Date Received: 2022-09-13
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I received an unsolicited statement regarding a transaction that I did not make or authorize with a request for payment for a " cryptocurrency ''. The statement suggests that I contact them if I believe there is an order, or that I click on the statement to " Print or Save '' the statement. There is an attached telephone number to contact and an embedded email address to contact if I believe there is an error. I believe that this is a fraudulent statement designed to lure me into a conversation that will lead to my divulging password and account information to give them access to my financial accounts and resources. The email account embedded in this invoice is " XXXX '' The invoice has a header displayed of " Invoice # XXXX for {$760.00} from Your Crypto Order Inbox ''. The telephone number to contact the " sender '' for help is " XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX '', I have taken no steps to respond to any of the phone numbers or links embedded in this message.
Company Response:
State: MA
Zip: 017XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-10-05
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-09-12
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I had met a person through a dating app named XXXX. We had been chatting regularly and moved to text and then to telegram which is a messaging service. Her username on there is XXXX. She said that she invested in cryptocurrency mining and I figured I had gotten to know this person a little so a small investment wouldn't hurt. I went on the app store on my iphone and downloaded both coinbase and coinbase wallet which are very secure cryptocurrency platforms. After downloading them I bought XXXX of Tether ( USDT ) cryptocurrency and transferred it to the coinbase wallet. She then sent me a link for a mining pool https : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I paid a small fee and it looked legitimate. I did not know that I was giving access to allow a third party access to my coinbase wallet. I would be mining Ethereum ( ETH ) daily and could exchange and then withdraw it to my coinbase wallet account. I made a little bit of money so I felt nothing was wrong at the time. XXXX then encouraged me to add more money as this would mean my mining percentages would increase and that money sitting in the bank was not accruing money anyway so it was wasted there. I then added XXXX worth of USDT into the coinbase wallet. This cycle continued once more with me adding XXXX USDT into the wallet as there was a reward in the mining pool of around XXXX USDT for having over XXXX USDT in your wallet as a bonus. Some friends at this point discovered I had been investing in cryptocurrency mining and one friend stated he had been scammed out of money before and said when he tried to withdraw money back to his coinbase and then to his bank account the money disappeared. I then withdrew XXXX from my coinbase wallet to coinbase with no issue, but when i tried to withdraw the remaining money, that transaction failed. Immediately following this failed transaction there was another transaction that sent the full amount ( XXXX ) of my remaining USDT to another recipient. I called coinbase and filed a complaint and they returned me an email with the following information " After an extensive review of the transaction details provided, the unauthorized activity you reported appears to have resulted from a signed transaction that approved a malicious third party to transfer funds from your Wallet on XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. You can review this Approve transaction associated with your address on XXXX, using this link : XXXX XXXX XXXX This transaction gave the malicious third party access to the funds held inside your Coinbase Wallet. We appreciate that you did not consent to this Approval transaction with the intent of actively compromising your funds. However this can be a common method through which a malicious third party can target and victimize users. '' I have netted a XXXX loss in this scamming incident and coinbase has stated they are willing to fully cooperate with all law enforcement investigations pertaining to my wallet 's compromise. Please let me know if there is any other information I can give to assist you in this investigation. Thank you for your time.
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 94579
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-09-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-09-03
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: There was one large transaction on XX/XX/2021 at XXXX XXXX totalling XXXX AUD. I wrote two dispute letters to Coinbase Company, and both were denied without a clear explanation. Their response is, well, not very good, in that it is based on just blatantly incorrect understanding of what I have to say. What amazes me is just how difficult it has been to find soundness in it. Their analysis, for instance, doesn't engage with the actual history of my account and a significant portion of related data that may contradict their position has been conveniently ignored. I have great respect for rational and honest discussion but no respect for misrepresentation. I detest the lies and distortions associated with their administration. They have failed to exercise due diligence and duty of care to substantiate their claims. This complex issue has caused substantial harm to me, and if not appropriately addressed, will continue to cause substantial harm to others, we must therefore conduct an in-depth and comprehensive review of all the contributing factors that have led to an outcome as horrendous as the one described herein.
Company Response:
State:
Zip: XXXXX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-09-03
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-09-03
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I was sending money through coinbase to a company called XXXX, which as it turns out is a scam.
