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I am a victim of identity theft, now a company is demanding £2,000+
ClothG
Posts: 3 Newbie
Last week, and in a tight spot financially, I reached out on a peer-to-peer lending platform to see if a person would lend me a sum of money. Someone (S) reached out, requiring ID proof of myself holding my passport (upside down, this will be important later). Like a carrot dangling from a stick, I went ahead with it.
A few days later and out of nowhere, I got urgent emails from a peer-to-peer equipment rentals platform demanding that I return equipment that I apparently borrowed or reimburse the amount, totalling more than £2,000 plus admin fees. Problem is, it wasn't me. After long talks with their (very rude) security team, it turns out that (S) created an account under my likeliness using the passport picture to verify the details, placed a booking for some equipment, told the equipment lender that someone else will be coming by on 'my' behalf, went to pick it up, and then simply disappeared.
I noticed a few glaring red flags upon finding more about the company, of which are public and not requiring a login:
1. They admit that while their verification algorithm is effective, it is not an endorsement or guarantee of the identity of the borrower.
2. They posted information about the 'selfie photo' process, noting that the image needs to be upside down. This ABSOLUTELY defeats the point of such a photo, as anyone can come across this information, and go ahead to defraud people of their passport selfies to use on this platform. Surely such a process should be kept more secret with more variation in passport orientation.
3. They state that the average time it takes to verify a transaction is 30 minutes but in some cases up to 24 hours. This depends on not just whether you're a first time or repeat borrower, but the type of rental requested, and the number of documents sent in (which in this case, was just the passport selfie, with no proof of address).
4. What is the point of this ID verification process if someone else can simply go pick up the item instead?!
In the beginning, the company was claiming that I am liable for this, quoting their T&Cs that I had apparently agreed to upon signing up and stating that I am liable until they can prove that it was someone else. I sent in a huge plethora of evidence to show that my identity was stolen, including messages from the P2P lending platform with (S), bank transactions showing my location, and my IP address so that they can see if it was used to sign up.
I then asked them to clarify when the account was made, as I had visited the platform a long time ago and might have made an account without realising (I hadn’t, there are not even any confirmation emails). Turns out, it was made at the end of February, therefore, not by me. Therefore, I didn’t agree to the T&Cs as they claimed, even if it was my identity that was used. Looking in, it seems like they aren’t even making an effort to pursue a resolution, and instead spinning the narrative in their favour to squeeze money out of whoever they can.
The crazy then dialled up to 100, the security rep threatened to reach out to my social media followers and spread the word that I am a criminal. My social media is my livelihood, I am a blogger and social media manager by trade. They also threatened that they will reach out to their Legal contacts at Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/Pinterest/etc to get my accounts shut down. They believe that I am in conspiracy with the fraudster.
They’ve also threatened to take this to the police and pass on the amount to a debt collection agency to collect from me, as well as proceed with a County Court judgement that would affect employment, mortgages, and finance.
I find it hard to believe that there is a legal basis in this, as I did not commit fraud and theft. Surely it's in their negligence that their verification procedures are out in the open and due diligence wasn't performed before confirming a transaction for a very expensive piece of equipment.
What is the best course of action? Surely they can't do this?
A few days later and out of nowhere, I got urgent emails from a peer-to-peer equipment rentals platform demanding that I return equipment that I apparently borrowed or reimburse the amount, totalling more than £2,000 plus admin fees. Problem is, it wasn't me. After long talks with their (very rude) security team, it turns out that (S) created an account under my likeliness using the passport picture to verify the details, placed a booking for some equipment, told the equipment lender that someone else will be coming by on 'my' behalf, went to pick it up, and then simply disappeared.
I noticed a few glaring red flags upon finding more about the company, of which are public and not requiring a login:
1. They admit that while their verification algorithm is effective, it is not an endorsement or guarantee of the identity of the borrower.
2. They posted information about the 'selfie photo' process, noting that the image needs to be upside down. This ABSOLUTELY defeats the point of such a photo, as anyone can come across this information, and go ahead to defraud people of their passport selfies to use on this platform. Surely such a process should be kept more secret with more variation in passport orientation.
3. They state that the average time it takes to verify a transaction is 30 minutes but in some cases up to 24 hours. This depends on not just whether you're a first time or repeat borrower, but the type of rental requested, and the number of documents sent in (which in this case, was just the passport selfie, with no proof of address).
