Consumer complaint received 2025-08-29 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Problem making or receiving payments
Company: Synovus Bank
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/year>, I was the victim of a job scam. I deposited a fraud check that I understood to be a valid check. Then I was told to purchase home office equipment with this money by sending money to a certain employee via XX/XX/XXXX. It all seemed extremely legal at this time. I then started to suspect the contacts were not genuine. This job was offered as a work from home job. Later in the day, I called the company I applied for and they began to tell me they were aware of people using their company name for fraudulent activities. I then tried to contact the HR manager and were unable to contact them. I then blocked them from being above to contact me and called Synovus to report the fraud activity. At this point, I was told that they would have to have some time to verify the fraudulent activity. I had to close my checking account that I had for over 40 years. I retired from XXXX of 31 years so I had an employee checking account. At this point my checking account had been debited for the fraud amounts which caused my account to become overdrawn. I visited a branch prior to knowing my account was now in a negative status. I was going to open a new Checking account and move my funds To the new account. The young woman helping me was not very friendly and after looking at what happened, began treating me like I was beneath her. She informed me I had to bring the old account to a positive balance before I could open a New checking account So I made a deposit in the amount over the balance If the fraud transactions. I then went to another location to open a new checking account I didnt want to go back to the same person who waited in me earlier. This lady at the other branch proceeded to open a new checking account, a new savings account, a debit card and a XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. She also ordered new checks. 
This is where everything started going downhill. I was told I couldnt access my money from my new checking account. The banker checked into why and called me back later in the day and let me know they were investigating all of the issues due to fraud. They never actually closed the old account only froze itll monies from being withdrawn and I wasnt allowed to make purchases or write any checks. I never understood why the old account wasnt closed like I requested. No one explained why. It seemed as though the right hand didnt know what the left was doing. Each time I called Synovus, I got different answers to what was going on and what I needed to do going forward. In the meantime, I had no access to any funds AND my social security monies had posted to the old account which is my ONLY means of income. I was told I couldnt have my money and had to wait for any transactions to post. I had to borrow money in order to pay my rent and electric bill. I was being treated like the criminal and not a victim as this time. They then proceeded to inform me they did not want my business any longer and they were going to close everything I had with them. I was beyond devastated and so worried because I had no means of getting my money nor paying my bills. I am XXXX XXXX XXXX and do NOT need this kind of stress. After 2weeks, I was able to get the {$150.00} from my new savings account then eventually was told I could have my social security money but when I went in the branch to pick up the check for this, the computer system was down and could not get my money again. ALSO, my dad loaned me money in the amount of {$1000.00} to help until all of this was straight. THEN was told the check my dad wrote to me was FRAUDULENT! I could Not believe this. I felt like I was in a third world country at this time. Apparently my dads credit union informed Synovus that the phone number on the check wasnt a valid one and the signature didnt look valid! The phone number on the check wasnt an old lan line they had that they had disconnected but they never updated their checks with their cell phone numbers. My dads wife signed the check but shes listed on the account so it was all good even though I was repeatedly being told it was a fraudulent check! I was told they needed to go back and get it all straight and I wont be able to access that money for another month! 
All I want to do at this point it get MY money and walk away for good. The feeling is totally mutual believe me. I have never in my life been treated like this. EVER. I was living a nightmare. I still havent gotten my money. I hope to go to the branch today to get a check for my social security. Please look into how all this was handled and I do hope someone can learn from my experience and have a much better experience.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation