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Original poster

Scammed and looking for some hope!

48 replies

Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 09:12

I never thought I'd fall for a scam in a million years, and on paper what I fell for last night was so obvious. I guess they're good at what they do and caught me when I was tired/distracted. Anyway, basically I gave an authorisation code to them and they already had all my debit card details somehow so they cleared my bank account. Saw the money disappear from my account while I was on the phone to them. Been reading about the chances of getting money back from the bank and sounds like because I was "negligent" I won't. So just looking for anyone who has been in a similar situation who got it back? Feeling so anxious and violated on top of having no money 😫

OP posts:
DayOfTheDestroyer · 06/10/2022 10:00

Many years ago my brother was victim to something similar.
They phoned on his Bday claimed they were the barclays security team and told him scammers were trying to hack his account and they needed his authorisation code.
Not news you want to hear especially on your birthday. So he told them. He only realised thr scam a few days later.
They had somehow managed to cancel his phone contract with EE. So any notifacations on his phone now would not show.
What made matters worse my mum has asked if he could keep some money aside in his account.
They also took a 5 grand loan out in his name.
My brother was devastated. He had barely any money to buy food even...
(My brother has a good paying job but all his money was in the account)
My brother isnt stupid or anything and like you would never have thought he would fall for one. just these scammer are very smart they been doing it a while.
So dont blame yourself and hope everything gets sorted

Original poster
Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 10:02

@DayOfTheDestroyer Thank you. I feel so ashamed I haven't even told anyone. But I think I will, even if it's just to warn my friends that it can really happen.

OP posts:
ny20005 · 06/10/2022 10:06

When you speak to the bank, be 100% honest about what happened.

The bank may refund so all isn't lost

Original poster
Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 10:07

@ny20005 yes, I spoke to them straight away and told them everything. Think I was clear, despite sobbing hysterically she hopefully understood me! 😫 thank you

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 06/10/2022 10:10

Which bank was it? That will likely determine your chances of getting your money back. I'm sorry this has happened. They're such wankers.

DayOfTheDestroyer · 06/10/2022 10:26

I an not sure if the full details what he did to sort it out.. but was constantly on the phone for weeks sorting it out.
Barclays were excellent he said they immediately helped him with money.. and very quickly wrote off the loan.
It took a while longer but they did return him all the money he lost ( very stressful wait)
They believed he was the vicitm of a scam straight away
Ee were worse didnt do anything for him until months had passed. however after the bank gave his money back he was to his old self. He wasnt gonan take s**t from EE and lay into them and they ended up giving him more than he wanted even.
I cant give much details what he said to the bank and ee as i dont live with him.
But i did visit him regularly for moral support and gave advice as his head was all over the place.

If you have someone you trust and is sensible might be good to talk.. for support and advice.
When this happened to my brother he was in a bad state
HIS ENDED WELL I HOPE YOUR DOES TOO
Good luck.

Original poster
Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 10:51

@mynameiscalypso I'm with First Direct, they're customer service has always been great so will keep fingers crossed that will extend to this too!

OP posts:
Original poster
Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 10:53

@DayOfTheDestroyer I'm so pleased it ended well for him and hope it didn't affect him mentally for too long after. I've definitely learnt a hard lesson! x

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 06/10/2022 10:53

First Direct have signed up to the voluntary code which means that they should reimburse you even if you authorised the payment. You may have to argue for it but I'd be surprised if they didn't reimburse you in the end. Good luck.

Original poster
Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 10:54

@mynameiscalypso that's hopeful, thank you x

OP posts:
Amdone123 · 06/10/2022 10:58

Ahh, so sorry to hear this @Jw1102 . Try not to feel ashamed - as pp said, they're very clever. They're also evil personified.
Some positive posts here regarding getting your money back.
I really hope you get it sorted.
I watch a lot of scam baiting on you tube. The effect it has on people who have been scammed is truly heartbreaking.
Try to stay strong and positive. Easy for me to say, I know.

