Date Received: 2023-12-06
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: This complaint concerns Venmo support ticket XXXX, filed in response to a {$1000.00} transaction on XX/XX/2023 from my account ( XXXX ) to user @ XXXX. I was the victim of an employment scam, and this account fraudulently collected money from me. When I contacted Venmo, they said they take it seriously but would not reverse the charges not provide me any further information, citing privacy like a shibboleth that magically excused their failures. The account contacted me claiming to be XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( they were not ) and offered me employment. After a fairly normal interview process, they sent me a check to buy equipment for my home office. That check then proved bad after I paid their alleged vendor, and I am out {$1000.00}. I acknowledge that I made a serious mistake in not doing better due diligence. I also acknowledge that the criminal here is the root of the problem. However, I allege the following against Venmo : XXXX ) There must be some way to challenge fraudulent payments. Venmo flatly refuses to provide any remediation path whatsoever, and they won't even talk about it. XXXX ) Venmo failed to verify the identity of their customer @ XXXX, and this resulted in a fraudster using their network and their inability to track them. XXXX ) Venmo failed to take adequate steps to make sure those using their platform were doing so in an honest manner.
Company Response:
State: TX
Zip: 79707
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-06
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-06
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/ my Venmo account was suspended without any reason provided. The first email I got stating my account was suspended stated " Weve noticed some unusual activity linked to your Venmo account which may be in violation of our user agreement. To help us protect your account, your account has been suspended until we hear back from you. You may have also received a separate email providing more information about the suspension of your account. To resolve this issue, please submit a picture of your photo identification via our Document Upload Form, linked below. For your privacy and security, please do not reply back to this email with your documents '' So I did send pictures of my drivers license. After waiting 24 hours I called the support line, where I was told to wait for the process. I also emailed again, which the response was " Your Venmo account has been restricted due to recent activity that appears to be a violation of our User Agreement. At this point, your case requires the attention of another team. I will forward your case and they will follow up with you here, via email in 7-10 business days. In order to make this a smooth process, please respond to this email chain with any additional questions or concerns that you may have '' I surely have not violated any of the terms of services. Not even in the second email did they provide a reason. I had several automatic payments on my venmo account which I will now owe fees to. I also have several hundred dollars in my account which I can not access. I also have my direct deposit going to my venmo account which I will have to change now it may cause some big issues. After some research, it seems to be common for people to get suspended for no reason with money in their account. I havent had any high priced transactions either, nothing over XXXX which was my direct deposit amount. I'm not sure if they are doing some sort of scheme but it seems far too common to happen. They shouldnt be allowed to randomly hold/take peoples money without at least a specific reason. To reitterate this seems to be a very common thing venmo is doing. I appreciate the help
Company Response:
State: WI
Zip: 53081
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-06
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-06
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Unauthorized transaction on PayPal that was linked directly to my bank account. I have no idea who the person is that the money was sent to and I'm also scared my information may have been leaked. I've looked this person up and some scary documentation comes up. XX/XX/2023 approx {$42.00} was sent to an unknown user and taken directly from my bank account. PayPal denied that it was unauthorized.
Company Response:
State: WA
Zip: 98118
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-06
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-06
Issue: Problem with a purchase shown on your statement
Subissue: Overcharged for something you did purchase with the card
Consumer Complaint: overcharged for some tickets i purchased i was meant to be charged {$20.00}
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 91307
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-26
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-06
Issue: Trouble accessing funds in your mobile or digital wallet
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: My money is being held for no reason. Ive been using this platform for over and year with no issues as far as my business goes. Now all of a sudden they want to hold my money the first of the month when bills are due. Im unable to properly service my customers due to funds needed for service being held for no reason by PayPal. I would like access to my money and closure of my account immediately.
