major fraud

[tt9]

i have just had the pleasure of finding out that a considerable sum of money (over �40,000) has been lifted from my savings account which is with a very reputable high street bank...they do not know how it has happened..they suspect that the person came in with fake i,d and claimed that he had lost his passbook to the account and wanted to transfer all the funds to another bank account (which they did)..the confusing part of the crime agaisnt me is that this type of account comes with only a passbook which is used to pay money in and draw it out no paperwork is sent to the owner of the account all you get is the book nothing else..the book was kept in my safe at home and only me and my partner knew about the account and the how much was invested in it...when i produced the book the bank agreed that according to the book the money should still be in the account but the banks computers showed a money transfer 28 days ago of the full ammount....it amazed me that the bank did not spot the warning signs..1 the crook claimed he had lost the passbook 2 the crook wanted to withdraw all the money 3 the account was only 20 days old and its a high interest account normally opened for a year to reap 5% interest...but no phone call was made to me to check...i am currently waiting for the banks fraud dept to look inot this and am considering asking for compensation as well as my money being returned..how did this crook no about my account i suspect a mole within the bank tipping someone off......any advice from anyone gratefully received..

[Hgrove]

If they do not sort it out promptly you could try one of the financial agony aunt columns in the papers especially the Sunday broadsheets.  If they decide to support you they usually get results.

[Miss Zippy]

Have you involved the police? A criminal offence has taken place - I wouldn't just leave it to the bank's internal fraud people to investigate. If it's not a rogue bank employee, then this seems to me to have the hallmarks of sophisicated, organised crime if the fraudster has gone to the trouble of fabricating fake identity. Have you received any 'phone calls or e-mails recently purporting to be from your bank and asking for sensitive account information (called 'phishing')?  Has your bank identified where the money was transferrred to (though your money has probably long gone and probably have been tranferred to an account set up with a bogus identity)? Have you thrown out, without shredding or tearing up first, any account sensitive information? It does seem extraordinary that your bank could let the money be withdrawn in this way. I'd get the police involved asap.

[thikasabrik]

I had a similar experience a few years with a much smaller sum (�390). The matter was never solved although it was eventually resolved and the bank refunded me after a month. I was treated like a complete idiot by the bank. They even asked me if it was possible I had drawn the money out and forgotten the transaction!!! They then said it must have been my husband who had stolen it. I was furious. As well as dealing with their fraud dept. I also dealt with their complaints dept., who were quite good. They offered me �100 compensation on top of a full refund.You should insist on compensation. I found it helped to shout loudly and threaten to go to the media.

On the point about a mole in the bank...I think it could be possible. Two years ago I paid a cheque into my account for �35,000 - it wasn't all for me and was to be divided up between siblings, nephews, nieces etc. The following day I was chatting to an acquaintance in the street and to my shock she knew about this money (her friend worked in the bank.) I now bank in a different town to where I live.

[mystress]

Just how long have you been with your partner?

[spammylou]

having worked in a bank call centre for 2yrs previously, it is more than possible for a bank staff member to have the details, yes it could be an inside job. I also thought about the possibility of it being something to do with your partner as mystress asks the question! No offence meant here. Do you have a cleaner, etc etc. You must advise the police too, the bank should have advised you this anyway.   Please let us all know how you get on!! 

[stevie21]

Sounds like a dishonest member of staff is a possibility here : an awful lot of fraud sadly involves such people.
I'm assuming that the fraud dept of the bank have already asked that you involve the police. The Bank of Stevie wouldn't entertain investigating this until you had.
Either way - you're guaranteed a full refund and any interest which would have been due.
For �40,000 I'd also throw some money at you for not going to the media. For the �390 mentioned earlier I'd have patted you on the head patronisingly and offered no compensation.

[thikasabrik]

See if you can get hold of a copy of todays Daily Mail (Tuesday 10th May). There is an article on page 9 which is about a similar problem to yours.

[tt9]

thanks for all your answers...my partner is 100% safe been together for years..and no cleaner ( i wish) i truely think that a insider has been providing information on lucrative accounts , as i just dont see how they knew..i have been to the police and i had to get a statement showing the funds being taken out ..i have this now and the police fraud dept are investigating and yes i will be looking for compensation or watchdog here i come..will also pick up a copy of the mail many thanks thikasabric...thankyou all will let you know what happens..TT9