Jenny was a victim of courier fraud after being tricked into withdrawing £4,000 from her bank and turned to 159 Fraud Helpline.
As recently reported by the BBC, thinking she was helping the police with a criminal investigation, scammers instructed Jenny to withdraw £4,000 cash from her bank. After being told the notes were fake, a bogus ‘courier’ was sent to steal the money from Jenny.
Once she realised that she’d been the victim of fraud, Jenny used the 159 Fraud Helpline to help ward off future scammers.
What happened to Jenny?
+ −Jenny was contacted by scammers posing as her bank. Demonstrating that they knew her phone number and address, Jenny was reassured that they were legitimate.
The scammers warned Jenny of suspicious activity on her account and put her through to someone she was told was from the police. In an elaborate scheme to defraud Jenny, she was asked to help the ‘police’ investigate possible fraud at the local branch of her bank. She was then intimidated and told that if she told anyone, or didn’t help the ‘police’ with their enquiries, she could face prosecution herself.
The fraudsters stayed on the phone with Jenny while she travelled to and from her bank and withdrew £4,000 in cash. Jenny was told to inspect the serial numbers on the notes once she was back home. She was then advised by the scammers that the notes were fake. Once the fraudsters knew Jenny was back home with the money, they sent an individual posing as a ‘courier’ to take the cash.
When Jenny realised that she had been scammed, she called her bank and Action Fraud UK, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre, and was advised to dial 159. Having been contacted by the same fraudsters two days later, Jenny phoned number 159, saving her from losing more money.
What is the 159 Fraud Helpline number?
+ −The 159 Fraud Helpline, organised by Stop Scams UK, connects victims of fraud directly with their banks, saving time and potentially a lot of victims’ money.
Stop Scams UK admits that it isn’t a free phone number, and there are varying speeds at which callers can be connected to specialist fraud advisers. However, there are now 20 banks signed up to the helpline, covering most the UK’s current account holders (99%). In its first three years, Stop Scams UK received 800,000 calls and has even prevented a small business owner from losing £100,000.
What if I have been scammed?
+ −Impersonation scams are part of a wider form of Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, in which an individual is tricked into transferring money directly to scammers. This type of fraud has been on the rise and impacts thousands of people and businesses every year. If you have been scammed, it’s important to follow these steps:
- Contact your bank immediately, do so by using their legitimate website, through the number on your bank statements, or by using the 159 Fraud Helpline.
- Report the fraudulent activity to Action Fraud to help prevent future scams.
- If you have any disputes over whether your bank did enough to protect you against fraud, take the matter further. That’s where TLW Solicitors can help. If you would like to proceed with a dispute with a financial institution such as your bank, our team can advise you on your next steps and progress a claim on your behalf with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). FOS is an independent, government-backed body which investigates and resolves disputes between financial institutions and their customers.
TLW Solicitors view
+ −Sarah Spruce, Legal Director at TLW Solicitors, commented:
“As Jenny’s case demonstrates, impersonation scams are becoming increasingly elaborate. It’s encouraging to see practical examples of initiatives such as the 159 Fraud Helpline in action.
However, as the helpline itself admits, it isn’t a sure-fire way of eliminating all fraud. That’s why it’s essential for those who have been the victim of fraud to know what practical support is available.
Having dealt with many of these cases, my team and I would like to reassure anyone who has been the victim of an impersonation scam, or any other type of APP fraud that they are not alone and should never feel ashamed or embarrassed about coming forward and seeking help. Schemes set up by fraudsters, particularly those committing impersonation fraud, are becoming more sophisticated by the day, making it easy for anyone to become a victim.
If you, or someone you know has been scammed, get in touch with our specialist fraud team. We can then take all the details about your case and advise whether you are eligible to make a ‘no-win, no-fee’ refund claim.”
TLW Solicitors can help
+ −Our specialist APP Fraud team is experienced in dealing with a wide range of different kinds of scams and recovering compensation from banks. We understand the time limits and processes involved, and we can deal with any complex legal arguments that might arise.
If you or a loved one have lost money in an impersonation scam or other online APP fraud, contact our specialist team for a confidential, no obligation discussion to explore your options, including whether you may be eligible to make a ‘no-win, no-fee’ claim to get the compensation you are rightfully owed.
Please call us on 0800 169 5925, email info@tlwsolicitors.co.uk or complete one of the forms below.
It is important to get advice as soon as possible, as strict time limits can apply.
Minimum case values apply.
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