So this story is a bit long and I apologize. I want to lay out what happened, the interventions we've done so far, and then hopefully some insight into what to pursue.
Last week I was told by my (buyers) agent that the seller's agent would email me and communicate where to wire the funds (80k) for my home purchase. I received an email the next morning with letterhead and information on how and where to wire the funds for the purchase. It was a HUD deal and so I didn't question the fact the money should be wired (everything with this HUD deal has been weird). Typically I have always just brought a certified check to closing.
At the closing, the title company said if I was going to wire the money or pay with a check. Confused, I assured them I had already wired it.
Turns out someone had hacked the title companies email, sent a message to the SELLER'S agent and requested the buyer's (me) email to send the wire instructions. The seller's agent sent the address (mine), to this scammer.
The scammer then emailed me posing as the SELLER'S agent and sent me routing and wire information. Me, in all my ignorance and insight, called me realtor and asked if this was the selling agent's name (should have asked her e-mail.... hindsight is always 20/20). He said yes and I transferred the money.
Upon realizing the funds were transferred incorrectly I reached out to the bank (citizens bank) I sent them to and asked them to 1. please freeze the account, and 2. know this is fraudulent. Despite the bank hearing from me, both realtor agencies, AND the title company, they said they couldn't freeze the funds until the sending bank communicated with them.
And here is the depressing part, my bank is Bank of America. I waited on hold for 2 hours for someone at the fraud department to pick up. Once through, they contacted the other bank asking to freeze funds and then sent a rewire request.
It's been 7 days and 4 rewire requests have been sent. The other bank hasn't responded to the rewire requests and I am sitting in limbo waiting to figure out if my money is ever coming back. I called the local branch (citizens bank) I sent the money to right after it happened and was assured the money was still there. (they won't go on record saying this, but they said a certain sum of funds isn't gone out of a certain account) A banks version of a wink* wink*.
Bank of America won't call them and are only using some wire communication tool and the other bank's wire department won't speak to me because I'm not their customer. FBI has been contacted with no follow up yet.
I just don't know if there is more I should be doing? I don't understand why I can't get two institutions to speak to one another on my behalf. Really scared this is going to end badly and I'll be left $80k poorer.
Anyone have any ideas on how to get this moving faster and or get citizen bank and BoA to communicate faster?
**I understand I shouldn't receive wire instructions via e-mail.... I definitely know that now. This whole week has been a mess of "should have done/noticed/seen .... xyz."
**I'd appreciate help and recs to help in the process moving forward
Submitted March 13, 2017 at 10:29PM by BradyCRNA http://ift.tt/2mDPpvv
