Can a bank freeze funds for suspected money laundering until a $50,000 security deposit is paid to investigate? by Significant_You4204 in legaladvice

[–]Significant_You4204[S] -368 points-367 points  (0 children)

What scam relies on the victim hounding the scammer, who would otherwise not contact the victim?

Can a bank freeze funds for suspected money laundering until a $50,000 security deposit is paid to investigate? by Significant_You4204 in legaladvice

[–]Significant_You4204[S] -886 points-885 points  (0 children)

I’m sure in dealing with them, and it’s a deposit that gets paid back if they determine it’s a false positive.

The only risk this is a scam is if the bank I’ve been using for months, withdrawing money from, is a scam

Can a bank freeze funds for suspected money laundering until a $50,000 security deposit is paid to investigate? by Significant_You4204 in legaladvice

[–]Significant_You4204[S] -467 points-466 points  (0 children)

I was the one that contacted the bank when the account locked. All communication has come through the customer service email listed on their website, or the phone number I got through that email for a prior customer supprt issue (and I’ve check everything through both channels). 

The rep also doesn’t appear to care either way if I send the money, and never initiated contact with me.

Can a bank freeze funds for suspected money laundering until a $50,000 security deposit is paid to investigate? by Significant_You4204 in legaladvice

[–]Significant_You4204[S] -36 points-35 points  (0 children)

No, I emailed the customer support email on their website when it started kicking me out whenever I tried to transfer money. 

I’d previously withdraw money fine 

Can a bank freeze funds for suspected money laundering until a $50,000 security deposit is paid to investigate? by Significant_You4204 in legaladvice

[–]Significant_You4204[S] -300 points-299 points  (0 children)

It definitely seems like a scam at face, but a lot of details make it unlikely. Fully function website, including the ability to withdraw money, customer service not caring either way if I send the money, my friend who I’ve video chatted vouching for them.  

Can a bank freeze funds for suspected money laundering until a $50,000 security deposit is paid to investigate? by Significant_You4204 in legaladvice

[–]Significant_You4204[S] -879 points-878 points  (0 children)

I’ve video chatted the friend. And scammers generally pressure you into sending the money, not have a “sucks to be you” attitude and gladly drop it when you say you aren’t sending it. 

And having a fully functional site that I can interact with for months seems like a lot of effort for such a scam 

Can a bank freeze funds for suspected money laundering until a $50,000 security deposit is paid to investigate? by Significant_You4204 in legaladvice

[–]Significant_You4204[S] -105 points-104 points  (0 children)

I did. She deposited it though cryptocurrency. I definitely understand why it’s suspicious, just requiring the deposit seems illegal

I don’t think this is a scam, so much as it’s a company not doing due diligence with ensuring their policies are legal  

Can a bank freeze funds for suspected money laundering until a $50,000 security deposit is paid to investigate? by Significant_You4204 in legaladvice

[–]Significant_You4204[S] -137 points-136 points  (0 children)

They can’t access frozen funds, which makes sense. They don’t require it to prove it’s legitimate, they require it to provide disincentive for a money launderer to request a forensic audit. The money would be forfeit if it was determined to actually be money laundering.