Fraud

cococlown · 18 July 2023 at 2:39PM

Hi.

Where to start.

I currently live in Bulgaria and a English neighbor passed approx 2 months ago. She was a wealthy woman with 2 debit cards that have been given to her "friend".

The woman who was a recipient of the cards prior to having the cards did not have a pot to ____ __. Now they have loads of money. Its unsure if the deceased had relatives. The deceased left no will. I can only assume that the cards are being used by her "friend"

I did phone the fraud and action line but they didn't seem bothered.

I have found 0ne bank account she had and they will look into it.

I am at a loss as to what to do, fraud line told me to get bank account details, don't think they have heard of data protection.

Any advice please.

Thanks Steve

Brie · 18 July 2023 at 2:44PM

If you know the banks involved then it may be as simple as informing them (with bank details if possible) that your neighbour has died. That in itself should stop any activity on the account. Any information you can provide about the neighbour will be helpful - full name, previous names, date of birth or at least general age, address etc. Even just the name and address may be enough for them to track who she was.

cococlown · 18 July 2023 at 2:48PM

Thank you Brie.

I am busy phoning banks to find the second card she had. Very disappointed with the fraud line.

Marcon · 18 July 2023 at 5:55PM

cococlown said:

Hi.
Where to start.
I currently live in Bulgaria and a English neighbor passed approx 2 months ago. She was a wealthy woman with 2 debit cards that have been given to her "friend".
The woman who was a recipient of the cards prior to having the cards did not have a pot to ____ __. Now they have loads of money. Its unsure if the deceased had relatives. The deceased left no will. I can only assume that the cards are being used by her "friend"
I did phone the fraud and action line but they didn't seem bothered.
I have found 0ne bank account she had and they will look into it.
I am at a loss as to what to do, fraud line told me to get bank account details, don't think they have heard of data protection.
Any advice please.
Thanks Steve

On what basis could they proceed, given there is zero evidence and simply a phone call from someone they might see as either an interfering busybody or just a troublemaker? If someone rings and complains that a third party suddenly looks a lot wealthier, that's hardly grounds for criminal investigation, especially as the lady who died isn't related to you - the more so as you aren't even living in the country so are just repeating hearsay.

cococlown · 19 July 2023 at 1:26PM

Hi Marcon.

Concerning the person that has passed, i am trying to get the bank cards shut down. I have a copy of the death certificate, "which I would have thought enough to satisfy the concerned banks to enable this" her passport details and address. the lady that passed lived a hundred yards from me so i guess that puts me in a close proximity to her in the same country of which i own my house and permanently live here.

Marcon · 19 July 2023 at 2:35PM

cococlown said:

Hi Marcon.
Concerning the person that has passed, i am trying to get the bank cards shut down. I have a copy of the death certificate, "which I would have thought enough to satisfy the concerned banks to enable this" her passport details and address. the lady that passed lived a hundred yards from me so i guess that puts me in a close proximity to her in the same country of which i own my house and permanently live here.

Full marks for public spiritedness, but none of that is enough to start a criminal investigation. Simply owning a house in another country where you no longer live doesn't make you a compelling 'witness'. You haven't seen any of this at first hand - even if you had, it wouldn't mean much given you are basing your conclusions on unverified suppositions and assumptions. That, I'm afraid, is how any of the law enforcement agencies would see it - and remember they get a fair number of calls making such reports just out of spite, or a desire to make mischief, and there's nothing to distinguish your call from these unless you have actual evidence.

Think about it: if someone reported you out of the blue for fraud, just because you suddenly seemed to have a lot more money than usual, would you want the authorities to start investigating you for criminal activity?

lincroft1710 · 19 July 2023 at 5:36PM

It is often very difficult to get a positive response when reporting a possible fraud in the UK. I cannot see any action being taken on a possible fraud in a foreign country, especially one which has not been reported by a family member or a victim.

Marcon · 19 July 2023 at 7:57PM

Marcon said:

cococlown said:

Hi Marcon.
Concerning the person that has passed, i am trying to get the bank cards shut down. I have a copy of the death certificate, "which I would have thought enough to satisfy the concerned banks to enable this" her passport details and address. the lady that passed lived a hundred yards from me so i guess that puts me in a close proximity to her in the same country of which i own my house and permanently live here.

Full marks for public spiritedness, but none of that is enough to start a criminal investigation. Simply owning a house in another country where you no longer live doesn't make you a compelling 'witness'*. You haven't seen any of this at first hand - even if you had, it wouldn't mean much given you are basing your conclusions on unverified suppositions and assumptions. That, I'm afraid, is how any of the law enforcement agencies would see it - and remember they get a fair number of calls making such reports just out of spite, or a desire to make mischief, and there's nothing to distinguish your call from these unless you have actual evidence.

Think about it: if someone reported you out of the blue for fraud, just because you suddenly seemed to have a lot more money than usual, would you want the authorities to start investigating you for criminal activity?

*Apologies- I construed your post as meaning a (former) neighbour lived in England while you were in Bulgaria. There's no way the UK authorities are going to get involved in an alleged fraud concerning non-UK residents. If the lady who has died chose to give her bank cards to a friend she may also have given her carte blanche to use them as she saw fit. 'Assuming' anything is going to be a lost cause, because the friend is simply going to say that.

user1977 · 19 July 2023 at 10:06PM

It sounds like any fraud is taking place in Bulgaria, in which case I'm not sure this forum is the best place for relevant advice. Though I strongly suspect the Bulgarian authorities would also be inclined to see it as a civil matter.