Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Fraud possible prison HELP

130 replies

Trying2611 · 15/07/2023 21:29

Ok so I don’t know what else to do just looking for some advice really haven’t been able to sleep or eat for the past 2 days

So about 2 years ago I worked for a family run company placed afew orders for them via my Amazon account didn’t think anything of it.

Fast forward to now 2 years later new job no contact with the old company since I left 2 years ago.
had an email from Amazon who advised they had a number of disputed transactions on my account, Turns out some of the purchases made by me on my account had been charged to my old employers card for some purchases for the past 2 years!!!! Not every purchase I had made but around 15 purchases total to a sum of around £250! Just lots of small purchases added up £15 here £6 there nothing I would of noticed not coming out of my bank

I really don’t know how this has happened I’m thinking I order that much shit half asleep (2 kids work full time) just generally not paying attention at the checkout and also not even knowing the card was saved on my Amazon account!! It’s just a swipe to purchase on Amazon not like you have to put any other card details in when checking out ! I genuinely did not make these purchases on purpose I know I should of checked at the checkout I will never make this mistake again but FUCK

This has only just come to light as my ex employer has questioned the charges with the bank and now an investigation is pending , I have tried to contact my old employer explaining the situation no response, I have also called 111 for advice they said I just have to wait for the bank to investigate on there side

but FUCK am I going to prison I don’t know what to do I’m out of my mind with worry that I’m going to get arrested for fraud.

I hope no one has been as truly stupid as me to make this mistake but any kind of advice would mean the world right now everytime a car drive pasts the house I think I’m going to get handcuffed away 😭

OP posts:
toochesterdraws · 15/07/2023 22:35

TeaKitten · 15/07/2023 21:37

I doubt very much it will go to prison. But how come sometimes it charged to your card and other times to your former employers? You’d have to select a different saved card. I’m honestly not accusing but I’m wondering if it will be a question that may be asked, as it’s the first thing I thought.

Amazon accounts can be weird like that. My boss, the owner of the business, has an Amazon account. He has both his personal and business account cards linked to it. Sometimes he buys personal stuff and sometimes he pays for goods for the business. The payments are usually the right way round and come out of the right account, but not always.

Seems to me that this has occasionally happened to the OP, and it is a simple error, and easily rectified.

Bellasignora · 15/07/2023 22:35

@Mirabai Next time an employer cheekily asks to use your account, just tell them to get their own. They were trying to save the £90 fee and ended up with a mess.

This.

OP. Just stop worrying about it - fess up and pay up. They aren't going to put you in the pokey for £250.

bijouxtt · 15/07/2023 22:36

I know someone who this happened to after they left a job too and for more money. You aren't going to prison you will just have to pay it back. There was no police involvement. And it's easily done yes ! had my mums card on mine for something she wanted to order and when I did my next order just click click clicked and it came out of her account 🙈

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General shopping
Dublincalling2 · 15/07/2023 22:37

Jongleterre · 15/07/2023 21:48

Poor accounting by the firm if they didn't spot this until now.

This. They should have an order or invoice for every card transaction, if they were looking each month, they should have spotted this much sooner. They are to blame too. Try not to worry, easily fixed with a payback.

bijouxtt · 15/07/2023 22:38

Oh and I'm the sort of person who gets really anxious over things like this too I would be catastrophising like you are so just wanted to give you some reassurance so you can hopefully sleep tonight

Mirabai · 15/07/2023 22:38

Trying2611 · 15/07/2023 22:34

I do understand what you are saying I’m trying to figure it out myself, if I was going to commit theft I wouldn’t send the parcels to my home address thinking I would get away with this especially as the last purchase charged to the card was £11 BV pessaries that my ex employer im now assuming had had a list of the purchases made and has seen I’ve got an itchy v 😭😭

Show quote history

😂

reluctantadmissions · 15/07/2023 22:42

Trying2611 · 15/07/2023 22:07

Thanks all I will contact a solicitor on Monday I was just trying to calm myself down! If I read this story afew months ago I would myself think it’s not possible as I’d think the card would have to be selected before purchase so I’m just confused myself as like I say I have other cards on the account and non of them have been charged for anything which in itself seems suspicious I know! But I’m baffled as to how this has happened or how I haven’t noticed I’m kicking myself

There must be an element of dishonesty for fraud or theft. It was an honest mistake for which you are clearly prepared to remedy.

