Bank accidentally gave me $400,000

[Onatreebyariver]

I just had a phone call from NatWest. They've accidentally credited my account with US $400,000 (an international payment)

I first thought it was some sort of scam but I have put the phone down and called NatWest back using the phone number on their website and spoke to the same woman -so it's definitely real. She said they'd like me to reply to their email giving them written confirmation that they can take the $400,000 back.

So... of course I will send the email and give them permission but just out of interest... what would happen if I said "this all sounds like a scam" and didn't reply to their email and used the money to pay off my mortgage :D

I know, I know, I have to give it back... but why are they even asking me, why don't they just take it?

That’s good to know it’s real OP - I didn’t see you say it was your branch. I recently had some very convincing fraud messages from NATWEST which nearly got me to click on the link, luckily I rang the bank first to check. Glad you got it sorted out!

I work at NatWest and have done for many years in a few different branches. No branches have phone numbers, all our numbers are the 03457888444 number, so you couldn’t have called a branch back unless you called a member of staffs work number. No branches have a direct contact number.

Just make sure there are no currency conversion rate issues and that you end up with whatever amount you started with!

Glad it's sorted. Hope you took a screenshot of that amount in your account though because, if it was me, I'd never see that amount in my account again!

I think I agree with Elizabeth. Call Natwest with different phone. After that, you need to go to any branch to verify this information. I think I have read a report about similar situation at whycall.me few weeks ago. Verify it to any branch and by phone to make sure about this.

Reported

I am reporting this thread. Branches dont have numbers, it is an 8444 number you call.
Even if the OP is telling the truth, this is a well known scam and with this thread some people will now be in doubt if it happened to them.

Good to know it was legit. And also good to know that so many of us are aware of the potential scams and to be wary.

I opened a bank account on line with Natwest coincidentally and a few days later got a call from a guy supposedly from Natwest and asking for two of the digits from the number used to set up the online banking. No way was I giving that over the phone when they had phoned me. Said I would go into a branch. He was very nice and said he understood completely. Went into branch and spoke to them and said about the phone call. They reckoned it wouldn’t have been Natwest calling as there was no need. All very odd and glad I was aware.

This all seems fishy, even the title. Like easy to find if someone googled that after a hoax call. Thanks for reporting @runwithme

@planespotting totally agree! I find this totally bizarre. I literally heard the same thing happen to a work colleagues mum and it was fraud and apparently a very well known scam doing the rounds so this whole thread is totally suspicious

Plane spotting - the OP has explained. Her branch called her initially and left her a name and a number. She called that number which presumably was a direct line to the person she spoke to.

'Totally'

There is a scam where they pretend they're from your bank. If you say your ringing back, they have a clever trick to make you think you've rang a legit number.

It sounds like you are connecting the call and it's all legit and you're speaking to your bank but that's not the case. They never hung up in the first place.

Before you do anything, visit a branch to be sure.

So to sum up.
If this happens to anyone else it’s fine and definitely NOT a scam so we should all stop worrying - seems legit

Yes @Peridot1 Her branch called her initially and left her a name and a number. She called that number which presumably was a direct line to the person she spoke to.
I can call anyone with that story.
It can lead to scams even if this thread is real.

I’d be transferring the money to an offshore account and moving abroad. Buy a cheap house in Asia and live off the interest.

What @Hoppinggreen green is saying. Exactly that.
"Oh! No! It is legit,it happened to someone on MN!"
Nope

@planespotting totally agree.

This thread is totally implausible and smacks of an attempt to get people sucked into these scams.

Well I think the fact that everyone on here warned it was likely to be a scam and it turned out not to be as the OP was sensible and went into a branch shows what to do if something similar happens. Never act purely as a result of a phone call. Never call back from the same phone they have called you on. And go into a branch ASAP if possible.

OP has posts going back to 2015 so if she is trying to promote a scam it's an impressively long con!

@Hoppinggreen @planespotting

Yep! It's ok, I read it happened to someone on Mumsnet. All's well with my world. Yay.

@FiveLittlePigs

Did you call back from the same phone line? They have a trick where by it sounds like you’ve hung up and dialed again, but really the phone was still connected to them. It 100% sounds like a scam,why would the lady who rang from an international payment issue be answering general calls? NatWest don’t make these mistakes. Don’t feel bad for thinking it’s real but please don’t engage with them in any way