4. What is the point of this ID verification process if someone else can simply go pick up the item instead?!
In the beginning, the company was claiming that I am liable for this, quoting their T&Cs that I had apparently agreed to upon signing up and stating that I am liable until they can prove that it was someone else. I sent in a huge plethora of evidence to show that my identity was stolen, including messages from the P2P lending platform with (S), bank transactions showing my location, and my IP address so that they can see if it was used to sign up.
I then asked them to clarify when the account was made, as I had visited the platform a long time ago and might have made an account without realising (I hadn’t, there are not even any confirmation emails). Turns out, it was made at the end of February, therefore, not by me. Therefore, I didn’t agree to the T&Cs as they claimed, even if it was my identity that was used. Looking in, it seems like they aren’t even making an effort to pursue a resolution, and instead spinning the narrative in their favour to squeeze money out of whoever they can.
The crazy then dialled up to 100, the security rep threatened to reach out to my social media followers and spread the word that I am a criminal. My social media is my livelihood, I am a blogger and social media manager by trade. They also threatened that they will reach out to their Legal contacts at Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/Pinterest/etc to get my accounts shut down. They believe that I am in conspiracy with the fraudster.
They’ve also threatened to take this to the police and pass on the amount to a debt collection agency to collect from me, as well as proceed with a County Court judgement that would affect employment, mortgages, and finance.
I find it hard to believe that there is a legal basis in this, as I did not commit fraud and theft. Surely it's in their negligence that their verification procedures are out in the open and due diligence wasn't performed before confirming a transaction for a very expensive piece of equipment.
What is the best course of action? Surely they can't do this?
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Comments
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You need more specialist advice than is available on this forum. All I can advise is that you should not compound your earlier mistake of sending a copy of your passport plus a load more personal information:Last week, and in a tight spot financially, I reached out on a peer-to-peer lending platform to see if a person would lend me a sum of money. Someone (S) reached out, requiring ID proof of myself holding my passport (upside down, this will be important later). Like a carrot dangling from a stick, I went ahead with it.
A few days later and out of nowhere, I got urgent emails from a peer-to-peer equipment rentals platform demanding that I return equipment that I apparently borrowed or reimburse the amount, totalling more than £2,000 plus admin fees. Problem is, it wasn't me. After long talks with their (very rude) security team, it turns out that (S) created an account under my likeliness using the passport picture to verify the details, placed a booking for some equipment, told the equipment lender that someone else will be coming by on 'my' behalf, went to pick it up, and then simply disappeared.
I noticed a few glaring red flags upon finding more about the company, of which are public and not requiring a login:
1. They admit that while their verification algorithm is effective, it is not an endorsement or guarantee of the identity of the borrower.
2. They posted information about the 'selfie photo' process, noting that the image needs to be upside down. This ABSOLUTELY defeats the point of such a photo, as anyone can come across this information, and go ahead to defraud people of their passport selfies to use on this platform. Surely such a process should be kept more secret with more variation in passport orientation.
3. They state that the average time it takes to verify a transaction is 30 minutes but in some cases up to 24 hours. This depends on not just whether you're a first time or repeat borrower, but the type of rental requested, and the number of documents sent in (which in this case, was just the passport selfie, with no proof of address).
4. What is the point of this verification process if someone else can simply go pick up the item instead?!
In the beginning, the company was claiming that I am liable for this, quoting their T&Cs that I had apparently agreed to upon signing up and stating that I am liable until they can prove that it was someone else. I sent in a huge plethora of evidence to show that my identity was stolen, including messages from the P2P lending platform with (S), bank transactions showing my location, and my IP address so that they can see if it was used to sign up.
I then asked them to clarify when the account was made, as I had visited the platform a long time ago and might have made an account without realising (I hadn’t, there are not even any confirmation emails). Turns out, it was made at the end of February, therefore, not by me. Therefore, I didn’t agree to the T&Cs as they claimed, even if it was my identity that was used. Looking in, it seems like they aren’t even making an effort to pursue a resolution, and instead spinning the narrative in their favour.
The crazy then dialled up to 100, security rep then threatened to reach out to my social media followers and spread the word that I am a criminal. My social media is my livelihood, I am a blogger and social media manager by trade. They also threatened that they will reach out to their Legal contacts at Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/Pinterest/etc to get my accounts shut down. They believe that I am in conspiracy with the fraudster.
They’ve also threatened to take this to the police and pass on the amount to a debt collection agency to collect from me, as well as proceed with a County Court judgement that would affect employment, mortgages, and finance.
I find it hard to believe that there is a legal basis in this, as I did not commit fraud and theft. Surely it's in their negligence that their verification procedures are out in the open and due diligence wasn't performed before confirming a transaction for a very expensive piece of equipment.
What is the best course of action? Surely they can't do this?
In trying to address the problem, you're simply sending the potential fraudster (or their confederate in the rentals company) more and more useful information. Stop now and get some proper advice. Perhaps Action Fraud might be your first port of call?I sent in a huge plethora of evidence to show that my identity was stolen, including messages from the P2P lending platform with (S), bank transactions showing my location, and my IP address so that they can see if it was used to sign up.0 -
@Aylesbury Duck
I have amended the post, could you please edit your reply to omit those details?0 -
Mmm, nice bit of blackmail and demanding money etc.
I agree with Aylesbury Duck you must reach out to Action fraud, do it now!0 -
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Whew! What I thought you meant is that I'm tipping off potential cohorts by signifying on here which evidence I've provided, but now I realise what you meant. Thank you.0
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Last week, and in a tight spot financially, I reached out on a peer-to-peer lending platform to see if a person would lend me a sum of money. Someone (S) reached out, requiring ID proof of myself holding my passport (upside down, this will be important later). Like a carrot dangling from a stick, I went ahead with it. - That sounds ridiculous, surely you knew that wasn't the standard process?
A few days later and out of nowhere, I got urgent emails from a peer-to-peer equipment rentals platform demanding that I return equipment that I apparently borrowed or reimburse the amount, totalling more than £2,000 plus admin fees. - what was the equipment?
Problem is, it wasn't me. After long talks with their (very rude) security team, it turns out that (S) created an account under my likeliness using the passport picture to verify the details, placed a booking for some equipment, told the equipment lender that someone else will be coming by on 'my' behalf, went to pick it up, and then simply disappeared. - so you have no liability.
I noticed a few glaring red flags upon finding more about the company, of which are public and not requiring a login:
1. They admit that while their verification algorithm is effective, it is not an endorsement or guarantee of the identity of the borrower. - irrelevant
2. They posted information about the 'selfie photo' process, noting that the image needs to be upside down. This ABSOLUTELY defeats the point of such a photo, as anyone can come across this information, and go ahead to defraud people of their passport selfies to use on this platform. Surely such a process should be kept more secret with more variation in passport orientation. - irrelevant
3. They state that the average time it takes to verify a transaction is 30 minutes but in some cases up to 24 hours. This depends on not just whether you're a first time or repeat borrower, but the type of rental requested, and the number of documents sent in (which in this case, was just the passport selfie, with no proof of address). - irrelevant
4. What is the point of this ID verification process if someone else can simply go pick up the item instead?! - irrelevant
In the beginning, the company was claiming that I am liable for this, quoting their T&Cs that I had apparently agreed to upon signing up and stating that I am liable until they can prove that it was someone else. - so? Ignore them
I sent in a huge plethora of evidence to show that my identity was stolen, including messages from the P2P lending platform with (S), bank transactions showing my location, and my IP address so that they can see if it was used to sign up. - So you didn't learn from one issue and just did the same thing again!
I then asked them to clarify when the account was made, as I had visited the platform a long time ago and might have made an account without realising (I hadn’t, there are not even any confirmation emails). Turns out, it was made at the end of February, therefore, not by me. Therefore, I didn’t agree to the T&Cs as they claimed, even if it was my identity that was used. Looking in, it seems like they aren’t even making an effort to pursue a resolution, and instead spinning the narrative in their favour to squeeze money out of whoever they can. - irrelevant
The crazy then dialled up to 100, the security rep threatened to reach out to my social media followers and spread the word that I am a criminal. - no they didn't. My social media is my livelihood, I am a blogger and social media manager by trade. - I don't believe you. You cant be naïve and competent on the same issues They also threatened that they will reach out to their Legal contacts at Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/Pinterest/etc to get my accounts shut down. They believe that I am in conspiracy with the fraudster. - Please stop...
They’ve also threatened to take this to the police and pass on the amount to a debt collection agency to collect from me, as well as proceed with a County Court judgement that would affect employment, mortgages, and finance. - so? let them get on with it
I find it hard to believe that there is a legal basis in this, as I did not commit fraud and theft. Surely it's in their negligence that their verification procedures are out in the open and due diligence wasn't performed before confirming a transaction for a very expensive piece of equipment. - I suspect that they are the same person as S.
What is the best course of action? Surely they can't do this?
They can do whatever they like.
I suggest you ignore them until you receive court papers.0 -
Aren't these peer to peer companies supposed to take a photo of the person collecting?0
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