If you seek legal advice, you are entitled to free legal advice so search for criminal law firms in your area. As PP said, I would send an email to your previous employer apologising for the area and offering to repay the full amount explaining what happened. If the police ever were to be involved you would be able to evidence that as soon as you became aware you tried to resolve it.

I guarantee you aren't going anywhere near a prison. Get the legal advice but honestly assuming you're not lying now and you really did make an honest mistake, fix the problem asap and you wont end up with any sort of conviction. Be warned though, doing nothing isn't an option. You have to show there was no dishonesty so now you're aware, fix it.

EnthENd · 15/07/2023 22:44

Fraud requires intent, which you didn't have. I very much doubt you'd even be prosecuted, and with a remotely competent lawyer you would not be convicted.

Usual advice applies: If the police call you to interview, exercise your right to speak to a lawyer first.

You may, however, be banned from Amazon. Despite their monopoly position they still have the legal right to ban anyone for any or no reason except for discrimination.

MrsGarethSouthgate · 15/07/2023 22:44

I’m a DS in the police and can assure you, you will not be going to prison.

An allegation like this might result in an interview under caution, depending on how many transactions, values, any patterns of disputed payments. If so then be honest and say you didn’t know it was happening (as opposed to going no comment which will not assist you in proving your innocence).

No chance that I would be charging you based on what you have said.

TimesRwo · 15/07/2023 22:46

LotsOfThingsToThinkAbout · 15/07/2023 21:52

Are you going to speak to a Solicetor? I would. I wouldn't take advice from Mumsnet as there are too many people that give advice about things they don't know anything about.

It's not a lot of money but it's theft and it happened on multiple occasions. Even though it was a mistake I'm not sure everyone will automatically believe you.

Your post is definitely one OP should be ignoring as it’s not theft. Theft requires dishonesty.

Original poster
Trying2611 · 15/07/2023 22:48

Thanks all for the advice and help! I will send another email to the company and a letter explaining on Monday and following that will contact a solicitor for some advise also, i feel abit better and will be sure to check my online purchases in the future xx

OP posts:
LotsOfThingsToThinkAbout · 15/07/2023 22:50

OP, we're the original authorised purchases delivered to the business address or your home?

Sureaseggs44 · 15/07/2023 22:51

You won’t go to prison and you are right the accounts department should’ve spotted this as well because each transaction should be itemised on the books . Have you tried contacting the employer and explaining what has happened ? I would and offer to pay it back .

Jellifulfruit · 15/07/2023 22:56

I think you’ll be ok. Just a lot of apologising/some payments back in order then you can all move on ☺️

Original poster
Trying2611 · 15/07/2023 22:56

LotsOfThingsToThinkAbout · 15/07/2023 22:50

OP, we're the original authorised purchases delivered to the business address or your home?

more than likely my home address for larger items that couldn’t be posted as Amazon can deliver up to 10pm and the office closed at 5pm x

OP posts:
Original poster
Trying2611 · 15/07/2023 22:57

Sureaseggs44 · 15/07/2023 22:51

You won’t go to prison and you are right the accounts department should’ve spotted this as well because each transaction should be itemised on the books . Have you tried contacting the employer and explaining what has happened ? I would and offer to pay it back .

