Scam cleaned out my bank account

pd1000

My son was contacted by phone by some scammers who said his bank (Starling) had just been bought and they made him part with his security details and cleaned out his bank account of over £10,000, his life savings. Starling say they can't take responsibility as my son gave out his security details. He's totally distraught. There's a 28-day period of investigation. 

Can anyone give some constructive advice on how/if we can get his money back?

theoretica

How old is your son?  I expect banks have a higher duty of care for minors.

[Deleted User]

It's very unlikely. Your best hope is that the bank are able to trace and recall some of the cash, but it tends not to stay in the receiving account for long.

grandadgolfer

How many times have people been told ......banks don't ask for your security details over the phone, I'm sorry your son has been scammed but believing your bank has been sold with no notifications about it on his banking app should have been a big red flag

pd1000

Thanks - he's 18. He's Aspergers too.

Bradden

Have the bank been notified of the Aspergers? It may put you in a stronger position.

pd1000

Yes, the bank know and will let us know in 28 days. We are a quite distraught. 

SavingThosePennies

pd1000 said:

My son was contacted by phone by some scammers who said his bank (Starling) had just been bought and they made him part with his security details and cleaned out his bank account of over £10,000, his life savings. Starling say they can't take responsibility as my son gave out his security details. He's totally distraught. There's a 28-day period of investigation. 

Can anyone give some constructive advice on how/if we can get his money back?

I hope you can get some form of compensation because this is a horrible situation but I think the bank might well stick to their initial conclusion if he did provide his details over the phone, I've found banks are fairly clear in their communication that they would never call out of the blue and request account details. 

xylophone

I think the bank might well stick to their initial conclusion if he did provide his details over the phone, 

Perhaps not in view of his youth and in particular in view of his condition.

Thanks - he's 18. He's Aspergers too.

Anybody can fall prey to a convincing scammer - I know one very sophisticated and experienced  man who only avoided the trap by the skin of his teeth.

A person with Asperger's ( the son of a lifelong friend has this condition), can be socially very naive and trusting and easily panicked.

One would hope that the bank would take this into account.

Olinda99

Banks should really introduce a rule that you have to wait 24 hours before being able to make a payment of over (say) £500 to a newly set up payee.

lisyloo

Olinda99 said:

Banks should really introduce a rule that you have to wait 24 hours before being able to make a payment of over (say) £500 to a newly set up payee.

Please don't make things even more difficult for normal people, because of a minority who can't handle their responsibilities (which perhaps they shouldn't have in the first place).

I need to use my card and PIN and a card reader to set up a new payee on my bank.
I then get a text immediately.

Whatever systems you put in place, people still have to take personal responsibility for not giving out the details.
If they aren't capable because of a condition then perhaps they should have been given more help or less responsibility.