Fraud help please

beth_wilby

Hi,

I have had multiple attempts at fraudulent finance account openings and luckily none had gone as far as applications as companies were spotting them as fraud. 

I had soft and hard searches cleared off my credit file, reported the fraud to the 3 credit agencies, action fraud and payed for CIFAS protection.

Despite all this 3 fraudulent direct debits for broadband and tv were set up in my name and somehow using my bank account and sort code which had not happened before. I am currently complaining with my bank as I wasn’t alerted to these direct debits being set up and only knew when the money was withdrawn. Not only that they didn’t alert the other named person either. I will also be shutting the account down once the complaint is finished due to it now being high risk.

I am contemplating contacting the financial ombudsman as I feel the company that did the direct debits should have done more due diligence in their checks since I have CIFAS and at least 3 other victim of fraud flags placed on me by other companies.

I am just seeking advise on what more I can do? My details have obviously been sold to scammers and now they’re out there I feel like there’s no stopping it. The police aren’t interested as it’s apparently not a crime and I feel like I have no more options.

Even worse the new DD bounced back as I never use the account for more than planned bills so I imagine missed payments will need to be disputed off my file now.

I am at the end of my rope with this, every day there is another fire I have to spend 5 hours putting out. I don’t want to have to retrospectively fix things - why is there no advance protection. I can’t afford the credit lock with Experian at £15 a month. 

If anyone has advice on what I might have missed that would be great.

beth_wilby

Hi,

I have been a recurring victim of identity fraud since the summer and have reported it to everyone possible and payed for CIFAS.

Recently I have had 3 fraudulent direct debits set up with my account despite the fraud flags from me and other companies on my credit file.

My bank didn’t alert me through online, email, or post when any of these were set up, nor the other named person on the account.

I want to understand the duties of banks with regards to direct debits:
1. Do they have a responsibility to alert you of any new direct debits set up, if yes in what form?
2. Do they have a responsibility to ensure the name on the direct debit matches the bank account? (The title is wrong and the other named person on the account is missing)

Thanks!

marcia_

 You will get lots more advice from others but the one thing you can do is set up protective registration with cifas https://www.cifas.org.uk/pr

penners324

Just get them cancelled with your bank.

Try a bank that does send a notification when DDs are set up. Starling does.

Zanderman

Sorry to hear of your problems - fraudulent DDs must be very frustrating, though most banks have no system for alerting you that one has been set up so there's no real cause for complaint there (it's normal), the only way to monitor is to regularly check your account. 

Or switch to a bank that does tell you - Starling does - as you have been advised in your other thread on this.

That thread duplication is unnecessary, especially on the same board.  Better to stick with one - and edit that one if you've more to say.

Zanderman

No, banks don't have a duty to tell you of new DDs.

Duplicate of the thread here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6493850/fraud-help-please

grumbler

penners324 said:

Just get them cancelled with your bank.

... and refunded if any money was taken.

BTW, this has little to do with the identity fraud. The only information needed is the sort code and the account number, possibly the name. Nothing is a top secret.

GeoffTF

The Direct Debit Guarantee requires the bank to refund you immediately if money is taken from your account:

https://www.accesspaysuite.com/blog/what-is-the-direct-debit-guarantee

I do not know which bank you are using, but Santander allows you to set up a text or email alert whenever money leaves your account.

Devongardener

You say “they didn’t inform the other named person either” is that person the one setting up the DDs?
If you know they weren’t informed, does that mean you know who they are?

Shakin_Steve

Zanderman said:

Sorry to hear of your problems - fraudulent DDs must be very frustrating, though most banks have no system for alerting you that one has been set up so there's no real cause for complaint there (it's normal), the only way to monitor is to regularly check your account. 

Or switch to a bank that does tell you - Starling does - as you have been advised in your other thread on this.

That thread duplication is unnecessary, especially on the same board.  Better to stick with one - and edit that one if you've more to say.

I get a notification from Barclays in the app when a new dd is set up.

Shakin_Steve

Devongardener said:

You say “they didn’t inform the other named person either” is that person the one setting up the DDs?
If you know they weren’t informed, does that mean you know who they are?

Or joint account?