RBS cubsidiary closed friend's account with no notice.

gunsandbanjos

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Doesn't sound like pocket money then.

Definitely not!!

So essentially this 'friend' was receiving thousands (?) in transfers from this random guy in Indonesia? Doesn't sound like something a bank would be concerned with at all:eek:

Possible scenario is the donors accounts have been flagged and they are simply closing all associated accounts.

Whatever has happened I think your friend is going to struggle to prove that money is hers.

Thrugelmir

gunsandbanjos wrote: »

Definitely not!!

So essentially this 'friend' was receiving thousands (?) in transfers from this random guy in Indonesia? Doesn't sound like something a bank would be concerned with at all:eek:

Possible scenario is the donors accounts have been flagged and they are simply closing all associated accounts.

Whatever has happened I think your friend is going to struggle to prove that money is hers.

Be interesting to hear what happens. Though being a cynic I doubt we will.

colsten

GingerBob wrote: »

Money Laundering Paranoia knows no bounds. These banks and other financial institutions want sorting out, big time. They suspect money laundering for the flimsiest of reasons, then not satisfied with closing down their relationship with the customer, they then blacklist them on CIFAS.


OP, your friend needs to contact her MP. Sooner or later something has to be done about this issue. The banks are rapidly descending to the level of utility companies - making people's lives up and down the land an absolute misery.

The bank has first hand details, and they believe they have reason to close the account. None of us here has any details over and beyond a third party report, we have no means to verify our information, and most of us don't know much about banks' obligations under AML. We can also reasonably assume that there are tens of millions of us whose accounts don't get closed. How can you therefore conclude that "these banks and other financial institutions want sorting out, big time".

I am sure you would be one of the first to scream blue murder if banks did not take action when they could have known about illegal behaviours of their customers (e.g. HSBC drug money scandal).

If the OP's friend can provide evidence that her funds are legit, she will get all her money. If the bank's action has been a mistake, she will also receive reasonable compensation for any expenses incurred, and for the distress caused.

ParaJon

When i used to work in branch for a bank the type of money laundering / fraud occurred very regularly and could very well of happened to her without her knowing.

"Indonesian friend" steals or obtains someone's internet banking details and needs to move the money out. Contacts your friend and says something along the lines of "my country will charge me x fee to put this money in my UK account or EU Account, if i transfer it to you, can you forward it on for me? and keep £x for your time? Victim then says of course but the funds are picked up as fraud before she even has a chance to transfer them on and is being used as a mule"


Most popular version of the scam is targeting young people with fake job advertisements, victim applies for the job, told they are accepted, asks for bank details for pay roll etc, tells them they will pay them £100 upfront for expenses for training etc but sends them £1000 or X amount, then says they have overpaid them by accident and can they refund it back to X Sort code & X Account number, which they have then laundered back to a new fresh account. Without even knowing.

pastysupper

I have no doubt that her funds are legit- and as a gift from abroad are entirely tax free too. There are also no dodgy looking outgoings from the account either (rent, course fees, living expenses etc.) so it's not like she is laundering funds. She will be able to get a letter from her friend stating that the funds are purely being gifted (he is a bit of a philanthropist) as well as letters from her course, landlord etc. if necessary.

I still don't understand how the bank can hold her money as has been suggested on here, without direct instruction from the authorities....

pastysupper

@parajon, definitely not relevant here. This guy has been very generous and expects nothing in return (it wouldn't even be possible!)

Ballard

pastysupper wrote: »

I still don't understand how the bank can hold her money as has been suggested on here, without direct instruction from the authorities....

It's the law. Banks and bank employees have obligations to look out for potential money laundering transactions. Each case is different but the bank are entirely within their rights (indeed, they are obliged) to freeze funds where there is reasonable suspicion that some illegal activity is occurring.

Receiving a large amount of funds from a stranger in Indonesia is about as suspicious as it gets.

antrobus

pastysupper wrote: »

.... She met a generous millionaire Asian businessman a couple of years ago while travelling, who has agreed to help fund her expensive education.

A UK resident account holder who is receiving money from a "generous millionaire Asian businessman" from Indonesia?!?

If it was up to me, I'd close her account too.:)

Ballard wrote: »

......Receiving a large amount of funds from a stranger in Indonesia is about as suspicious as it gets.

Yea, that.

GingerBob_3

pastysupper wrote: »

Hi robatwork, as they have already shut down her account then have they already completed their investigation- or is it guilty until proven innocent? Also, are they legally entitled to hold her funds? I would have thought this could only be done by the authorities, and legally they must return them.

Thrugelmir- totally innocent reason. She met a generous millionaire Asian businessman a couple of years ago while travelling, who has agreed to help fund her expensive education.

Yes, that is how the banks operate in these matters. It is, of course, a scandal but these days all you have to do is mention money laundering or !!!!!philia and natural justice no longer applies. In a way it's taking us back to the 17th century witch-hunting activities, where if an accusation was made you could end up getting burnt at the stake; no proof necessary. Now that is, I admit, a bit of an extreme comparison, but you can see what I'm getting at. When an assumption of guilt forms the basis for important decisions then we are on a slippery slope. That's the current situation with the banks and money laundering paranoia. And that's why, as I said earlier, they need sorting out, big time.

GingerBob_3

Follow up for anyone wondering about the !!!!!philia exclamation marks ...


It seems that for some reason the overly cautious censorious jobsworths who run this website take exception to the correct spelling of pedophilia.