pressing charges on girlfriend for fraud

taylor70

I had fraud on my bank account from an online casino that ironically i've had an account with for around 12 months and used quite heavily. Several transactions over about 6 days debited my account a few months ago totalling around £25,000 (most of my savings) which was not me. They were verified by visa transactions and I have a letter from work to prove it was not me as I was working during the times when the deposits were made.

The bank's position is that I am liable because only I could have my security details or that I've given them to someone, but I haven't.

To cut a long story short my girlfriend has admitted it was her during an argument because I suffered a heavy loss and she wanted to try and win it back for me.

My question is, if I press charges (already been to the police it was them who suggested it might be someone close to home) and get a confession to prove that I was not negligent and I did not give my details out or make the transaction, would the bank refund these transactions?

I really don't want to have to do this but it is all my savings and I have no choice at £18,000. But I don't want to press charges and possibly get a conviction if it is going to make no difference and the bank refuse to refund the money, obviously, because then it would be for no reason.

I'm in tears, so any help please not just opinions, thanks

MoneySaverLog

No chance at all she had all your details including security codes so you cannot say you were not negligent, sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear.

opinions4u

If you do press charges and she's found guilty of theft, a prison sentence of 18 months (serving half this time) is a likely outcome.

If you go down this route the bank might refund the fraud. But there are no guarantees and you may have to fight a battle via the FOS too.

Both outcomes suggested above will be stressful.

Badger_Lady

It sounds more likely that the girlfriend owes the money. Any refund you get from prosecution I'd expect to come from the victims' compensation scheme or from a court order for her to repay you.

The bank will still say that you were negligent because she must have either found the log in information in your home or used your computer with logged-in sessions. If there was any chance of a person with access to this information committing fraud against you, then you should have taken the necessary precautions.

I have a sister who I trust to use my credit card - by giving her my PIN I've effectively given her permission and I would have no recourse whatsoever if she did run off with my full balance.

I assume you're not still together..?

opinions4u

Badger_Lady wrote: »

I have a sister who I trust to use my credit card - by giving her my PIN I've effectively given her permission and I would have no recourse whatsoever if she did run off with my full balance.

But if somebody else committed fraud on your credit card it's highly unlikely that the card company will reimburse you.

Make your sister an additional cardholder instead.

EarthBoy

taylor70 wrote: »

The bank's position is that I am liable because only I could have my security details or that I've given them to someone, but I haven't.

To cut a long story short my girlfriend has admitted it was her

So your first statement here is incorrect then, and you did give your security details to your girlfriend. This makes you fully liable, and it's very unlikely the bank would refund anything, even if your girlfriend went to prison.

Pugwash69

If the police investigate a crime, they will get IP logs from the web site and verify them against your place of work, home address and girlfriend's.
I think this would also be the end of your relationship, which personally sounds like it's over anyway.

pmduk

You are also likely to have your accounts closed as a result of breaching the terms and conditions by sharing your security information. It's possible in extreme cases that a CIFAS marker might appear.

Crixus00

I would edit your post to put your ex girlfriend, if she really cared to win money for you then she should have used her money. There is also the fact that i think the bank can rightfully refuse to refund the money as you are liable to keep all your information private which hasnt been the case.

Unfortunately you are in a lose-lose situation whatever course of action you take

SailorSam

Badger_Lady wrote: »

Any refund you get from prosecution I'd expect to come from the victims' compensation scheme or from a court order for her to repay you.

Criminal injuries compensation will only be paid out as a result of injuries received from a violent attack (physical or mental) so doubt the Op having any luck there. I think the Court may order her to repay something although it could come at £1 a week.

Ben8282

Are we really supposed to believe that you had over £25,000 sitting in a bank account and that your girlfriend somehow had all your debit card details, including verified by visa password, so that when you were out at work she managed to spend £25,000 just like that in 6 days on a gambling website?

You say she did it because you had suffered a heavy loss and she wanted to win the lost money back for you. A heavy loss with £25,000 sitting in the bank?

I suggest you take proper legal advice before doing anything further against your girlfriend.