Classic fraud but bank does nothing

Chojinalpha

Hi,
I realise this was my own fault but I literally cannot see how my bank does not do anything about this. I have attached the recent letter I wrote them by way of explanation of my situation. Bear in mind we are BOTH lloyds customers. My own stupid fault, but cant they do something if they have the payee's details on file like give them to the police??

Exasperated!

Dear Lloyds TSB,
I recently was the victim of fraud perpetrated by the owner of a Lloyds bank account. As a Lloyds account holder myself I am confused and frustrated by the level of follow conducted by you the bank. The owner of the account requested money transferred from my bank account (£160, on the 7th July reference) for receipt of goods yet to be dispatched. 12 hours following the setup of an internet account to account transaction I had reason to believe the sale may be fraudulent and contacted you wishing to stop the transfer. I was told at the time the transfer could not be stopped even though it had not yet left my account as this was an automated process. After several days and still no receipt of any goods related to the transaction from the seller I contacted the police and provided them with the details of the bank account to which I transferred the money. I also contacted you to register this incident and the payee's details as well as the website concerned to report this fraudulent private seller. The police have now recently contacted me to say that they cannot pursue the investigation any further and the case has been closed.
Speaking with your fraud department I was told by them that they deal only with transactions involving debit or credit cards.

I have therefore now taken my complaint to the financial ombudsmen and registered with them. This letter is to advise you that I have done so and that I would request adequate follow up from yourselves as to why a bank transfer between two Lloyds accounts which has been logged with the police as a crime cannot be followed up with. I do not know in which way this would be done, but I might have thought that the persons name and address or recent transactions may have been passed on to the police or their account suspended, funds suspended, funds returned or any number of measures.
Speaking with a member of your staff on the phone I have been made aware that there are no notes on my account regarding this and no investigations underway. I would have hoped there would have been some effort in providing details to the police or stopping this account holder committing further crimes against other account holders. My most recent call had me speak with one of your agents who more helpfully took advice from the complaints department. However the advice from Jamie at this department was that there was noting you could do and I would have to go to the police.

This is not good enough and not an adequate step to protect my rights as a customer.

This letter is intended to put in writing the details of my situation and as a formal request for definitive action form you on the above.

maninthestreet

Neither the police nor LLoyds can help you at the moment - it's likely to be considered a civil dispute because it's merely the non-receipt of goods purchased by mail order/internet, and you authorised the payment to the 3rd party to be taken from your account.

Mark_Hewitt

I think you are up the creek, so to speak. You paid by bank transfer which gives you very few rights. Unlike paying by credit card.

RadoJo

Unfortunately they only have your word for it that the goods weren't received, and as you authorised the transaction (regardless of the subsequent attempt to reverse it) there's little they can do.
Out of interest, what was it that made you suspicious about this transaction? Is it possible that the goods you ordered will still be delivered?

Meepster

Hi

I can help you get your money back. All I need from you is £50, which I would like paid into my bank account in nigeria, using a Western Union bank transfer.

You can mail me at [EMAIL="IAmAScammer@scammer.net"]IAmAScammer@scammer.net[/EMAIL]

Chojinalpha

thanks for your unhelpful comments mwilletts.

The main problem was not so much getting my money back as rather blocking or suspending the accoutn used by the other person. Tahts what I dont understand.

melorablack

You can't ask for someone elses bank account to be suspended or blocked just because you think they are committing fraud. You need evidence for a start.

Firefox1975

Chojinalpha wrote: »

thanks for your unhelpful comments mwilletts.

The main problem was not so much getting my money back as rather blocking or suspending the accoutn used by the other person. Tahts what I dont understand.

I thought mwillets was quite funny!

seriously though, you haven't answered everyones questions in this post?

Just why exactly do you think it's a fraudulent transaction?

You are not telling us everything here!

Freddie_Snowbits

Chojinalpha wrote: »

thanks for your unhelpful comments mwilletts.

The main problem was not so much getting my money back as rather blocking or suspending the accoutn used by the other person. Tahts what I dont understand.

Why should the other account be blocked, when you authorised the payment.

Life's Rich Tapestry

Freddie_Snowbits

Chojinalpha wrote: »

This letter is intended to put in writing the details of my situation and as a formal request for definitive action form you on the above.

OP, one assumes that a non resposne means that the recipient has still got your money? Or have you got your goods?