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Original poster

Am I unwillingly involved in money laundering?

224 replies

mamabird201313 · 10/08/2020 00:44

Ok money laundering might be a bit extreme but I'm wondering if I've been taken for a mug by friend.

So friend and her DH own a shop selling discounted food and during lockdown it's really taken off and they're doing really well (to the point that they're opening another shop next month) Now her DH has always been a bit 'dodgy' and she's briefly told me a bit about tax evasion, selling dodgy goods in the past etc but I've always just decided to mind my own business.

A few weeks ago she transferred me £20 without telling me, and I didn't think anything of it because she owed me money from an event ticket we'd paid for but had been cancelled due to COVID. Then the next day she transferred me about £80. So I messaged her asking what it was and she replied all shocked saying that she thought she'd transferred it to herself so could I send it back to her. (It's worth mentioning here that the reference for the money into my bank said PAYPAL and then her name, and she asked me to send it to her bank account.

Anyway, last week she messaged asking if she could do it again because she didn't have her other bank account set up to do transfers, she only had me set up on there Hmm before I could reply she'd sent me £95 so I obviously just had to transfer it back to her.

Now I'm thinking could this be dodgy? Like is she doing this to a few people and is it a way that they're taking money out of the business and sending it to people to try and hide it in some way? Obviously I'm hoping that I'm wrong and I'm just being over dramatic because the thought that she's doing something willingly that could get me in to trouble naturally really upsets me and would ruin our friendship.

So basically I'm asking if this would ring alarm bells to you?

OP posts:
Original poster
mamabird201313 · 10/08/2020 10:03

@tribpot she's sent it directly to my bank from her PayPal

OP posts:
Illdealwithitinaminute · 10/08/2020 10:03

If you want to cause yourself months of hassle and stress, report it to your bank.

I would not, I would simply text her saying that's twice you've sent me money, please stop, I won't be returning anything next time as it looks dodgy even if it is not. Then decide if you want to be friends with her.

I don't think that HMRC or the police are going to be following this up given corona times, especially small amount and especially as on one of the occasions, she did actually owe you money. Even as part of a larger investigation, the fact you received one dodgy payment and told her about it- it's just not a thing!

Just side step this and get out of her way, don't cause yourself tonnes of stress!

Original poster
mamabird201313 · 10/08/2020 10:10

@AgentProvocateur when I say tax evasion I mean she's told me that they've used the company card to buy things for their house, small things like a new set of cutlery and dinner set. And this will sound pretty naive I know but I thought a lot of businesses did this and it was quite common to do this (even though I'm sure it's wrong)

And with regards to selling dodgy goods I don't know any of the details so wouldn't have been able to report anything anyway. She's just mentioned in passing before that he's done a few dodgy business deals etc

OP posts:
dadshere · 10/08/2020 10:11

You need to stop this immediately and be prepared for a sh*tstorm of trouble. If she is using you to evade taxes, you can be implicated. If that happens, the banks can and DO close all of your personal accounts, you may find it impossible to get a mortgage or any kind of credit in the fututre.

Helpnamebabyboy · 10/08/2020 10:13

CarterBeats - yes exactly. No knowledge of an ongoing investigation and it’s highly unlikely that OP would become aware even if the bank decides to make a disclosure to the NCA. On that basis, nothing to prejudice.

This kind of thing is really common OP, and your “friend” did a really shitty thing getting you involved. I also agree with PP that she is testing you before sending bigger amounts and using you as a mule.

thesnailandthewhale · 10/08/2020 10:14

I was arrested for similar ... without outing myself too much basically my ex used to pay my child maintenance directly into my account, one month sent far more than normal, claimed it was an error so I returned it, unbeknown to me it was dodgy ... anyway, I was arrested, they realised I had not idea and I was then asked to be a witness against him in court.
Luckily I am obsessive about finances, I had kept messages to the ex that helped, but also I was told that if I'd kept the money rather than returning it that would have been an issue too ...
Trust your gut instinct op, keep your 'friend' at a distance x

gutentag1 · 10/08/2020 10:18

I would just screenshot the messages as evidence that you are not involved and then leave it.

If she does it again tell her that this seems dodgy and you don't want to be a part of it so not to send you any more money.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 10/08/2020 10:23

Screenshot the messages then report. Do NOT tip her off.

She really isn't your friend.

TheBlessedCheesemaker · 10/08/2020 10:34

Wow. That’s no friend.
Last thing you should do is worry too much. You have access to another account so impact on you is small. Simply notify your bank that you are concerned about these transactions and call HMRC helpline to report there as well. Take a note of date/time of calls you make to bank/HMRC. After that it is their problem and not yours and you should dump your friend immediately.
If she is doing it with 10 people, and he is doing it with 10 people, and they do it twice a week with each person then they will be reducing their taxable profits by more than £200,000 a year. They are both nasty pieces of work.

PotholePalace · 10/08/2020 10:34

Adding my voice to "report it to your bank". It takes all of 2 minutes to set up a new bank transfer, why doesn't she do that? Instead she's having to contact you each time it happens and check you've repaid her. Way too complicated.

