Loan Fraud - Please Help

smartest_smarty

Thanks, there have been two searches from Wonga, does that mean perhaps two loans were taken out in her name.

I understand what everyone is saying, that it doesn't make sense, I know it doesn't but this is what i've been told and what I believe happened regardless of how strange it sounds. I don't know why this would happen but it did - and I will find out how.

TBeckett100

Having a Wonga loan on her credit file will make getting a mortgage or loan harder as it looks like she can't afford to make ends meet. Therefore she should treat this as fraud and attempt to have the information removed from Her credit reference file. The fact they have chased for payment means there will be a black mark on her record

Nasqueron

Did this friend have access to her online bank or phone banking?

The way I understand it, you give wonga your bank details so they can take payment, and they pay the money into that bank to stop this sort of fraud.

To withdraw money you have to go to a bank which requires you to have the bank account owner's bank card and PIN as the limit of ~ £300 on ATMs would stop this being done in one go and would take 4 days (and again, the friend would need the PIN to do this). Alternatively if she had the online banking details or telephone banking details she could have done the transfer but, for example with the Halifax that I use, any online payment / transfer requires an automated call to my mobile to enter verification number from the banking screen - you cannot simply move £1000 to another account without all these details.

I know you trust your girlfriend 100% but you need to face facts that either she's being dishonest with you about money (will not be the first by a long way, nor the last) or she's being dishonest about what details she gave her friend to allow the friend to get the cash.

Nobody with a clear record and no recollection of this loan would pay £1000 to a company like Wonga just because they wrote a letter unless there was more to it than you have been told.

If it is fraud she should have reported it to the police or ask the friend where the money went - you will not get £1000 back from Wonga

MEM62

smartest_smarty wrote: »

I doubt she would want to report it to the police to avoid causing problems.


So loosing £2k to fraud is not a problem? I would disagree.

What if the money has been paid into an account which was not in her name? Surely Wonga should have that information right?


Do not rely on a payday loan company to have proper checks in place or to resolve this.

And what can be done to stop someone doing the same thing again? There are recent credit searches in my girlfriends name from Wonga. Someone's putting in her details.

You girlfriend could submit a CIFAS report which will mean that extra checks are made in respect of any credit applications in her name.

In my opinion, most people would not be all over this to get it resolved and bring the culprit to book. You girlfriends reluctance to do so and willingness to settle the debt (Which she does not have do if she was a victim of fraud) suggests that there may be more to this than you have been told.

Gaz83

Your girlfriend's reaction of complete and utter !!!!!baggery about going to the police and paying the debt off tell its own story, OP.

Kimlock

enfield_freddy wrote: »

Wonga , by default pay money into the bank (details) that have been given (checks on ownership done) NOT another bank account.


ie: you cannot have money paid into one account and set the continuous payment from another.


this is to stop the above situation happening

THIS.

It's been this way for more than 3 years, OP. It's a common fraud prevention technique.

I agree with all of the above, your girlfriend isn't been honest.

TBagpuss

I agree with PPs that there is more to this story. There are circumstances where someone would chose not to report or would feel they had to pay - was the 'friend' your girlfriend's ex, and was there any history of domestic violence or abuse. for instance?

As others have said, the money would have been paid into your GFs account so it's odd that she wasn't aware at the time - even if her 'friend' withdrew the money afterwards.

I think given that this was 3 yesas ago and she not only did not challenge it at the time, but actually paid the debt and did not report it to the police then she is unlikely to be belived.

If she is concerned about fraud then her best bet is to close the relevant accounts (and other others which this 'friend' may have had access to) and open new accounts., and to submit a CIFAS report to ensure extra checks are mode.

If there are reasons of bullying or domestic abuse as to why she did not do anything earlier then she could still report the matter to the police and log it with Wonga but in light of the delay and her own odd behaviour the chances of them being able to take any action are low.

She could (before she closes her account) ask for bank statements for the relevant period from her bank to check whether the money was in fact paid into her account, and when and how it was withdrawn.

Summer-Sunshine_2

Lioness_Twinkletoes wrote: »

Your girlfriend is foolish. She needs to report this theft and take the necessary steps to prevent the same fraud being perpetrated again.

This is assuming she's telling the truth - and I don't think she is. Not even the most naive person would pay the debt of someone who has fraudulently borrowed against their name.

Totally agreeing with wot Lioness Twinkletoes is saying here. Not saying ur gf is lying but I too feel something ain't right here. Maybe ur gf and 'her mate' done this 2gther and now the truth has frighted her some wot?

She HAS to go to the police or u have nothing to go on...
OR she has to tell u the truth and u support her in saying to her telling the truth will help and u can get this problem hopefully sorted?

Y is she paying money back when she hasn't done 'anything' wrong?

GingerFurball_2

Kimlock wrote: »

THIS.

It's been this way for more than 3 years, OP. It's a common fraud prevention technique.

I agree with all of the above, your girlfriend isn't been honest.

Would Wonga be able to pick it up if I applied for a loan in your name but used all of my bank details? So the money goes into my account, I spend the money but don't pay it back, Wonga start writing letters to you because 'you' borrowed the money?

Vikipollard

GingerFurball wrote: »

Would Wonga be able to pick it up if I applied for a loan in your name but used all of my bank details? So the money goes into my account, I spend the money but don't pay it back, Wonga start writing letters to you because 'you' borrowed the money?

Then surely 'I' would dispute the letters with a 'prove it' one, particularly requesting they identify the bank account they paid it in to. It would show it wasn't 'mine' and where the money had been sent.


I'm with the 'she's not being totally truthful' brigade. It sounds like the 'friend' was likely an ex or family member to whom she had given access to her online banking. Get her to look back through the online statements to see when the money went in - and the account it was then transferred to.


Unless the 'friend' has opened another bank account in your g/f's name, but kept the details of it hidden?