I have emailed and tried to call the office landline and the directors mobile left messages on both and had no response :(

OP posts:
Mindovermatter247 · 15/07/2023 22:59

I can confirm this has happened on our Amazon account, DP created it and mostly uses it but I have my card registered, several times it’s defaulted to my card with no explanation, one time I logged in and it came up with a message, saying default card has changed.,.
luckily DP will just transfer and vice versa..
im sure paying it back and removing the card will be suffice enough, however they may question how you didn’t realise payments were not leaving your account, otherwise I’d say its a simple mistake…

Batalax · 15/07/2023 23:06

It sounds as if some say this can happen and has happened to them and others are adamant that it’s impossible. I suspect it depends on the settings you have.

Hopefully it will be cleared up easily enough, but not nice to have the weekend and unable to follow up quickly.

MiserableMillie · 15/07/2023 23:10

Hi there

Something similar happened to my best friend the other day. My card is on her Amazon account from a time when we were on a weekend away together, she was buying something urgent for one of her kids on next day delivery, and her card wasn't working, so she used mine.

Fast forward a few months and she purchases something else using the one click service and it defaults to my card. She has no idea how that happened as she's bought other stuff from Amazon since I lent her my card, but it did.

As she's my best friend she just refunded the money with no drama and took my card off her account(!) but it's very easily done.

Hopefully everyone will see that too... try not to panic, you won't go to prison.

AlwaysAWoman · 15/07/2023 23:12

From my experience my own account definitely changes which card it selects at times. Don't know why!

Moveoverdarlin · 15/07/2023 23:14

I wouldn’t contact a solicitor - you’ll have to pay for that. Just keep emailing, carry on ringing the director and explain what’s happened. Can’t you WhatsApp them now? See if they’re online? DM on Insta or Facebook? Say you can pop in to their office with the cash on Monday or transfer the money now. It’s an innocent mistake, don’t panic.

Echio · 15/07/2023 23:21

This happened recently where I work. We had an ongoing mystery with a particular department's credit card where purchases were being made on Amazon with no receipts provided but everyone was denying it was them. It went on for months. Nobody could work out who was responsible for the missing receipts.

I thought it very likely someone had accidentally saved the card on their personal account. I made the whole department check their personal amazon accounts for particular purchase values on particular dates. Turns out yep, a manager had saved the card, and his teenage daughter buying stuff on amazon.

The outcome: manager repaid everything back. That was it. They didn't even get a written warning or anything. They were reminded of policies not to store cards, that was the extent of it.

PinotPony · 15/07/2023 23:22

Don't bother contacting a solicitor. It'll cost you more than the debt.

You need to understand the difference between a civil claim and a criminal offence. Unless the police turn up at your door and arrest you, and the CPS prosecute you (which is highly unlikely), you're not going to jail!

Your former employee may pursue you for the debt. So just pay it back. You're making this much more complicated and dramatic than it needs to be.

Original poster
Trying2611 · 15/07/2023 23:22

Moveoverdarlin · 15/07/2023 23:14

I wouldn’t contact a solicitor - you’ll have to pay for that. Just keep emailing, carry on ringing the director and explain what’s happened. Can’t you WhatsApp them now? See if they’re online? DM on Insta or Facebook? Say you can pop in to their office with the cash on Monday or transfer the money now. It’s an innocent mistake, don’t panic.

i will try to visit the office on Monday that’s a good idea! I’m just hoping they understand and we can resolve it, when I spoke to Amazon they said not to make payment to the employer and they will more than likely be refunded from Amazon now they already have a case pending and I will have to pay Amazon again so will end up paying the amount twice

OP posts:
penelopelady · 15/07/2023 23:24

Oh man! I did this, fortunately my own company and I did notice it as I do my accounts weekly. It was only £20 odd pounds but I still don't know quite what happened as I haven't actually bought anything from Amazon on it, it have an Amazon business account, I can only imagine I put the details in the wrong account at some point and son (who's hair products were ordered never checked which card)
I won't pretend it will be easy to sort but it is totally believable.
Good luck sorting this out