Company Response:
State: MO
Zip: 63121
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-06
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-05
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: The dispute with my PayPal account and debit card issued to me by PayPal is still active. The PayPal dispute division alleges they are still reviewing the dispute. There are three transactions/payments all to the same merchant. They are all the same case and all disputed for the same reason. Overview : I'm living in an apartment I originally found on XXXX but the woman who has the lease in this XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX just completed in XXXX asked me to call her off of the XXXX platform. She offered to sublease it to me for XXXX a month. I moved in on XX/XX/XXXX, and the terms were for 7 months being finished on XXXX XXXX XXXX I paid XXXX on PayPal and moved in. The night she gave me keys she brought a sublease agreement. We both signed it. She said she had permission from the landlord/owner to sublease and do XXXX and similar platforms for Home Sharing for both the short and long term. The building owner leased her three apartments. None of the three units are her prime residence. She has never lived in any of the units. when II became suspicious of all she had told me I researched the laws in California for this type of sublease. From reading the XXXX XXXX XXXX Ordinance CF-14-1636-S2 a few weeks into my tenancy I learned her XXXX listings are all illegal. The registration number and/ or the exemptions she lists are all false/ lies. AKA FRAUD After paying XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX about three weeks in she started asking me about paying the second month. As it became closer to the next rent payment she asked if I could not pay using a PAYPAL debit card this time. ( I believe she didnt want me to use it because of the Buyers Protection Plan ) I started to get very suspicious of her harassing texts. On XX/XX/XXXX when rent was due I informed her my new bank account had a hold on my funds until XXXX XXXX on Monday the XXXX. I said but I can pay XXXX on Paypal on the XXXX and the balance on Monday. The reason I could not pay the full XXXX on Friday was that I moved the money to a new bank account instead of PAYPAL because she said she did not want a PayPal payment. She said in writing she was fine with the payment on the XXXX. When I told her via text that there was a hold on the Bank funds but that I could still pay XXXX via PayPal that day and the balance at XXXX XXXX the same day from my new bank she said no. At that point, I went down to the onsite management office and spoke to the real estate agent XXXX XXXX who worked full time alongside the owner of the building XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX who pretended to just be the property manager. She pretends to speak little to no XXXX. But she speaks XXXX very well. It is my strong educated belief that XXXX XXXX and her cohorts are XXXX XXXX. They believe they are above the law. While I was explaining the situation to them XXXX XXXX whom I subleased from locked me out of the apartment with my dog, furniture, car keys, and everything inside the unit. XXXX XXXX had a high-tech touchscreen keypad lock on the apartment door, which she controls remotely. It is against ALL California tenant-landlord laws to lock a tenant out in this manner. It is against the law. XXXX XXXX told me XXXX does have their permission to sublease and that she was a couple of months behind on her rent. I said well I'm trying to pay her at least XXXX right now on PayPal and the remainder at XXXX XXXX I ran back up to my unit to get my wallet and then learned I had been locked out. Now, please know rent was not late yet. Also, know it is illegal to just lock someone out like this. It turns out XXXX knew I had left the apartment to go speak with management because she has several hidden spy cameras in my unit which I found after I wondered how she knew I had left the unit to lock me out. It deeply affected me and triggered a XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I went back downstairs and told XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX said well she said you have not yet paid her today. I said I've been trying to all morning but she does not want a PAYPAL payment. XXXX XXXX said well XXXX is way behind on her rent so I can not let you in. I said I just paid her XXXX dollars on XX/XX/XXXX how could she be so behind? XXXX said well she didn't give it to us. I said well that is not my fault and her lease with you has nothing to do with my sublease with her. I said you just told me you allow her to sublease so neither of you can just lock me out. I said what if I pay the building directly? She said she could not take money from me. I said well there are two empty studios for half the price, how about I rent one of those. She said I don't want to take you away from XXXX as her long-term subtenant. She said let me call her to tell her to take your payment via Paypal. For a full hour, I had to wait in the lobby locked out of my place. XXXX agreed to the Paypal payment, it went through and she created a new code for the door lock. I was furious they put me through such an experience. Cut to 15 days later when it was agreed I'd pay the next XXXX. On that morning I sent her a reminder text saying I'd be paying electronically around noon. When I tried to pay her on PayPal which she said she was fine going forward I learned that she blocked me from being able to pay the XXXX. You can check PayPal records to see this is true. I texted her and asked if she blocked me. She replied, " Yup and I have a new XXXX guest checking in tonight. '' I texted back saying you can't just break our agreement which goes until XXXX of XXXX. She said yes I can I have a Hotel type permit and can lock anyone out for no reason just like a hotel. She was lying, no such permit exists. Then I received a text from a different number. It was some thug XXXX hired who impersonated the Police writing, " This is Officer XXXX from XXXXPD and you have until XXXX XXXX to vacate. '' It was XXXX XXXX at this time. I raced home worried they would lock me out again. They all were aware it took me 4 truckloads to move my furniture in. There was no way even if it was legal for her to break our agreement that I could move in 15 minutes and they all knew this. Then at XXXX XXXX, the hired thug started pounding on my door shouting XXXXPD. The doors have no peep hole so I had no way of knowing if it was real or fake at that point. I called 911 and the Police said " They don't text and we have no reports of any police at your building. '' it is against the law to impersonate the police with the sole purpose of trying to intimidate someone into doing something. The Police came that night per my request. Until they arrived XXXX terrorized me by locking and unlocking the remote-controlled apartment door bolt which made a very loud and jarring sound. She must have done so 400 times until the police arrived late at night. The Police were fantastic and sat with me for over 45 minutes. They told me what she was doing was illegal. They said I should call a locksmith and change the lock immediately for peace of mind. I