Company Response:
State: TX
Zip: 782XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-09-03
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-09-02
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: During the XXXX 2022 timeframe, I was scammed to invest in a mining pool and without my authorization, the full amount was transferred from my Coinbase Wallet . The perpetrators asked me for more money, and I decided to report the situation to Coinbase.
Company Response:
State: OH
Zip: 45431
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-09-02
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-09-02
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: There is a chat for XXXX on XX/XX/22 Case number XXXX- the chat with the coinbase rep telling me to click the email link. Unauthorized started after the chat at XXXX XX/XX/22. From coinbase only XXXX XXXX was willing to provide her full name to me, the other individual I spoke with is XXXX, from coinbase one phone team. Main case number XXXX Initial case number XXXX Appeal complaint case number XXXX I received a suspicious email from coinbase on XX/XX/22 requesting ID verification that I interacted with on XX/XX/22 after I contacted coinbase support via chat messaging feature, this chat is available in the coinbase archive which I do not have access to, case number XXXX. This chat began at XXXX by relaying my concern for an email I received that is asking me to verify my ID, the coinbase representative instructs me to access the email via web browser and to go ahead and verify my ID that way. As per his instructions I clicked into the link to verify my ID. Then by retroactively checking my email records suspicious activity on my email account starts at XX/XX/22 XXXX from IP address XXXX. However, I did not receive notification of this by my email carrier, outlook. The next morning after interacting with the coinbase support agent on XX/XX/22, I received an email notification at approximately XXXX that my coinbase account has purchased {$25000.00} worth of XXXX XXXX via my personal bank account, an action I did not do ( I contacted my bank to not approve this and now I have a negative balance on my Coinbase account due to this ). I then open my email to which there were several hidden coinbase email notifications ( they had all been re-routed to archive instead of inbox ) stating that I had sold my XXXX holdings to USD and that 3 cash withdrawals were initiated ( 1. {$7800.00} reference code XXXX. 2. {$7800.00} reference code XXXX. 3. {$8300.00} reference code XXXX ) to XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ), XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ), and XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) which was then put into a XXXX XXXX account ending in XXXX around XXXX on XX/XX/22, none of which I did ; none of these accounts are my bank accounts either. I called coinbase immediately around XXXX on XX/XX/22 to freeze the account to void the withdrawal attempts. I was assured by the representative that I spoke with on a recorded line that coinbase has ( case number XXXX ), my funds, and they are secured and were successfully voided/cancelled. However, later I coinbase said these withdrawals were not successfully voided/cancelled. Coinbase later said ( XX/XX/22 ) the unauthorized activity from my Coinbase account was done from IP address XXXX. All the calls I made were recorded by coinbase. Specifically, XXXX 1XXXX XXXX 17 min call, the coinbase representative confirmed withdrawal on XX/XX/22 were null and voided and will be refunded. And on XX/XX/22 XXXXXXXX XXXX - 38min call. coinbase rep confirmed withdrawals on XX/XX/22 were null and voided. The suspicious email that started all of this has been deleted from my email account, I did not delete this. My assumption is the hacker deleted the email after they gained access to the email when I followed the coinbase representative 's instructions. I looked into all possible places for this email including all folders such as recently deleted, and the folder where an email is placed prior to permanent deletion but could not find anything. The only proof I have of all of this the chat which is archived ( Case XXXX ) in coinbase which I do not have access to ( but do have a video recording with the coinbase rep confirming the timing and content of the chat ) and the IP address that did the unauthorized activity in my email and Coinbase account. I rebooted my laptop as a safety measure after the hack but that unintentionally deleted the browser history to where the email link destination could have been.
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 11426
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-09-02
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-09-02
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I would like to draw your attention to XX/XX/2022 - I had sent my complaint letter to Coinbase, in which I clearly stated how this scam has affected me personally, psychologically and financially. Commencing on or around XX/XX/2022, I fell victim to a multi-layered scam operation run by " XXXX '' which involved me making deposits for a total amount of XXXX USD from my Coinbase account to a fraudulent investment firm. Coinbase refused to help me on this matter.
