online cooker scam

gascookie

Bought gas stove from Cambridge cookers online in the sale which was ending that evening, they offered paypal on the site but when I went to pay that option was not available due to 'site maintenance' only option was bank transfer, so as sale was ending I used that option via Halifax bank, realised it was a scam when cooker failed to arrive on due date. Contacted the Halifax with all the info and they confirmed that the Cambridge cooker account was a Halifax account and that there was money in the account but of course couldnt tell me how much but that they would be in touch in a couple of days after they had investigated further, however, they then wrote to tell me that cambridge cookers had emptied and closed the account.
I realise I have no chance of money back from Cambridge cookers but wondering is there anyway the Halifax can be held liable for return of my money as they were told about the scam, heard somewhere about 'knowingly allowing an account belonging to them to be used for fraudulent purposes', shouldnt they have put a hold on it? I wasnt the only one that was scammed by these ppl (Cambridge account stayed open and they continued to trade after Halifax was notified) any help on this appreciated.

custardy

gascookie wrote: »

Bought gas stove from Cambridge cookers online in the sale which was ending that evening, they offered paypal on the site but when I went to pay that option was not available due to 'site maintenance' only option was bank transfer, so as sale was ending I used that option via Halifax bank, realised it was a scam when cooker failed to arrive on due date. Contacted the Halifax with all the info and they confirmed that the Cambridge cooker account was a Halifax account and that there was money in the account but of course couldnt tell me how much but that they would be in touch in a couple of days after they had investigated further, however, they then wrote to tell me that cambridge cookers had emptied and closed the account.
I realise I have no chance of money back from Cambridge cookers but wondering is there anyway the Halifax can be held liable for return of my money as they were told about the scam, heard somewhere about 'knowingly allowing an account belonging to them to be used for fraudulent purposes', shouldnt they have put a hold on it? I wasnt the only one that was scammed by these ppl (Cambridge account stayed open and they continued to trade after Halifax was notified) any help on this appreciated.

Would you accept your account being frozen on the strength of a phone call?

pmduk

Rule number 1, never pay by bank transfer. All reputable compaies have active card payment options.

gascookie

Thankyou for those who have taken their time to reply but Halifax were notified of the scam, there wasnt just me that was scammed and they were aware of this and allowed the account to remain open despite that, also i am already aware that to pay with bank transfer was risky, yes I know that now, that was not the question I was asking, but thanks for the help.

KeithP

Report the issue to Action Fraud.

You appear to know of other victims, so get them to report to AF too.

The more reports that AF get, the more likely they are to investigate.

hollydays

A link about the scammers
https://thecomputerperson.wordpress.com/2015/07/29/bank-accounts-associated-with-electronic-goods-scams/

pmduk

You might want to contact Money Mail, they're very critical of banks who fail to take action after fraud has een reported to them. It doesn't mean you;ll get any money back though.

gascookie

Yes found computer person and told Halifax, unfortunately it was too late for me as already paid cambridge cookers,:mad:

KeithP

gascookie wrote: »

Yes found computer person and told Halifax, unfortunately it was too late for me as already paid cambridge cookers,:mad:

And Action Fraud???

gascookie

yes have filled in a report with action fraud and got a police case number but they dont act on individual cases, they only gather info to assess the depth of the problem nationwide

KeithP

gascookie wrote: »

...they dont act on individual cases, they only gather info to assess the depth of the problem nationwide

Which is why I wrote lines two and three in post #5.