ComplaintsforPioneer Community Bank

• Initial Complaint

  01/08/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was scammed 12/12- 12-14, i was told by the scammer that I had to protect my money By buying gift cards to attach to my bank account . And that the bank was also involved in this scam . The scammer took my money and used the gifts cards . He even took money out using **** *** and money out using ****** .. non of which was authorized.. I did notify my bank . At first they said they would help. Then they wouldn’t . Then, 1/4/2024, I contacted the dispute department. I was told by an employee there that she would submit all the paper work and I would have a temporary credit on my account by 5 this evening. She waits til closing. Sends me an eft problem email stating . The bank wouldn’t go through the process because ****** wouldn’t approve it .. I mean the scammer is still trying to use my stolen debit card for heavens sakes. I would like the entire amount refunded as I’m due my money back. The bank had told me twice they would refund it . And they will not . I do have supporting documentation. But there is way too much to send . The refund is to come from the bank, because I was scammed and it was unauthorized. My bank told me to contact the police and the merchants I have already contacted them . They said . Contact the bank .

  Business response

  01/16/2024

  Pioneer Community Bank received the complaint from Ms. ****** ****** on Friday, January 12, 2023, via standard mail.  While the bank sympathizes with Ms. ****** in her loss of funds, the bank was in no way involved in the scam.  Scams occur all of the time in the banking industry, and this is no different.  The issue with this scam is Ms. ****** KNOWINGLY purchased gift cards (i.e. **** Gift Cards, etc.) using her Pioneer Community Bank debit card and she then supplied the gift card numbers to the scammer.  In this case, Ms. ****** KNOWINGLY purchased the gift cards (i.e. **** Gift Cards, etc.) from ****** ******* *** ****** *****r department stores and used a point-of-sale terminal to finalize the transaction by inputting her PIN number associated with the Pioneer Community Bank debit card.  The issue here is a claim against where the gift cards were purchased or the perpetrator themselves, not with the bank.  If the bank had committed the fraud, such as a mistake in item processing, the bank would be more than willing to make restitution.  In this case, the bank had no input whatsoever with the purchase of these gift cards, as stated earlier, Ms. ****** purchased the gift cards by using her PIN number at point-of-sale terminals.  During the scamming period, Ms. ****** notified the bank twice requestion an increase in transaction limits pertaining to her debit card so she could purchase more gift cards.  We have encouraged Ms. ****** to notify the police and the WV State Attorney General's office pertaining to this claim. I would think that if Ms. ****** has the gift card numbers she supplied to the scammer, these numbers could be provided to **** and track where the money was spent and provide the victim's identity.

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