Company Response:
State: TX
Zip: 77407
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-09-02
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-08-31
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I have a Coinbase account and on XXXX XXXX my funds for {$20000.00} disappeared from my account without my authorization. I contacted Coinbase right away and they responded stating that I gave someone my recover phrases, which was not true, in fact my account was thumbprint protected. I did sign up for a mining pool, but even then I never shared my recover phrases or my password. I never willingly gave anyone access to my account with Coinbase. If signing up for that mining pool gave someone access to my account I dont understand why Coinbase didnt notify me while I was signing up for the mining pool that doing so would allow others access to my account. If they would have then I would not have signed up the mining pool. I found out after the fact that I was scammed by the mining pool and lost all my funds with Coinbase by going to XXXX and learning that others had also been scammed as well out of their Coinbase funds. Coinbase advertises they are obsessed with security so you dont have to be, so how did they allow this to happen to my Coinbase account without once notifying me that my account had been compromised.
Company Response:
State: OH
Zip: 44130
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-08-31
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-08-31
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: on XX/XX/XXXX I logged into my XXXX account to check on an order placed previously for a roll of postage stamps and saw a notification that suspicious transactions had taken place.I navigated around until I got to security, and the first agent was not able to help much and he transferred me to another security agent with higher credentials who introduced himself as XXXX XXXX and gave his employee id number as well as a phone number and reassured me that he would get to the bottom of the fraudulent transactions. : He asked for my XXXX login and password and stated that he could back out these transactions which he said were coming from XXXX, the XXXX and XXXX. the asked to download an app called XXXX which didn't work, then XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) which also didn't work. He then tried XXXX, which didn't work and he then decided that my XXXX app was blocking the successful download of these apps so he disabled my XXXX He then asked to download an app called ask desk and proceeded to " back out '' the charges from XXXX when in fact he was using my checking account that was linked to XXXX to purchase bitcoin and send it to his own account.He asked me not to log in to any of my financial accounts for 5 days as that would draw attention to the hackers.Then he asked if any of my other accounts had been affected and I saw that the balance on my Coinbase account was off, so he asked me to login to Coinbase which I did.He still said he was backing out the fraudulent transactions when in fact he was transferring my Coinbase holdings to his own account.At some point he asked for XXXX to my Coinbase account and I entered it. he started calling me repeatedly to assure that I had not logged into my financial accounts and stated that he felt that someone at my own bank had compromised my account login and password. He then transferred me to XXXX XXXX who was supposedly the head of security at XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX then told me that unless I sent an international wire to XXXX to a dummy account that all the transactions to XXXX would. go through, and that I needed to help set up a reverse sting to apprehend the hacker.So using the information he gave me I wired the money XXXX to the address/person he sent to my email.The following morning I felt uneasy about what had transpired so I called XXXX back and they assured me that their employees would never give their last name nor a phone number and that I had likely been scammed.I went to my bank, closed my accounts and opened 2 more.I filed disputes with XXXX and with Coinbase and filed a report with the FTC, with ic3, the fbi and made a police report with the XXXX sheriffs dept.I have called Coinbase 30-40 times to be left on hold, they say that they are working on it but I have seen no progress. In fact, when my bank denied one of the Coinbase transactions Coinbase then liquidated the remainder of my holdings and told me I owed them another XXXX +.All in all XXXX was removed from my Coinbase account by this hacker and then by Coinbase. I bought another computer and another XXXX XXXX XXXXnd only transported my contact list, yet the hacker called me on my new phone within 12 hours of purchasing it. I was not sure of the amount of information that was hacked off my computer. I have subsequently changed all my passwords, replaced my credit cards, protected my brokerage accounts etc.Coinbase was told that I had never sold any of my holdings ever except for a small amount of XXXX in 2018, and they can verify that through my account activity that the selling/transferring my holdings is definitely fraudulent.All the fraudulent transactions took place on XX/XX/XXXX and were reported on XX/XX/XXXX and my account was locked.
Company Response:
State: TN
Zip: 37934
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-08-31
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-09-01
Issue: Other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: they will not let me trade anything at all. XX/XX/XXXX was the last day they let me trade. Just holding my currency XXXX. Seems to be the way crypto companies make any money these days. I opened a ticket with them XX/XX/XXXX and still not resolved nor give me a timeframe or reason. won't tell me why just this : XXXX, after taking a look at your account, we see that you're not eligible to purchase cryptocurrency or add cash using your linked payment methods. You may also have difficulty linking a new payment method. There are a number of factors that affect purchase and eligibility to add cash, and we're not able to provide specific details regarding our security processes or account reviews. We've transferred your case to our team of specialists to look into this further and determine your account eligibility. We know this isn't the ideal experience, but we will contact you as soon as we can.
Company Response:
State: KS
Zip: 668XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-09-01
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A