Fraud - Halifax won't do anything

[holidays75]

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.

If a new phone number was registered to approve this transaction, it wouldn't show on your phone. Which might be why Halifax didn't recognise your number.

It is not a lot of money and it is still pending in the bank, but the bank said they won't decline as it is been approved /done on my device. My main concern is that someone is using my phone and that HALIFAX won't help.

Need to call EE to cancel it straight away.

It sounds like Halifax have someone else's number on your account.
Ask Halifax what the number is on the account and when it was changed. If it was in the last few days that confirms the number is fraudulent and that is Halifax's fault for allowing someone else to call and change the number.

If you don't have the app, then I don't think it can have been authorised on your phone. As far as I know, you can only authorise via the app not the website, or via phone call or text.

It may be worth asking them when the app was allegedly downloaded, and tell them you don't have it. Apologies if I have misunderstood, I'm going on you saying you don't use the app.

Both OP’s bank cards and phone were left unattended in her handbag so it’s likely a combination of the two. Have you stopped your cards as it doesn’t sound like it’s just about your phone?

They could have called to book the hotel as they’d only need the details on the card - maybe the hotel records aren’t accurate.

Though when I get messages on my phone they flash up on the screen so I can see them without going into messages , so maybe they saw the code this way?

It makes sense that they did not need the passcode of the mobile phone to do the booking as it does flash up on it. It is very likely it happened at my friends house. She had someone staying in which was inside the house most of the time while we were in the garden. She also mentioned that he was going to be away for work. I am not sure I should mentioned this to my friend. But the transactions happened on Sunday and I was at her house on Saturday

Some who was inside the house not which was. He had just came from another country and she is letting him stay in while he finds a job. It is all I can think off. I also went to the supermarket and the shops on Sunday but did not leave my phone anywhere

@holidays75 I think I need to change my phone number

I think you also need to change your bank!

Every website you ever go on, on any device can tell what type and possibly even what model of device it is based on the browser you're using.

You need to tell MNHQ that @FixTheBone , it would save them having to ask posters for that info every single time someone reports a fault 😁

Halifax has finally agreed to give me the money back and do an investigation with Holiday Inn after 4 calls and lots of stress that someone got access to my mobile phone somehow.

I told them to give me the time the transaction was done and that I was going to report it to the police as I was concerned someone had clone or used my mobile phone somehow. It was 11:45pm on Sunday evening; they also tried to order food online but the bank stopped that one. I am not sure the bank really has proof it was done on my mobile phone, they said an iphone, everyone has an iphone and I don't have the bank app. There is not really 3D secure for all the transactions at the moment, ?

I am glad you got this sorted albeit after a lot of stress.

If you think it was your friends friend - how would they have got your phone number to do the transaction?

Good to hear it's been resolved, definitely sounds like a low tech use of your card by someone in your friends house rather than a sophsticated cyber crime.

Does your friend know that someone in their house did this?

If the OP left cards and phone unattended then someone could easily do this without having to get into the OPs phone or know their phone number.

The person could have gone onto the Premier Inn website on their own phone, made a booking, and then used the OP’s Halifax card to pay. To authorise the payment, Halifax then send an authorisation code by text message. This flashes up on the OP’s phone screen so the fraudster can see it and then enter the code to authorise the payment. Then they put the OP’s phone and card back in her bag so she wouldn’t know.

I don’t use Halifax so I don’t know if they do send authorisation codes by text, but that is an explanation of how it could have happened.

Although if it did happen like that the OP would have had an unread text message with an authorisation code which would be a bit of a giveaway, so maybe it doesn’t explain it (unless the OP deleted a message without realising what it was, maybe thinking it related to one of their own purchases??)