( attached ) via text message at XXXX from the number ( XXXX ) XXXX, which he claimed showed a new arrest warrant and a method of payment if I did not want to go back to jail. He stated this was proof that he could activate the warrant at any time. 

The caller insisted that I remain in constant verbal contact with him and stated that if I ended the call, he would immediately activate the warrant. As a result, I was unable to contact my attorney. He also told me that the payment would be reimbursed after my court appearance. 

Due to my lack of knowledge of criminal procedures, the realistic appearance of the documents, and the emotional distress I was experiencing after the arrest, I believed the caller and the documents to be legitimate. The assurance that the money would be reimbursed further influenced my decision. 

I ultimately paid the {$2000.00} via XXXX XXXX. The payment request was sent from the phone number ( XXXX ) XXXX. Of the total amount, {$350.00} was paid using my XXXX XXXX balance, and {$1600.00} was charged to my Wells Fargo debit card linked to my XXXX XXXX account. Once the payment processed and showed as delivered. Once my initial payment processed and appeared as delivered at approximately XXXX XXXX., the caller informed me that I was required to make additional payments related to my other charges. He requested an additional {$1800.00} payment via XXXX XXXX at XXXX, again using the phone number ( XXXX ) XXXX. 

When I attempted to submit the payment, the transaction failed due to reaching my spending limit. I was instructed to extend my spending limit, which I did while he was on the line while I spoke to my bank 's customer service, and I then completed the {$1800.00} payment at XXXX via XXXX XXXX. Afterward, the caller stated that he was not seeing the deposit on his end, despite my account showing the payment as delivered. 

The caller then claimed the transaction would need to be canceled and instructed me to submit a new payment of {$1000.00}, which I paid. Once again at XXXX, he stated that the payment was not appearing as deposited on his account. The Man continued to request {$800.00} amounts at XXXX and XXXX to the phone number ( XXXX ) XXXX which I was out of my spending limit for the day. 

Throughout this time, the caller continued to threaten me with arrest, causing me to urgently attempt to comply with his demands. Due to this pressure, my wife became involved and attempted to make payments from her XXXX Bank account. She subsequently made additional deposits from her personal account. Once again, the deposits appeared as delivered which he claimed were not populating on his account. 

Believing the individual to be a legitimate law enforcement officer, I began seeking alternative methods to make the requested payments so that I could resolve the matter and continue with my day. The caller provided instructions for making cash deposits at a XXXX location. 

Upon arriving at the location at XXXX, he instructed me to remain on the phone at all times and not speak with anyone, stating that my name was active in a warrant database and that bounty hunters could apprehend me at any time. 

Ultimately, my card had reached its spending limit, and I returned to my vehicle, where I began contacting family members in an attempt to obtain additional funds at XXXX. Fortunately, they were unable to provide the requested money, I again contacted my bank to further increase my spending limit, which I was successfully able to do. At approximately XXXX XXXX the caller sent another {$1800.00} payment request via XXXX XXXX from the phone number ( XXXX ) XXXX, which I completed. The caller then rejected the payment and stated that it was not showing as deposited on his account. 

At approximately XXXX XXXX, the caller sent an additional {$1800.00} payment request from the phone number ( XXXX ) XXXX, which I completed via XXXX XXXX linked to my checking account and which appeared as delivered. Despite this, the caller again claimed that the funds were not deposited on his end. 

At approximately XXXX XXXX., the caller requested an additional payment of {$1500.00} from the same phone number. I advised him that this would be my final attempt and that I would accept responsibility for any repercussions following if the payment did not deposit to his account. Immediately after this transaction, the caller terminated the call. 

After the caller terminated the call, I immediately contacted my attorney and explained the events that had occurred. My attorney informed me that I had been the victim of a scam and advised me to report the incident to law enforcement and to my financial institutions in an effort to cancel the transactions and recover the funds. Following this advice, I promptly contacted representatives from XXXX XXXX and Wells Fargo to report the fraudulent activity. 

I subsequently contacted my local law enforcement and filed a police report, which is attached hereto. I also contacted representatives from XXXX XXXX in an attempt to have the transactions reversed ; however, I was informed that the funds could not be recovered and were considered lost. I further contacted representatives from Wells Fargo, who were unable to cancel the transactions. I was, however, able to initiate a fraud claim, which was ultimately denied without any review or examination of the supporting evidence.

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