BACS Scam - Advice/Experiences wanted :)

jonnygee2

We've traced the sort-code of the account and it ties in with the address

How? even banks don't have the power to trace account numbers to people.

I phoned them and reported the transaction a second time and told them it was fraud, they told me I had to wait 15 days to see if the goods arrive...

they said I didn't need to wait the 15 days and they're 'sorry' as it may now impact our ability to recoup the funds as it's been so long

Yes, you have grounds for a complaint here and a reasonable (but not outstanding) chance of being reimbursed. Say you would like to make a complaint about the service to get refereed to their complaints team.

If the complaint is not upheld I would suggest appealing to FOS (you will be given details when you are given the final complaint response).

Zanderman

newcountrylife wrote: »

We've traced the sort-code of the account and it ties in with the address.

jonnygee2 wrote: »

How? even banks don't have the power to trace account numbers to people.

Yes, how? Sort codes don't relate to addresses, they (usually but not always) relate to bank branches, and bank branches can be the other end of the country to where someone lives.

I have accounts with banks that, if you looked at the sort-code, would suggest I lived hundreds of miles away from where I do live - if you assumed (and why would you?) that i must live near the branch.

newcountrylife

This sort code in particular relates to a bank branch, we used a simple sort-code checker and common sense. The branch happens to be 2 roads over from the address the suspect provided my partner. As I say, this doesn't appear to be a sophisticated group of scammers - it seems to be a 20 year old chancer who thought he was quids in with my partner and it has now bitten him.

Lloyds investigated and are returning the funds to my partner, I couldn't quite believe it when they phoned. They could see my partner reported and traced the payment shortly after it was made, Co-Op could also see on their system my partner phoned to report the transaction, then I did and then a third time so they also are awarding £50 compensation as a follow up to our complaint. So, for anyone in the future who may be reading this there is always hope!!

The police directed us to Action Fraud for an initial report, they advised on the telephone that once the fraud investigation bureau has checked it out (to see if it's a serial offender/links to any major crimes) they will then advise whichever relevant police force and we then pursue the matter with them directly. I will be following this up, this person took advantage of my partner and right before Christmas and I don't think anyone should get away with direct theft regardless of the stupidity or vulnerability of the person on the other end. Thankfully we didn't allow it to ruin our day

Somebody earlier on commented about me speaking to people as a third party, for reference if he passes security and asks them to speak to me there's absolutely no issue with that. Advocacy Agreements are very common for those who are vulnerable like my partner and it has no bearing on the scenario if he has given permission for me to speak to them and act on his behalf .

ess0two

I'm surprised at the outcome?

I once sent £50 to an account i'd got 1 digit wrong, could'nt get the money back.


Was told person who received money have to bring it up with bank as an error,then I stood a chance of return.

jonnygee2

30th Dec 18, 8:20 PM
I'm surprised at the outcome?

I once sent £50 to an account i'd got 1 digit wrong, could'nt get the money back

It's a different situation.

In this case the reason the bank refunded was that they have poor advice and did not act quickly enough. Had they acted faster they may have been able to recover the money.

In these cases banks often have to refund/compensate for their errors.

ess0two

jonnygee2 wrote: »

It's a different situation.

In this case the reason the bank refunded was that they have poor advice and did not act quickly enough. Had they acted faster they may have been able to recover the money.

In these cases banks often have to refund/compensate for their errors.

In what way? I mithered the life out of the bank, should have claimed 'd been conned,seemed to work for the OP.

newcountrylife

Really sorry to hear about your £50! I couldn’t BELIEVE we were sent the money back. I had no hope at all and was coming to terms with losing it, I wasn’t however willing to let it go without trying to bring some kind of justice to the suspect.

Lloyds investigated the situation, its them who returned the funds and not our bank. Fraud team at our bank said in general it could be they’d already been tipped off by other banks and customers or even by the police/fraud investigation bureau and they may have placed holds or blocks on the account. I’ve checked our action fraud report and it’s still in progress with no action as yet so for us it wasn’t their involvement. So perhaps this person did it to multiple people after all and a few had reported it. I should imagine if multiple people report a similar issue it must ‘flag’ on a system somewhere. I think having a crime number was definitely helpful and the compensation was because they misadvised us and delayed action. I can’t really say much else as I work in property finance not banking and don’t rightly know how this all works :S!

newcountrylife

Also, regardless of the stupidity involved my partner paid the money for goods that were not delivered. That’s a scam/con. You sent money to the wrong account by accident, you should not have claimed you’d been conned as an innocent person who mistakenly received your £50 could have been impacted by you lying. So that does make this a different scenario altogether.

jonnygee2

n what way? I mithered the life out of the bank, should have claimed 'd been conned,seemed to work for the OP.

That would have been a lie. It would have kicked off a procedure whereby the person you sent money to had their account frozen pending investigation from the National Crime Agency.

Once it was discovered you were lying to get your money back your bank would probably close your account and put CIFAS on your credit file for first party fraud.

Basically not a very good idea to accuse someone of a fraud they didn't do. Especially for £50.