did so. A few days passed and then my power was turned off by XXXX. I was in the dark for 12 days. I finally was able to get XXXX to put it in my name. Then the internet was turned off. These utilities were supposed to be included in the XXXX dollars I had been paying XXXX for an apartment she pays around XXXX for. When I tried to get XXXX the internet provider to come to install the internet the building owner would not unlock the electrical room. This was when I became certain the building owner and XXXX the woman I subleased from were in cahoots. The Police came three times to tell the owner she could not deny access to XXXX or lock me out. However, the owner continued to try to get a locksmith to change the locks after I changed them. Every time I got the police to come back to tell the owner she could not block XXXX from installing internet for me, she would rush out of the building just before they arrived. On XX/XX/XXXX I got a piece of mail from the courthouse showing XXXX was being evicted. I sent a copy of the eviction to XXXX. The lawyer for the owner was alleging he had no way to serve XXXX. This was all a lie. The owner and the lawyer knew exactly where she lived in XXXX. So I sent XXXX 's address to the owner 's lawyer so he could not use that lie. But he still perjured himself in court filings after that. I've been calling the clerks at XXXX XXXX XXXX every day to check on the status of the case. Every day up until Wednesday I was told there was nothing. The clerks said XXXX had not filed an answer to the UD. I said it was obvious they were in cahoots and this was sort of a sham eviction and I guaranteed they would motion for a summary judgment saying there was no way to serve XXXX and that she never filed an Answer. Just before XXXX I called to check before the weekend and I was told that they got a judgment and writ for possession that day. THIS MEANS THE SHERIFF WILL PUT A NOTICE TO VACATE IN 5 DAYS ON THE DOOR. The 5 day notice too vacate the apartment made out to XXXX 's XXXX name XXXX XXXX WAS POSTED TODAY XX/XX/XXXX, XXXXThis means I will have to leave in 5 days because my name is not on the original lease. I was not named in the eviction. This is illegal. They have committed fraud upon the court, both the owner XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX created to lease the three units in this criminal enterprise with the XXXX owner. ) The UD lawsuit alleges XXXX is being evicted because she DID NOT HAVE permission to sublease. That is willful perjury as well because XXXX XXXX the real estate agent who has since been fired, told me so to my face several times and I recorded it on video. The owner XXXX XXXX XXXX was sitting right next to XXXX XXXX when I was told XXXX did have their permission to sublease and XXXX it for the short term and long term. I've left out tons of relevant info and other illegal acts of terror including death threats I've received. threats of hurting my dog, claims she towed my car, and much more. This fraud needs to be brought before the Judge. I have rights as a tenant. XXXX was evicted, not me. But the court system makes it impossible to be heard in front of the judge if your name is not on the lease or eviction unlawful detainer. I have all text communications, the sublease XXXX made, and signed. This nightmare has me on the edge of a nervous breakdown. I need this money refunded so I can afford a lawyer and because the entire transaction was fraud because XXXX lied about everything from the start and broke our agreement XXXX knew she was going to be evicted and that she was behind on her rent but did not tell me that when she took my money. Everything she did was fraudulent and based on lies. I paid using a PAYPAL DEBIT CARD because it offers PAYPAL PROTECTION FROM FRAUD OR IF WHAT YOU'VE PAID FOR TURNS OUT NOT TO BE NOT WHAT IT WAS REPRESENTED TO BE BY THE SELLER. PayPal representatives keep telling me it is still under review. There were three payments made where I used my Paypal card and did so with the option to pay for services or merchandise via the PayPal Protection option. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Another for XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and another on XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Paypal decided the XXXX dollars in my favor so the other two payments should be as well since it is all for the same reason. Due to the the 5-day notice to vacate notice put on the door, I will have to move in 5 days. I need the money refunded because I need it for these unexpected moving costs so soon because XXXX broke our agreement. I have supplied PayPal with concrete evidence including texts messages showing how XXXX terrorized me and lied about everything.
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 90005
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-05
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-04
Issue: Electronic communications
Subissue: You told them to stop contacting you, but they keep trying
Consumer Complaint: XX/XX/2023 was notified by pay pal i owe XXXX to an XXXX XXXX. I do not know or even heard of this person. Now they added a late fee, total now is XXXX. I do not owe this to pay pal or This XXXX XXXX.
Company Response:
State: OH
Zip: 43232
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-04
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-04
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: This case is XXXX MA Police report # XXXX. Please keep this email chain for your records. This was a rental scam of {$1700.00} via transactions on Venmo and failure to provide promised apartment ( fraud ). This has also been reported to the FTC. Transactions occurred over Venmo on XX/XX/XXXX and XXXX XXXX Venmo has refused to reimburse me or fully investigate this. My bank, XXXX XXXX, also refuses to reimburse me or conduct any investigation whatsoever.
Company Response:
State: MA
Zip: 02446
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-04
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-04
Issue: Managing, opening, or closing your mobile wallet account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: My PayPal account associated with the email XXXX is limited permanently without any valid reason and they also put my balance in negative.
Company Response:
State: CO
Zip: 80260
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-04
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-04
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: There was a charge on my paypal account for XXXX that I didn't make. I had to cancel the debit card and report it stolen with the bank but paypal closed the case with no resolution - even after telling them I did not make that transaction. They stated after their review they found certain transactions weren't unauthorized. Ok, I think I know what I authorized and didn't. Then, just to see what would happen, I clicked on repeat this transaction and low and behold, that individual can no longer accept funds. Imagine that. So now it's apparently ok for Paypal to let your card get hacked and no be responsible for it.
Company Response:
State: AR
Zip: 71730
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-04
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A