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Original poster

Is a bank transfer safe?

30 replies

Glitterblue · 22/04/2021 20:06

Before I do this, I just wanted to check I'm not being stupid.

Someone I've known on Facebook for 6 years through a mum and baby group has asked me if I could lend her £5 as she is really struggling. She has a little boy and having been in that position before, I know how hard it is and I know it's not easy to ask for help. I don't doubt that she is who she says she is etc.

Having said that, I haven't met her in person, and I'm a little bit nervous about transferring any money. It would only be £5 or £10 but I just want to double check before I do it, that bank transfers are safe...I'm always very trusting of people and probably a bit naiive, so I want to be sure that there isn't a way of her getting hold of my bank details and emptying my account or anything 😂 I feel a bit silly even wondering that! Please don't judge me, I want to help her but just want to be sure it's safe 🙈

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 22/04/2021 21:11

I think taken in isolation it’s safe but just be careful it’s not the start of anything else.

SageRosemary · 22/04/2021 21:14

Could you use Paypal?

TakeYourFinalPosition · 22/04/2021 21:14

Theoretically with your bank details, she could set up direct debits - it famously happened to Jeremy Clarkson after he shared his account number and sort code on social media once. But realistically, she can't do much.

If you're nervous, you could send her the money by PayPal instead? If she's already got an account, she'll be able to withdraw instantly.

You can't recall money that you send via a bank transfer, so make sure the details are all correct, and if your bank is enrolled in the new verification scheme, the details that you enter will need to match the name on the account.

On the balance of probabilities, it's pretty safe, but be careful that it doesn't become a long-term thing.

murbblurb · 22/04/2021 21:16

If she has your address, date of birth and other personal details ( public domain for Jeremy Clarkson) then she could possibly start doing fraud stuff.

Why not just giver her a £5 note?

YankeeDad · 22/04/2021 21:16

I’d be worried that if you lend her the £5 she will soon be back asking for another loan. It is challenging with money to find the right balance between being kind,, whilst avoiding to become a recurring recipient of similar requests.

rainbowthoughts · 22/04/2021 21:17

Theoretically with your bank details,

She won't have OP bank details.

Chunkymenrock · 22/04/2021 21:18

I understand your concern for her, but I wouldn't do this. Not because bank transfers are unsafe (they are not!) but because I see it as the start of a very slippery slope, where she'll ask you again and again and there won't be a hope in hell of getting your money back.

alaiahagsv · 22/04/2021 21:25

I've read about this being a scam where people hack Facebook messenger and send out messages asking for money.

AgathaChristiesFurcoat · 22/04/2021 21:27

Don't do a bank transfer, it's too risky. ask her what she needs and buy it for her you will need her address, if she doesn't insist on the bank transfer. If she needs food or money for gas/electric tell her to contact her local council for emergency local assistance

WheeshtTheNoo · 22/04/2021 21:32

Thru messenger, you haven't met her? I'm sorry but this sounds like a scam. Not from the person but from someone who has hacked into her account.

iamthesandstorm · 22/04/2021 21:33

Bank transfer is safe.but I would not do it. You have never met her? direct her to people who can help.,food bank etc

xyzandabc · 22/04/2021 21:33

Why are people saying a bank transfer is risky and what the person could do if they had OPs bank details?

If you transfer money to another person via bank transfer, they do not get your bank details. You would need their bank details to send them money but they do not need or get yours.

I would also look up and give her details of local foodbank/children's centre/tell her to contact her HV, too as they can all put her in touch with people and organisations that can help.

Couldhavebeenme2 · 22/04/2021 21:51

@alaiahagsv

I've read about this being a scam where people hack Facebook messenger and send out messages asking for money.
I did this for a very good friend a month ago, she contacted me via fb messenger that time. Asked her for a phrase which would identify her to me only, she came back with such a cracker it could only have been her!
Horehound · 22/04/2021 21:52

What £5 Gona do? Not much. She needs to be diverted to some kind of charity or benefit thing.

