California’s attorney general is conducting a criminal investigation into whether employees at San Francisco-based Wells Fargo bank committed identity theft in the sales practices scandal that has rocked the bank, documents released Wednesday show. A search warrant and supporting affidavit released by the California department of justice show that agents sought evidence related to allegations that bank employees created up to 2m bank and credit card accounts without customers’ approval in order to meet sales goals. 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. Wells Fargo banking scandal a financial crisis we can finally understand Read more“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 cooperating in providing the requested information.

Source: The Guardian October 20, 2016 00:11 UTC