Consumer complaint received 2025-11-04 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Problem with a lender or other company charging your account — Money was taken from your account on the wrong day or for the wrong amount
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Wells Fargo Bank , N.A . ( WF ) improperly honored an unauthorized, counterfeit check in the amount of {$10000.00} and charged my checking account. WF honored this XXXX counterfeit check despite my XXXX telephone calls to WF representatives before WF had cleared the counterfeit XXXX expressing concern that my actual WF Check No. XXXX XXXX have been compromised. 

WF representatives twice assured me - before the counterfeit " XXXX '' cleared - that I had nothing to worry about regarding my pending XXXX check. In fact, WF representative XXXX actively misrepresented to me that the XXXX check was being paid to my intended recipient ( the U.S. Treasury ). Instead, WF paid out {$10000.00} to a counterfeiter ( " XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, '' an individual unknown to me ). 

WF has not responded to my demand for prompt reimbursement ( XXXX. XXXX, XXXX- this demand letter exhibit has been split into XXXX files - XXXX and XXXX - due to file size transmission constraints ). Rather, WF says I might receive my money back only if WF can recoup funds on this admittedly unauthorized, counterfeit check from an unnamed third party bank. XXXX. XXXX. 

FACTS The main facts are discussed in detail in XXXX. XXXX, XXXX ( my XX/XX/year> Demand Letter ), and attested in XXXX. XXXX ( my XX/XX/year> Affidavit of Check Fraud ). 

( XXXX ) On XX/XX/year>, I mailed WF Check No. XXXX ( {$10000.00} ) to the U.S. Treasury. XXXX. XXXX, page XXXX para. ( XXXX ) ; page XXXX ( actual Check No. XXXX ). ( This mailing was made within a US Post Office in XXXX XXXX CA, XXXX ). 

( XXXX ) My original Check No. XXXX was evidently stolen within the U.S. Postal Service. A counterfeit check XXXX, made out to XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX in the amount of {$10000.00}, was tendered to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX  ) on XX/XX/year>. XXXX. XXXX, page XXXX, XXXX. XXXX, page XXXX ( front and back of counterfeit XXXX check ). ( The counterfeit check was deposited in XXXX CA, on the Monday after the Friday I mailed it from within the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Quite an operation, for a US Postal Service operative to steal a check mailing from within the XXXX Postal Service on Friday and counterfeit a check over the weekend to deposit the counterfeit {$10000.00} item on the following Monday. ) ( XXXX ) I received a phone message from XXXX on XX/XX/year> inquiring if I had written a XXXX check to XXXX XXXX. I called XXXX back that day and stated that I had written no such check. XXXX. XXXX, page XXXX, para ( XXXX ). 

( XXXX ) Also on XX/XX/year>, I immediately called WF to alert WF of the XXXX calls regarding check XXXX. WF representative XXXX told me not to worry about my Check No. XXXX. XXXX. XXXX, page XXXX, XXXX. ( XXXX ). 

( XXXX ) On XX/XX/year>, I saw online that a check XXXX was being processed by WF, but no image of the pending check was then available to me. I immediately called WF and again related my concerns arising from the XXXX calls. WF representative XXXX assured me that my {$10000.00} payment of the XXXX check was in fact going to the XXXX Treasury. XXXX. XXXX, pages XXXX, para. ( XXXX ) ( XXXX ) On XX/XX/year>, I learned, for the first time, that WF had paid out {$10000.00} to XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, of whom I have no knowledge. XXXX. XXXX, page XXXX, XXXX. XXXX. 

( XXXX ) I closed my WF checking account, and sought reimbursement of the funds WF negligently paid out on a counterfeit check. XXXX. XXXX, pages XXXX, paras. ( XXXX ) - ( XXXX ) ; Exh. XXXX. 

( XXXX ) The counterfeit nature of the XXXX check XXXX is evident on its face. XXXX. XXXX, page XXXX ( counterfeit WF check logo image is easy to spot ). 

XXXX XXXX pages XXXX of XXXX. XXXX. 

( a ) The counterfeit XXXX check XXXX was not properly payable by WF ( XXXX section XXXX ) ; ( b ) The burden of honoring a forged instrument falls on WF, not on me ( UCC sections XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX ) ; ( c ) I have been extraordinarily diligent in this matter, whereas WF has abrogated its duties of ordinary care and good faith. 

CONCLUSION I respectfully request that OCC take all steps within its powers to compel WF to promptly reimburse me the {$10000.00} that WF grossly negligently ( and with false representations ) debited from my WF checking account based on a counterfeit instrument.

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