Original poster
Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 10:59

@Amdone123 thank you x

OP posts:
DayOfTheDestroyer · 06/10/2022 11:16

Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 10:53

@DayOfTheDestroyer I'm so pleased it ended well for him and hope it didn't affect him mentally for too long after. I've definitely learnt a hard lesson! x

Yes after he got it back he was relieved and very quickly returned to his formel self.
HE knew technically it was his fault so he was terrified at the time and he kept apologising to our mother as he felt he had stolen her money since scammers took the money he was holding onto for her.
After he got the money back he was much better and focused his attention on EE who had allowed his phone contract to be cancelled (no real way scammers could do this without EE BEING LAX in their security) and my brother made them pay him money for all the money he lost canceling contract and then some...
This incident was many years ago. I dont think it effects him much now but he is more vigilant for scams..
So am i now i saw how it affected him.
I sincerely hope you get your money back.
This always gets me angry at these scammers. They have no care how it affects ppl lives.

userxx · 06/10/2022 20:41

You have absolutely no reason to feel ashamed, the robbing scumbags on the other end of the phone should be shamed. Bastards.

Original poster
Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 20:44

@userxx thanks so much. x

OP posts:
TheWolves · 06/10/2022 20:48

It wasn't a huge amount but I got scammed into making a bank transfer. I was convinced it was gone, and it took a long time to fix, but I got all the money back.

tribpot · 06/10/2022 20:50

It happened to a friend of mine recently. Definitely not the sort of person I thought would have been taken in, but they caught him at a moment when he was busy and distracted and before he knew it he'd handed over £1400 😩

I'm pleased to say he got all his money back, that was with Barclays. If I had to pick any bank I thought would be good on this issue, it's First Direct (just by reputation for customer service) so I really hope you're going to get your money back too, @Jw1102

Original poster
Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 20:50

@TheWolves that's hopeful then, thank you. I'm very fortunate that I have family who can probably help me out til I hopefully get it back. Could I ask roughly how long it took in your case? Weeks, months, a year? I know every case must be different, just wondering.

OP posts:
TheWolves · 06/10/2022 20:57

Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 20:50

@TheWolves that's hopeful then, thank you. I'm very fortunate that I have family who can probably help me out til I hopefully get it back. Could I ask roughly how long it took in your case? Weeks, months, a year? I know every case must be different, just wondering.

It was a while. It was about six months, roughly.

I had no evidence at all that it wasn't legitimate but the bank still sided with me, thankfully.

In my experience, bank inquiries tend to be resolved in your favour. But I was still convinced that money was gone because I'd transferred it myself.

Original poster
Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 21:01

@TheWolves ok, thanks. Really pleased you got it back even though you had to wait a long time.

OP posts:
Greydogs123 · 06/10/2022 21:02

I recently got scammed and was similarly ‘negligent’, but I called my bank immediately which put a stop on some of the money leaving and the next morning I had long conversation with the fraud dept. detailing everything I had done and they said they would do their best. It had to be investigated by the bank it went to as well (luckily, they could see where it had gone). I was told it could be several months before I had a result - all my money had been taken, thousands - but thankfully I had all my money returned within a month. I am now extremely careful and far more cautious.

TheWolves · 06/10/2022 21:03

Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 21:01

@TheWolves ok, thanks. Really pleased you got it back even though you had to wait a long time.

Yeah it was £600 so I was pretty keen to get it back.

Try not to worry too much. There's a very good chance you'll get yours back too

Original poster
Jw1102 · 06/10/2022 21:07

@Greydogs123 wow. Yeah I called them straight away (took a long time to get through!) and she said it was too late to stop it. So it's pending in my account and it's a horrible thing to see. Keep hoping it will just go away! She said they'd call me at some point in the next week but I think I'll call them myself in a few days to see if I can get any info. Pleased you got your back relatively quickly. I don't think I'll ever answer my phone again to someone I don't know, to try to stay safe! Such a horrible feeling. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

OP posts:
Chickadeeeeeee · 06/10/2022 21:10

I'm so sorry that this has happened to you Can I ask how they scammed you so I can be ok the lookout and vigilant myself.

ILoveMonday · 06/10/2022 21:12

It happened to a neighbour of mine. She's really sensible and smart so I would never have put her down as someone who would fall for it.

I've come to the conclusion that the day I stop feeling vulnerable is the day I'll get scammed.

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