Phantom Natwest Account - Please Help

ChrisJR

Yesterday I received a confirmation letter from Natwest to say that my online banking was set up. This would be fine, had I requested a Natwest account or even set foot in Natwest, but I haven't. I rang them. The upshot was that I could not close this fake account without scanning my passport and signing a bunch of stuff... all things clearly NOT needed for a stranger or computer to set up the account without me, but I was on the phone forever, and in the end was told to go into a branch in person. Today my new debit card and PIN arrived...


I have never banked with Natwest, nor have I set up any new accounts with them. Someone - with some knowledge of these things - please tell me what I can do, other than just let them off the hook? Coz it seems pretty serious to me - isn't it? - and they naturally wouldn't TELL me it was... but they clearly didn't know how to handle it when I called.


Thanks in advance.


Chris

Ballard

Get yourself into NatWest as soon as you can to make sure that everything is closed. You should also get a report from Experian (or one of the others). If you haven't used Experian before you can get a free months trial and will be able to see which companies have searched your file recently. This should give you an idea whether anyone has attempted to get credit elsewhere.

That's all I can suggest I'm afraid.

Archi_Bald

It is very easy to fill in an online application for an account. It usually gets accepted if the name, address and DoB can be matched with data the electoral roll and credit reference agencies hold for you. No bank is in any position to tell whether the online applicant is indeed the person who the application is made for.

Someone [close to you?] who knows some of your data either played a prank on you, or has plans to use your ID for fraudulent purposes.

Natwest have done nothing wrong, and you aren't out of pocket.

Don't close the account - use it to switch to another bank that pays you a switching bonus (and then switch it again, and again....several hundred pounds to be made! :cool:)

If you want to avoid similar things to happen in future, can register with CIFAS. Although I think this would be overkill, and make life more difficult for yourself.

Ballard

I would personally close it because switching it would, in my mind, infer that it was a legitimate account. If something nasty has gone on that's yet to come to light it would probably be more awkward to sort it out if the OP has taken ownership of the account.

That said, this is only my opinion and I'm no expert.

JuicyJesus

Ballard wrote: »

I would personally close it because switching it would, in my mind, infer that it was a legitimate account. If something nasty has gone on that's yet to come to light it would probably be more awkward to sort it out if the OP has taken ownership of the account.

That said, this is only my opinion and I'm no expert.

No, you're entirely right. Undertaking a switch through CASS (or using the account in any way) is not something you do with an account you know nothing about and don't want.

Vortigern

As the OP obviously suspects fraud he should be calling NatWest's fraud department, not the local branch.

http://personal.natwest.com/global/security-centre/reporting-fraud.html

Archi_Bald

I would have no hesitation to switch this account as it is brand-new and so far unused. It can't therefore possibly have been used in a fraudulent manner.

Vortigern

Archi_Bald wrote: »

I would have no hesitation to switch this account as it is brand-new and so far unused. It can't therefore possibly have been used in a fraudulent manner.

Could there be some future fraudulent use planned by whoever opened the account? A large payment in from another stolen account, followed by an attempt to move the stolen cash elsewhere?

I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

Archi_Bald

Vortigern wrote: »

Could there be some future fraudulent use planned by whoever opened the account? A large payment in from another stolen account, followed by an attempt to move the stolen cash elsewhere?

I would deal with that as and if there is a need for it. If unexpected money ever arrived in my account, I'd immediately ask the bank, in writing, to remove it as it has nothing to do with me. In fact, I have done so twice (smaller amounts only), and that was on an account that I had applied for myself. It could happen regardless, and from what we know about the OP's case, there is nothing that would demonstrably link them, or their account, to any fraudster. Like is always the case, we might not know the full story however.

gt94sss2

Archi_Bald wrote: »

It could happen regardless, and from what we know about the OP's case, there is nothing that would demonstrably link them, or their account, to any fraudster.

As others have suggested your suggestion to the OP to use the account as a donor account is extremely ill-advised.

Using the account - which the OP doesn't know who/how/why it was set up - is frankly dumb and short-sighted. The account may not yet have been used for any fraudulent but has been opened in such a manner and then using the account would effectively "demonstrably link" them to any fraudster - as no one would understand why the OP did so.

If the OP wants a donor account, they can simply open one somewhere themselves - a fraud/money laundering investigation which would involve at least 2 banks (if the OP follows your advice) isn't worth it..

Regards
Sunil

jonesMUFCforever

I agree - if someone has gone to the trouble of opening an account in your name it is either to receive fraudelent payments or perhaps to run up an overdraft and then leave you in the lurch.

I suspect something has gone wrong for the fraudster - perhaps they were unable to get Royal Mail to do a re-direction of mail (possibly due to lack of ID). I would check to make sure you get all normal post such as bank/credit card statements.
Also sign up for a free Noddle account to see if any more credit applications have been made in your name.

Lastly - are you sure nobody in your household is responsible?