Complaint Review: PNC - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Sorry to tell you this but you are at fault.  When you present a check to a bank for deposit you are representing it is a valid check.  As such if it comes back as fradulent, you are the one responsible to repay it to the bank. You can look up the concept of a "Holder in Due Course". Now, if this was a legitimate company, you in turn could go after the person who gave you the check and get them to pay you back. However, since nothing this person gave you is real, and they are not even in this Country this is just about impossible. As a result you are the one left holding the bag.

Now, the real bad news. If you fail to pay back the bank or make arrangements with them to pay it back over time. They can(and most likely will) close your account. They will also turn you name into ChexSystems meaning you will not be able to get a "real" checking account for several years. They will also start collection efforts against you that could end up you being sued and depending on your State have your wages garnished. If the bank really wants to push it, they could actually have you charged criminally with fraud.

Intention has nothing to do with this. You are right you are a victim, but it doesn't mean that the bank is required to take the hit for this scam. Unfortunatly this is a very common scam with many red flags that you should have picked up on. For one ANYTIME anyone that you do not personally know sends you a check and askes you to send them any money back..even $0.10. You can guarantee it is a scam regardless of the reason.  When you went to Western Union they have warnings all over their site and on the forms that warn you of this type of scam.

If you think this bank is unique again you are incorrect. Regardless of the bank this happened to the result and responsibility would have been the same.

Again Sorry and Good Luck

A version of this scam has been around for a very long time. You can read about it at FTC.gov under financial scams.  There is no reason for any employer to send you a check in a larger amount than what you need to purchase any goods or services so the receipt of a "check" larger than what you needed for the supplies was a huge red flag. To send any funds back to the employer or employer rep is another huge red flag and the essense of the scam. No legitimate employer sends you funds to have you run the funds through your bank account and send the funds back to the employer or employer rep.

This scam is not the fault of PNC or any bank. It is up to you to know where your funds come from and recognize if they are not legitimate. If in doubt, don't accept the check. If you accept the check, don't deposit it. You are responsible for repayment because you are the one that spent the money. Yes, you sent it to a third party that you don't know - but it was still spent by you.  I don't work for any bank, but I am aware of how these scams are conducted to keep from falling into one of these type traps. Make payment arrangements with PNC for your outstanding balance. Keep an eye out for other scams because once you have fallen for one you end up on a list of people that have participated in the scam and this list is sold from scammer to scammer. Expect to receive other scam type offers - be careful. BTW, all banks would make you responsible because it was your actions that allowed the scam to work.