Consumer complaint received 2024-05-21 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Closing an account — Can't close your account
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: NC

Complaint narrative:
I was a victim of a scam because a person under the alias of " XXXX XXXX '' emailed me under then impersonation mask of being a XXXX XXXX XXXX hiring manager. After obtaining my resume information from XXXX  XXXX then offered me a fake job as an XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

XXXX stated that XXXX 's accounting department would issue out company funds to pay for my work-from-home materials. I had suspicions because I have never worked for an employer that requests new employees to pay for their work equipment prior to working, so I created a separate checking account under my profile and named it XXXX XXXX XXXX, to eliminate confusion and ensure that my personal earned income was separate and secure from any XXXX related transactions. 

After the first company-issued check did not clear so that I could use the funds for my work-from home equipment, I contacted XXXX 's payroll and left a voicemail at XXXX, and requested verification that XXXX XXXX was an XXXX XXXX XXXX 's. I did not receive a call back from XXXX at or around that time. After not receiving my first payroll check, I contacted the FTC on XX/XX/XXXX and filed a complaint of XXXX 's bad business practices because I was concerned that future checks may not clear again. 

XXXX later emailed me an electronic check for mobile deposit on XX/XX/XXXX and assured me that it was Bank of America 's fault that the check did not clear because BOA did not request the funds quick enough. I retorted to XXXX that it was XXXX 's accounting department 's fault because they were not releasing the funds quickly enough after BOA had requested the funds. I contacted XXXX again and left another voicemail that requested verification of XXXX XXXX 's employment status. 

I received a phone call back from XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX confirming that XXXX XXXX was not an employee of XXXX 's and that I had not been hired as a XXXX employee, despite of my job offer letter. 

Now I can see that the funds were probably never there in the first place because the mobile deposit was returned on XX/XX/XXXX. Although I was already a victim, Bank of America 's risk management department attacked the personal credibility of my personal checking and savings accounts and placed them under forced closure, despite of my never opting in to activate overdraft protection. 

I even requested to go to the Bank of America in person to withdraw my personal funds for hardship reasons, since I have had to use my credit cards for household needs and groceries however my Bank of America denied my request to close my accounts in person. I have mailed supporting correspondence of my claim of being scammed to Bank of America and confirmed that the correspondence was received on XX/XX/XXXX ( XXXX XXXX number XXXX ). Today is XX/XX/XXXX and the bank will still not close my account and issue a XXXX XXXX  asap to my mailing address. My funds have been frozen since XX/XX/XXXX and I still have XXXX children to support and a part-time job to get to. 

I would like for this forced financial hardship to be publicized so that consumers can see that Bank of America treats victimized consumers like hardened criminals when they have fallen victim to scam artist practices.

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 monetary relief