California launches criminal probe into Wells Fargo bank account scandal

California's attorney general is conducting a criminal investigation into whether employees at San Francisco-based Wells Fargo bank falsely identified themselves and stole identities in the sales practices scandal that rocked the bank and cost its CEO his job, documents released Wednesday show.

A search warrant and supporting affidavit released by the state Department of Justice show that agents sought evidence related to allegations that bank employees created up to two million bank and credit card accounts without customers' approval in order to meet sales goals.

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The warrant, first reported by the Los Angeles Times, was served Oct. 5 as Attorney General Kamala Harris runs for the U.S. Senate in next month's election.

Copies obtained by The Associated Press under a public records request show her office sought the names of customers who had accounts opened without their permission, the names of employees who opened the accounts and their managers, and fees associated with the improperly opened accounts.

"We can't comment on an ongoing investigation," Kristin Ford, a spokeswoman for the attorney general, said in an email.

Wells Fargo spokesman Mark Folk said in an email that the bank is co-operating in providing the requested information.

Justice Department special agent supervisor James Hirt said in a 14-page affidavit seeking the search warrant that "there is probable cause to believe that employees of Wells Fargo Bank unlawfully accessed the bank's computer system to obtain the PII [personal identifying information]of customers."

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"The bank's employees then used the unlawfully obtained customers' PII to commit false impersonation and identity theft by opening unauthorized accounts, credit cards and various other products that resulted in the accumulation of fees and charges for Wells Fargo," Hirt said.

One Los Angeles customer was surprised to learn last year that a Wells Fargo employee had opened a $10,000 line of credit linked to his accounts without his authorization, according to the affidavit.

Customers discovered fake accounts

Another was shocked when she and her husband began receiving notices from the bank on payments they allegedly owed on three life insurance policies they had never purchased. Bank employees repeatedly opened and closed her bank accounts, causing her to bounce chequesand pay bank fees.

A third found her money transferred from her chequingaccount to a savings account without her permission. The 74-year-old woman also reported receiving multiple bank credit-debit cards and being signed up for online banking without permission.

The bank previously said it has fired about 5,300 employees for improperly engaging in fraudulent account sales.

Hirt's affidavit says employees benefited from the practice by getting bonuses based on their productivity. Fees from the improper accounts topped $3 million.

Harris, a Democrat who is running for U.S. Senate in next month's election, joins stateand federal regulators in California and other states in attempting to punish the banking giant. California State Treasurer John Chiang said last month he would end doing business with the bank, a decision since echoed by officials in Illinois, Ohio, and several cities.

Hirt's sworn statement cites information first developed by the Los Angeles city attorney's office, which announced a $185 million US settlement with the bank in September.

Congress also weighed in before CEO John Stumpf announced his retirement a week ago.

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