Wells Fargo Whistle Blower Wins Huge Settlement

An Oregon man who blew the whistle on Wells Fargo Bank has won a 7-figure settlement from his former employer, reports
Willamette Week

Duke Tran says he was fired for refusing his former boss’ order to lie to customers facing foreclosure, according to the
New York Times.

The Vietnamese refugee who was enslaved by the Khmer Rouge sued the bank alleging he was fired in retaliation for reporting the incident to authorities. He accused the bank of not having the documentation to prove the mortgage holders owed any money.

“I have a story to tell,” he said to the Times. “This is a true story. I blew the whistle. They all know.”

Many of the foreclosures Wells Fargo pursued were loans purchased from another bank in 2008. Tran said he saw that the bank lacked the proper proof to proceed with foreclosure and spoke up.

It’s an allegation the bank has admitted to. A spokesperson said they were missing proper documentation on 120 loans.

One man the bank went after said the home he was in was paid off 35 years ago and doesn’t know anything about the $90,000 loan the bank said he needed to pay off.

Tran said the goal of his lawsuit was to get Wells Fargo to admit wrongdoing.

After some reluctance, he accepted the settlement which sources put at 7 figures.
 
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