Jeremyironsnothing · 10/08/2020 10:36

I'd be reconsidering the friendship too.

81Byerley · 10/08/2020 10:40

You should be very careful. I have a relative who ended up in court because she was naive and trusted her "best" friend when she said she needed to deposit a cheque but there was some reason why she couldn't put it in her own account. Definitely block your account. I'd be inclined to distance from her as well.

chargeorge · 10/08/2020 10:43

Avoid this like the plague, it sounds really dodgy. However do keep copies of all texts and messages and details of transfers and don't speak to her about it without recording any of it

Baconking · 10/08/2020 10:46

@DimidDavilby

I mean you're absolutely going to ruin your friendship if you grass up your mate?
Well it will be ruined anyway if the OP ends up in trouble with the police!
Apolloanddaphne · 10/08/2020 10:57

You are right to report this OP. You don't want to be tied up in anything that is possibly shady.

ShebaShimmyShake · 10/08/2020 10:57

She's trying to implicate OP in a financial crime, there's no friendship here to ruin! And I'd rather lose a "friend" like this than get my collar felt for her illegal activity!

Hodge00079 · 10/08/2020 11:09

I wonder if there is a credit card linked to PayPal. So the money is coming off there and she is getting cash. She should still not be doing without asking you.

It sounds like you are going to raise it with the bank. If you really think it is dodgy I would not tell her. It is bordering on plausible at the moment so I think you could give her the benefit of the doubt and tell. You have more background to decide which one is more appropriate.

If you do not go down the reportImg line you could:

  1. tell her to stop it as it is making you uncomfortable. Do not transfer any more money. If you do you will not get it back or I will report. 2)please stop this, it messes up down much I know I have to spend 3)I am getting a loan. These in and out transfers are going to raise a flag/cause me issues.
Happynow001 · 10/08/2020 11:19

@thesnailandthewhale

I was arrested for similar ... without outing myself too much basically my ex used to pay my child maintenance directly into my account, one month sent far more than normal, claimed it was an error so I returned it, unbeknown to me it was dodgy ... anyway, I was arrested, they realised I had not idea and I was then asked to be a witness against him in court. Luckily I am obsessive about finances, I had kept messages to the ex that helped, but also I was told that if I'd kept the money rather than returning it that would have been an issue too ... Trust your gut instinct op, keep your 'friend' at a distance x
God. What a shitty thing for your Ex to do. Thank goodness your own financial records were clear and you sent the funds back. Hopefully nothing remains on your records which would cast a blemish on you/your legal status in the future financially or if you, for example, decided to travel or emigrate to a country who keep tight controls on who enters their borders?🌹
Original poster
mamabird201313 · 10/08/2020 11:20

@thesnailandthewhale I'm so sorry you had to go through that, what a horrible horrible person your ex is Thanks

OP posts:
Happynow001 · 10/08/2020 11:27

@mamabird201313

Thanks so much for all of the advice. It's weird because on the transaction it just says

PAYPAL *her name
Richmond

So I'm guessing she's paid me straight from her PayPal but I don't know how to return it to PayPal because it came straight to me bank iyswim

I think I will report it and risk getting my account blocked temporarily, DH pays most of our bills from his account anyway so we should manage for a few weeks/months whilst I can't use my account.

If it is legit then surely the bank will investigate and then leave it? But if it is dodgy then I have no loyalty to her anymore for involving me in something that could get me in trouble.

OP, is your DH's account at the same bank as you? Is there a chance that, if your account is blocked his might automatically, as your spouse, also be blocked? Maybe check that when you speak with them.

This person is not your friend I'm afraid. 🌹

Monkeymilkshake · 10/08/2020 12:13

I'd ask your friend to stop sending you money. Then call your bank to block her.
Dont keep the money - if it's dogdy that's a whole new can of worms.

QuestionableMouse · 10/08/2020 12:17

@Nikori

I mean tell her on the phone or face to face, absolutely not by text.

My concern would be that someone else may report her and if they find she also transferred money to you, that you will be dragged into it.

Maybe the others are right and it's best to report it yourself.

Actually text/email/something written would be better as it's traceable and can be used as evidence unlike a spoken conversation.
Original poster
mamabird201313 · 10/08/2020 13:04

UPDATE: so I rang HMRC and asked for their advice and they told me to ring my bank. Rang my bank and I don't think they understood what I was getting at because they said if it was fraudulent then they would have picked up on it by now Hmm

I'll keep a record of the times I made the phone calls just in case. I have a friend who works at a bank and her husband is a copper and I'm seeing them tomorrow so I might ask for her advice 'off the record' and see what she says

OP posts:
QuestionableMouse · 10/08/2020 13:11

Does your bank have an online chat facility? Might be easier to describe the problem and you could keep a copy of the conversation.

Paperthin · 10/08/2020 13:15

Close your account OP, and open another one in another bank, that way she doesn’t have your bank details anyway. Don’t tell her you have done this though, but I would tell her that you want it to stop right now.
Like others I think the amounts will start to rise up once you have done it a few times.

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