Consumer complaint received 2025-02-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems — Privacy issues
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
Illegal account sold to XXXX XXXX XXXX collector XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX # : XXXX Date open : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX status : collection Type of acct : debt buyer Original balance : {$2000.00} THIS ACCOUNT IS NOW AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT To whom this may concern Please be advised your company proof of claim by federal law under the requirements of 15 usc 1692 the Fair Debt Practice Act has failed. This account is now considered as Aggravated Identity Theft. PRA, is not owned by Citi bank or have common control therefore should not have my nonpublic personal information to report on my consumer report. As a fully protected consumer Per my right Privacy Act of 1974. This is a direct result of aggravated identity theft. 
XXXX will be held accountable. Trying to collect a charge off that XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX does not have the legal authority to do so is a violation.

18 U.S. Code 1028A - Aggravated identity theft Whoever, during and in relation to any felony violation enumerated in subsection ( c ), knowingly transfers, possesses, or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person shall, in addition to the punishment provided for such felony, be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 2 years. Sending false validation letters through the mail is concerned mail fraud and trying to collect money for this scheme is called extortion.

18 U.S.C. 1341 is a federal law that defines mail fraud. It states that mail fraud occurs when someone uses the U.S. mail to further a criminal act, such as by : Devising a scheme to defraud, Intending to perform fraudulent acts, Mailing something to execute the scheme, and Making false representations.

18 U.S.C 884- Collection of extensions of credit by extortionate means ( A ) whoever knowingly participates in any way, or conspires to do so, in the use of any extortionate means. ( 1 ) to collect or attempt to collect any extension of credit, or ( 2 ) to punish any person for the nonpayment thereof, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

As stated by your company via CFPB response this account was purchased then transferred.

This violates FDCPA 15 U.S. Code 1692f - Unfair practices A debt collector may not use unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect any debt. Without limiting the general application of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section : 15 U.S. Code 1692e ( 12 ) - False or misleading representations ( 12 ) The false representation or implication that accounts have been turned over to innocent purchasers for value.

15 U.S. Code 6809 - Definitions ( 5 ) Nonaffiliated third party The term " nonaffiliated third party '' means any entity that is not an affiliate of, or related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate control with, the financial institution, but does not include a joint employee of such institution. 
XXXX, XXXX, XXXX and XXXX are not affiliates of CITibank nor are they " bureaus. 
The only true credit bureau is the CFPB and they DO NOT furnish consumer reports as stated in federal law. I have a right to privacy and Per the Privacy Act of 1974 as a federally protected consumer I am now revoking any and all authorization I the consumer may have given Citi bank written, non written, verbal, and nonverbal per 5 U.S. Code 552a. Per the FCRA as a federally protected consumer. I am now opting out of any and all authorization I the consumer may have given you CitiBank, non written, verbal, and non verbal per 15 USC 6802. I shall also point out their responsibility pursuant 15 U.S. Code section

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