Consumer complaint received 2026-01-14 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Banking errors
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: NV

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/XXXX my company XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) became aware of fraudulent checks being written by our bookkeeper XXXX XXXX to her business XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX check had just cleared for $ XXXX, a second was pending for same amount. We were able to successfully stop payment on the pending check, however, review of our account revealed an additional XXXX forged checks over the preceding XXXX months which had clearly been altered/forged for a total amount of {$330000.00}. 

On XX/XX/year>, we filed a police report with XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA Police Department, and contacted our point of contact at Wells Fargo to request a fraud investigation. There were subsequently XXXX additional checks found to have been deposited into her account under a false " payee '' name which mimics a legitimate business we regularly pay for service ( labelled XXXX XXXXXXXX in the attached documents ). WF is our business bank, XXXX of the forged checks went into XXXX 's WF account, XXXX went to an account at XXXX The XXXX " XXXX XXXX '' checks went into her XXXX account. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, we were informed by WF that the claim had been reviewed and closed, was not found to be fraudulent. After many phone calls to WF, I discovered that it had been incorrectly classified as " Scam '' and needed to be re-reviewed as " Fraud. '' After many more phone calls, I was told it would be reopened. Finally, I was told it was closed once again and the original decision was upheld. 

I have attached documentations showing the checks ( all of which contain the same identical signature, which appears to have been cut from the corner of another check and overlaid to XXXX total checks, all of which were mobile deposits which went into an account owned by XXXX XXXX, as was confirmed by the police ), as well as correspondence with WF. The criminal investigation is ongoing and police have indicated that it will result in an arrest once it is completed. 

I am writing you do to the following : XXXX. Under UCC 4-401, A bank may charge its customers account only with items that are properly payable from that account. The XXXX checks totaling {$400000.00} are not properly payable because, as the enclosed images demonstrate, each instrument was materially altered by cutting and pasting the signature line, constituting a forgery of the drawers signature. Consequently, you are required to recredit our account in full. 
Additionally, under UCC 4-406 ( e ), even if a customer fails to exercise ordinary care, the paying bank is still liable to the extent the paying bank failed to exercise ordinary care in paying the item. The manipulation visible on the face of every image shows a lack of ordinary care on your part. 

XXXX. Regulation CC, 12 C.F.R. 229.34 ( c ) ( 2 ), provides : A bank that transfers or presents a check and receives settlement or other consideration warrants to the paying bank, the drawer, and any prior collecting bank that [ ] the check has not been altered. Because the attached images prove the checks were altered, you are in breach of this warranty and must indemnify us for the full {$400000.00} pursuant to 12 C.F.R. 229.34 ( d ) ( 1 ). 

XXXX .. Wells Fargo has refused to recredit our business account after paying checks that are not properly payable under UCC 4-401 because the drawers signature was forged/altered. The banks own image files show clear cut-and-paste manipulation, yet the bank claims no fraud. This violates the banks duty under UCC 4-406 ( e ) to exercise ordinary care. We request that the OCC order the bank to restore the {$400000.00} plus interest ( if applicable ). 

Both Wells Fargo and XXXX XXXX should be held accountable as being the XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX. Thank you!

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