Someone has set up an account in my name

WestHam34

Someone has set up an account in my name and is hiding money in the account as he is getting divorced from my Mum. What do I do and what happens to the money in the account?

Momanns

Someone - Your father or stepfather? You can report to the bank and to Action Fraud. What is your relationship with him like? Does he know you are onto him?

Where did the money in the account come from? 

WestHam34

Stepfather, relationship is not good, he doesn’t know that we are on to him and the money is from a mortgage he got out three years ago and we don’t know where the money has gone

WestHam34

He was made Bankrupt in 2020 and the money was due to be paid to pay off his debt but he has hid the money and not paid it to anyone and we think it is in this account 

grumbler

WestHam34 said:

 the money is from a mortgage he got out three years ago 

How could he get the mortgage money? Normally it's paid to a solicitor, not to a buyer. Or was it some loan secured on a property?

boingy

WestHam34 said:

Someone has set up an account in my name and is hiding money in the account as he is getting divorced from my Mum. What do I do and what happens to the money in the account?

Based on that statement I would contact the bank and possibly the police. 
But before you do that, how do you know he has set up an account in your name. He would need to prove ID. 
No matter what your relationship with him I would suggest trying to talk to him about it.

WestHam34

Loan secured against a property. I have received letters from a bank I don’t use regarding my address change on my account and my passport has gone missing so he could use that as ID if he set them up on line

flossymcfly

I know this is morally incorrect...but what would stop you walking into the bank with ID and emptying the account? Is this a risk this person is likely to take? Do you have proof of the account or is this speculation?

WestHam34

Was thinking that, due to moving my post was redirected and that is why I found out about this bank and account as I previously lived with my Mum and Stepdad and he was home all day so could intercept the post

Rob5342

The first step is to contact the bank and. Tell them you think you are the victim of identity fraud as you have had letters about an account you didn't open. They should advise on the next steps.

boingy

Just to add that the advice to contact the bank and possibly the police is the correct advice BUT, and it's a big but, take a moment to consider the human aspects of doing so. How will your stepfather react to those actions? Will there be any comeback on you or your mum? Will it make the divorce more drawn out or complicated? How much does you mum know? etc, etc.

I'm not saying don't do it. Just be sure you have thought about a few resulting scenarios because you can't undo those actions.