HELP! Natwest withdrew the money from my account without my permission!

novasuh

Please read this and advise me what to do.

I was doing the money exchange(UK to other currencies)by online(I know I was stupid.)
This guy offered me that he will pay in the UK pounds into my bank account in advance. So I can check my account and then hand over the money(other currency) after checking the balalnce by online banking.

I have already reported him as a fraudster, though.
AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IS GBP 3,730.00 .

And here is the events of what happened and I would like to get advice about:

1. After I got a call from this guy, who told me he has just transferred the amount of GBP 3,730 into my account, I checked my Natwest online banking statement at 14:15, on 29/12/2009.

2. When I checked my online bank statement, there was pay-in record of GBP 3,730.00. And so I have given him the same amount of money in my other currency.

3. I was trying to transfer that money to my savings account via online this morning, and it was GONE (On the statement, it was recorded as 'Correcting Entry' and the amount GBP 3,730 has been subtracted from my account! )

4. I called Natwest and was told the situation from the banker who had served this guy yesterday at the counter.

5. The banker at the counter told me that this guy had paid in the money to my bank account by cash (GBP 3,730.00 ). So money had been paid in to my bank account.

6. A couple of minutes(or seconds, I have to check the CCTV footage for this) later, this guy returned to the same counter and asked his money back saying he had to pay in more to this(my) account later.

7. The cashier gave him the money(cash) back to this guy without my permission. Because the banker noticed it was him to pay-in the money a couple mins ago.

HERE'S THE QUESTION: If the money had paid into my account with cash(over the counter) and it already appeard to my online banking statement, can the cashier give the money back to someone with pay-in receipt even if it was the actual person who had paid in a minute ago?

PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT TO DO.

duggie1982

Not your money so..... There you go. And yes you are stupid! Thank god you are not overdrawn!

stclair

Hmmm im very surprise if someone pays money into a third party account and is issued a receipt for the deposit. I'm very much doubt that person would be allowed to go back to the cashier and ask for the money back. As once the money is in the account no one but yourself should be able to withdraw it. (I could be wrong though).

So let me get this right he was paying the money into your account and you was going to exchange the GBP to another currency? have you give this person the other currency? If you have not give them the currency your very lucky as it could have turned on a lot worse. However don't give random people your account details your making yourself a potential target of fraud.

minidannii

am abit confused, the banker gave him money from your account ? if thats true its ilegal, if not sorry am struggling to understand.

I have just had fraud happen to me, so am overdrawn for a month, even then i won't have enough money to pay.

novasuh

Thank you for all your replies.

Yes, I was really stupid.
As soon as i checked my bank statement via online and found out the record of pay-in, I have given the same amount of money with my currency.
So I lost the money.

The main reason I posted was if the cashier could legally access to my account again without my permission/notice(even though the time passed a couple of minutes since this guy paid in)and take the money back to him.

stclair

As i said previously im very surprised the person was allowed to re withdraw the funds that was paid into your account.

What have natwest said about the situation?

novasuh

I called/reported Natwest this morning and received a call this afternoon from Natwest customer care centre(?). They found the cashier who served the guy in branch and asked him(her) about what happend like I wrote.
And the adviser told me to report the police and said sorry. That's all.
I will go to my Natwest branch tomorrow and talk to branch manager, if possible.

stclair

Yes id speak to your branch manager if there available and raise your concerns with them.

Report it the police and they will speak to the branch and ask for CCTV footage etc.

Im actually very shocked the person was allowed to withdraw the money again once it was in the account. You definatley need to raise this with the Financial Ombudsman if the bank are unable to resolve your issue.

novasuh

Same thing happened in Lloyds(Oxford street, London)!!!
I have posted this disaster on the online community(which is mainly used by people from my country) and received a call from someone saying it happened the next day(30/12/2009) to him from the same guy with same plot.
Pay the money in over the counter by cash and wait until cashier updates the payment to someone's statement and ask the cashier for return.
I AM NOW SURE THIS IS THE HOLE ON THE BANKING SYSTEM.