Has my phone been cloned?

[holidays75]

Hi, posting for traffic as I am a bit loss and worried and I am wondering if my phone has been cloned?

I had a message from Halifax this morning about some fraudulent transactions. I contacted them and they stopped most of the transactions and cancelled the card. However there is a transaction for Premier Inn in Leicester which they said they can not refund as they have proof it was authorised on my mobile phone. How can this be possible ? Premier Inn said they can't do anything as they don't have a booking on my name or a reference number. I have not approved any transaction on my mobile phone or done any bookings with Premier Inn.
What do I do? They said I need to speak to the Financial Service Officer.

Phones can be controlled/viewed remotely if you've clicked on a dodgy link recently, usually via a text or WhatsApp message.

1. Is it a local hotel?
2. Could someone in the household have genuinely used your phone to verify this purchase?
3. Ask the bank to confirm the make and model of the phone associated with your account if it was via an app. Someone could have fraudulently downloaded and used the account via the app on their phone. If not, there may be a way of verifying how it's happened and if it was via your phone.

Posted too soon, otherwise it could have been used remotely if you've clicked on a link. There was a program about that kind of thing on BBC recently regarding scammers. Unfortunately, I can't remember what it was called.

I hope you get the bottom of it.

Does anyone else have access to your phone?
Is your phone password protected?

Please contact Halifax directly.

This could be a scam/ ruse to make you share your bank details.

I've just had a thought, have you contacted the bank via a different phone, just in case someone is watching and listening to yours?