Beware of the direct debit scam
Hello again, I hope I find you all well,
I would like tell you about something that happened to me and something I think we should all be vigilant about,
A few weeks ago, whilst checking my bank balance, I noticed money had been taken out for direct debits that I never set up and were certainly not mine, I immediately rang the bank to inform them and they told me I had to call the fraud line!
Anyway, I eventually got through and explained what happened, it seems it was good timing as there were another 5 direct debits due to come out which were not mine.
The natwest fraud person explained to me that this was happening all over the country at an alarmingly high level, it seems criminals were using my bank details to set up direct debit payments from various mobile phone companies including o2.
These companies do not check the direct debit details that are given to them when an order is placed. The fraudsters can use any name, any address and then someone elses bank details to go through the credit check, so unless you are vigilant, you will end up paying for someone else,s phone bill.
All they need is your account number and sort code to be able to do this, so if you have ever lost your card and requested a new one, and your lost card ends up in the wrong hands, they can still use it as the account number and sort code always remains the same!
I certainly think the banks should look into this and have more safety checks in place when someone sets up a direct debit,
How hard could it be to match the DD details to the actual application? The fraud person told me that the phones that were set up with my details were being sent out to addresses all over the uk, isn’t it just common sense that the DD details should match the name and address to which the items were sent?
In fairness to natwest they were quick to refund the money, but that’s what the direct debit guarantee is for, but worryingly they could not promise that it would not happen again, just be vigilant and check your bank on a daily basis was their advice.
So there we are, thought I should make you aware, if you do see anything strange on your bank account, please call the bank, I would hate to think you were paying for someone elses iphone 5!
Until the next time take care and stay safe
Carl Abbott