identity fraud - Natwest acc in my name - NW does not want to know!

usignuolo

This morning an expensive mobile phone and headset arrived by courier from Phones4U. I never ordered it and phoned them up and they said it was a scam. They said someone would phone to say it was a misdelivery and could they collect it and I should say I had already sent it back. Five minutes later " Mike" phoned to say just that and I said my husband had taken it round to the post office to return. (phones4u are sending me a bag to return it).

Anyway phones4u said it had been paid for via a NatWest account set up in my name. They said a payment plan had also been taken out with Orange in my name. I do not bank at NatWest and have no idea how they could set up an account without the usual proofs of identity. So I phoned Nat West to tell them, and they said they could not do anything about it unless I gave them the full bank details......which of course I do not know. They said they could not check by name and address only. When I insisted politely on speaking to someone about this, they cut me off.....

Anyone got any comments?

MEM62

I would start by writing to them by recorded delivery. If NatWest do not address the matter to your satisfaction then lodge a formal complaint. After that you can refer the matter to the ombudsman.

Dw1983

Hope you get it sorted but I wouldn't of accepted the delivery

maninthestreet

Contact ActionFraud as well:

http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

You may also want to take out CIFAS Protective Registration:

http://www.cifas.org.uk/pr

usignuolo

I did not accept delivery my husband did but I was awaiting a parcel anyway so he was not to know.

I informed the police who said it is not a fraud against me but against the mobile phone company and the bank. I think I may well take out a Cifas registration but a long time ago my credit card was stolen and I did that and there was no sign that any of the companies who sold stuff to the thief, took any notice of Cifas.

I am still puzzling about Nat West. How can they not want to know and how was the account set up in the first place? All the physical proofs of identity you are supposed to show them to set up an account, are all here safely in my possession.

antrobus

MEM62 wrote: »

I would start by writing to them by recorded delivery. If NatWest do not address the matter to your satisfaction then lodge a formal complaint. After that you can refer the matter to the ombudsman.

The OP stated that they "do not bank at NatWest".

I don't believe that the FOS has the jurisdiction to deal with random complaints about a bank.

Dw1983 wrote: »

Hope you get it sorted but I wouldn't of accepted the delivery

Why? How would you know what it was without accepting delivery?

usignuolo wrote: »

....Anyone got any comments?

Obviously Nat West are going to be reluctant to talk to you about an account that isn't yours. Otherwise see;

What should you do if you’ve been a victim of identity fraud?
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/fraud_protection/identity_fraud

Voyager2002

usignuolo wrote: »

I did not accept delivery my husband did but I was awaiting a parcel anyway so he was not to know.

I informed the police who said it is not a fraud against me but against the mobile phone company and the bank. I think I may well take out a Cifas registration but a long time ago my credit card was stolen and I did that and there was no sign that any of the companies who sold stuff to the thief, took any notice of Cifas.

I am still puzzling about Nat West. How can they not want to know and how was the account set up in the first place? All the physical proofs of identity you are supposed to show them to set up an account, are all here safely in my possession.

If you listen to yesterday's "You and Yours" on the BBC Radio 4 website you will hear how easy it is to buy proof of identity and set up an account. The only mystery is that the bank is not set up to respond to information from people in your position.

maninthestreet

usignuolo wrote: »

I think I may well take out a Cifas registration but a long time ago my credit card was stolen and I did that and there was no sign that any of the companies who sold stuff to the thief, took any notice of Cifas.

From the CIFA website:

"
6 - Will Protective Registration affect credit/debit card transactions?

No. CIFAS warnings are only used in the processing of new applications for products or services or the administration of existing accounts and services or insurance policies"

JKSandy

The first thing to do is call Action Fraud. This is a crime and you need to report it.

Get a copy of your credit report to see if anything else has been opened in your name.

Noddle provide a free report however I would be tempted to pay the extra to get instant access to Experian and Equifax.

James

Good advice to report it to Action Fraud.


I would also recommend www.freeidprotection.co.uk to you.


Unlike any other system, it would have prevented you from being a victim of this type of fraud in the first instance.


Good luck.

Archi_Bald

The people who set up the bank account in your name clearly know a heck of a lot about you - - including your phone number, and that you had a parcel delivered this morning.

And they clearly have your name, address and DOB. Plus, I guess you might be on the Electoral Roll without an opt-out, and have a flawless credit file.

Have you had any mail missing recently?

I would write a strong letter, entitled complaint, to Natwest, demanding that they identify the account that exists in your name and confirmed they closed it. Phone4U should be able to help since they must have the card number and/or sort code and account number. Though Phone4U probably will not give this information to you since they don't know that you are who you say you are.

But just stopping the account at Natwest doesn't stop the scamsters from using your ID again somewhere else. As has already been suggested, follow the guidance on actionfraud and take out a CIFAS protection.

Also consider opting out of the Marketing version of the Electoral Roll and to go ex-directory, though these are minor measures and don't help with anything that already happened.