Original poster
Glitterblue · 22/04/2021 22:10

@Horehound the suspicious part of me is wondering if she is asking all her Facebook friends for the same....

If I lived near her I'd have given her a £5 or £10 note. I don't like to think of her struggling but I also don't want to be taken advantage of if that's what might happen. She doesn't have my address or date of birth, I just wanted to make sure that she wouldn't see my bank details etc if I did a transfer.

OP posts:
Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 22/04/2021 22:13

Sending money to someone you've never even met is really weird. She'll keep asking. Don't do it is my advice.

SquirtleSquad · 22/04/2021 22:38

Don't send money, send details of local food bank instead and politely help her towards legitimate places she can find help locally.

BarbaraofSeville · 23/04/2021 10:40

There is no danger to you in sending her £5 via a bank transfer. She can't use the transfer to steal your money.

However, it could be a scam where she's asked dozens/hundreds of people for a small amount of money, hoping loads of people will do it and round up the requested amount.

Or she could be doing what a 'friend' of ours did, asked for money with a sob story, we sent some, and she came back the next day saying 'the bank swallowed the money because I'm overdrawn, can I have some more'. Er no. Not interested in all manner of practical support, offer to go to foodbank with her, hold hand while seeking budgeting advice and the unpleasant 'maybe you shouldn't be spending £100 a month with Virgin Media if you're a bit skint' variety so now that's a friendship gone.

Or her account could have been hacked and its a criminal scamming her friends not her.

Either way, if you send her money, consider it a gift not a loan it's just as likely shes a CF than truely desperate because that's what people seem to be like unfortunately.

People who want more money than they've currently got see other people with money and want some of it and never seem to notice that the savings or stability is due to being more financially responsible a lot of the time (add obvious disclaimer about of course some people are skint and desperate with no spare money)

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 23/04/2021 10:42

This won’t end with 1 x fiver transfer, just don’t OP, you’re not really even friends with this woman.

Horehound · 23/04/2021 10:59

I wouldn't do it

Tangledtresses · 23/04/2021 11:03

Sounds like a scam to me! Happened to my friend recently.... some one hacked her Facebook and said the phones died she only had a laptop stuck in ditch blah blah blah she sent her £250!!? It was fake
I wouldn't just ignore it or go around to her her and drop off a £5 or take some food over

ChloeCrocodile · 23/04/2021 11:16

Tbh, I don't think I'd give it at all unless it was a good friend or close family member. I wouldn't want to get sucked in to paying more and more.

But if you choose to, I would send via bank transfer rather than paypal personally. You can't access someone's bank details if they transfer money to you. I know this because two weeks ago my brother transferred me some money and I called my bank to see if they could send some back and even the call handler was unable to access the bank details.

tuttifuckinfruity · 23/04/2021 11:36

Bank transfer is safe.

I would be inclined to help her, but you need to check it is actually her and not someone who has hacked into her fb. As you haven't met her in person it may be harder to prove but I would normally just give her a ring and say "just checking that fb message is from you?"

If you can ascertain that it is her, I would send her the money. Bank transfer is safe in that it'll be limited to the £5. If it is some kind of scam, your fivers gone, but it will be limited to that fiver.

I would be inclined to send it because being in such need that you need to ask for £5 is heartbreaking. Poor woman.

fromdownwest · 23/04/2021 11:44

Two words - Money Laundering

Person asks lots of people for small amounts of money, 100 people send £5.
She can then withdraw £500 from said account, as she has a trail of money.

The whole thing sounds weird

Cocomarine · 23/04/2021 14:08

I thought money laundering was where you already had the cash, and needed some way to seemingly legitimately get it into an account?

So telling a friend that you can’t get to the bank, asking them to pay £500 that you give them into their account, and then transferring to yours?

Bank transfer is safe.
Where it goes wrong sometimes is if you buy something advertised and pay in advance - then find out the item never existed, the seller ghosts you, and you can’t get your money back.

It sounds like a scam to me - as others have said, possibly hacked rather than her directly.

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