Fraud & scam claims

There are several different ways that these ‘professional scammers’ essentially trick people into transferring money to them. Some of the most common are: Investment Scams, Impersonation Scams, Romance Scams and Purchase Scams. All of these are classed as “APPs” (Authorised Push Payments) because the victim authorises the payment themselves – unbeknownst to them, they are falling victim to a scam.

Investment Scams are one of the more common avenues that fraudsters will use to steal a victim’s money. The fraudsters often contact their victims out of the blue while posing as representatives of legitimate investment firms which ensures that the scam looks like a valid investment opportunity. The fraudsters can offer very slick and professional guidance throughout the process which only further legitimises the ruse. These scams tend to offer low risk-high reward opportunities which further entices would be investors in. The fraudsters will contact their victims by cold calls, emails or messages.

An Impersonation Scam is when a fraudster poses as legitimate and reputable entity such as banks, HMRC, utility companies and service providers. The fraudsters will essentially exert pressure on victims into making payments to them. The fraudsters will use tactics such as providing fake invoices, urgent payment demands or even requesting that their target move some money for ‘safekeeping’ due to their bank accounts being compromised and funds being at risk. The fraudsters will contact their victims by cold calls, emails or messages and both individuals and companies can be targeted.

Romance Scams involve fraudsters praying on their victim’s vulnerabilities. Fraudsters will create fake profiles on dating websites and/or social media platforms and will look to strike-up a romantic relationship with their victims in what is essentially a financially motivated form of ‘catfishing’. The fraudsters will often say that they are abroad and will manipulate their victim into sending money to them for an emergency such as medical bills, travel expenses or even investment opportunities such as cryptocurrency. The fraudsters promise their victim that they will return the money to them in the near future. However, once the victim starts to become suspicious and stops sending money, the fraudsters then simply cease contact with the victim leaving them with little chance of recourse.

Purchase Scams involve the fraudsters posing as private sellers and advertising non-existent goods for sale often at discounted prices. Platforms such as eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace are used. Additionally, the fraudsters may even set up clone websites made to look like genuine retailers in order to entice their victims in. Common goods that the fraudsters advertise for sale include motor vehicles, technology products and holidays. Once the scammer has been paid, they disappear, and the products are never delivered. Such scams often involve requests for direct bank transfers, PayPal payments or even payments to a crypto wallet.

Firstly, if you believe that you have been the victim of a scam then the first thing that you should do is report this to the police. Then, if you have incurred financial losses as a result of the scam then you have the option to seek legal advice.

You can of course complain directly to your bank and the Financial Ombudsman Service. However, victims of Fraud often blame themselves when they have authorised the payment and their bank may also suggest that the victim is at fault. This leads victims to then believe that they have no way of recovering their financial losses suffered as a result of the scam.

This experience can understandably evoke feelings of anger, embarrassment and upset – and therefore dealing with the bank and/or Financial Ombudsman Service can be a daunting, time consuming and frustrating process. Our team of expert lawyers can take this burden from you and liaise with both the bank and/or the Financial Ombudsman Service on your behalf.

Therefore, if you feel that you have been the victim of a Scam, then please request a free claim assessment to discuss your personal circumstances further.

Firstly, you must ensure to bring a claim within the last 6 years – or 3 years from the date that you became aware that the fraud/scam had occurred. Therefore, if you feel that you have been the victim of a Fraud or Scam then you should act now.

Secondly, the amount that you can recover varies but the aim is to recover the entirety of the lost monies. On top of this there is the possibility of recovering interest (8%) and potentially a compensatory amount for the inconvenience and stress caused.

Additionally, we work on a no win no fee basis. If your claim is unsuccessful then you do not pay us a penny. We also offer a free initial consultation, during which we will discuss your claim in detail as well as answering any questions that you may have regarding the claims process.