This is a shocking story of a bank fraud involving a cheque for over £41,000 that somehow fell into the fraudster’s hands; as usual the bank is denying any culpability despite the cheque being paid into a fraudulent account set up at the bank.
The banking code requires all UK banks to ensure that they can identify persons who open an account. To stop virtually all bank frauds committed on UK citizens, all the authorities need to do is put in rules such that should a customer lose any money, and it be shown to have passed through a fraudulent account (that the bank allowed to be set up), then the bank will be liable for all losses.
Once banks start losing money due to their incompetence they will do something about it – but while they can deny any responsibility nothing will be done.
So take care if posting a cheque, it might never reach your account, and there is nothing you can do about it.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/experts/article-11245671/TONY-HETHERINGTON-Cheque-41-627-stolen-change.html