Consumer complaint received 2025-02-26 00:00:00
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Check cashing service
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express)
State: AZ

Complaint narrative:
I went to cash a very small check at Ace Cash Express on XX/XX/year> at XXXX. Address is : XXXX XXXX COUNTRY XXXX XXXX XXXX, AZ XXXX. 

The amount of the check was for only {$62.00}, when XXXX XXXX XXXX asked for my SSN. I thought this was a weird request as no one in the past had asked for this before just my drivers license at ANY cashing place. 
XXXX proceeded to tell me that they in fact always asked for it and was needed if a person had an SSN they always REQUIRE it. I was extremely apprehensive and against my better judgment I provided my SSN... but as XXXX was filling out information also from my DL I asked him for my check back as I didn't feel comfortable. I asked more questions and XXXX told me it was a requirement for him to have my SSN to be able to cash a checkwven if its a VERY SMALL AMOUNT. He then said accept the terms and conditions for cashing the check on the keypad and as I went to accept I read it before and it clearly stated AGREEMENT for opening an account to which I then said, " XXXX are you opening an account using my information!? '' He then said, " yeah it's XXXX of this cards we offer ''. I said NO!! I don't want to open an account I just came here to cash a measly {$62.00} check and now you're opening an account! I clicked not accept and I also said you're charging me over XXXX dollars to cash a {$60.00} dollar check and he said I can give you a discount while all this was happening on the keypad. I pushed cancel and XXXX then handed over {$59.00} even, on the receipt he provided me with it said {$3.00} enrollment fee, {$0.00} bank processing fee and {$0.00} cashing fee. I then asked if he opened an account and he said no, that he basically gave me a {$3.00} discount but to ignore the enrollment fee as that's what he took off XXXX the coupon for opening an account but that the account was not opened. 

Later I received a call from the place and and explained the situation and the XXXX XXXX said he couldn't verify if an account was in fact opened or not, I was able to explain the situation and said XXXX is asking for info and using fraudulently to open accounts to perhaps meet a quota. XXXX stated no, rhat was not the case but I was at work so I asked fpr him to call me back, then XXXX said he would give me a call back and he wanted a copy of the receipt. I informed him on the receipt it shows an enrollment fee that was taken off XXXX a coupon not because the account was removed. XXXX simply just apologized and NEVER CALLED BACK but now I have to place an alert on my credit as XXXX fraudulently asked for my SSN AND DECIDED TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT WITHOUT MY CONSENT. 

Therefore, I'm now here filing a complaint against this place. They have caused unnecessary distress to my mental health on top of what I have going on in my personal life. I don't know if they will use my info fraudulently again or if this account was in fact opened and the card simply thrown away or what have XXXX received any type of confirmation and XXXX is still there committing fraud.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation