Unauthorised Scam – Refund Restored

Lost money to a Unauthorised Scam?

We help victims of Unauthorised Scams recover their money.

What to do if you’ve lost money in a Unauthorised Scam

Banks regularly deny claims for unfair reasons. A fraud gets called a civil matter, a generic pop-up gets called a warning, or a convincing scam gets judged with hindsight. None of those reasons is the final word. Decisions can be challenged and escalated to the Financial Ombudsman Service, and we know where they most often go wrong.

How to spot an unauthorised scam

Unauthorised fraud is when money leaves your account without your consent. A stolen card, a stolen phone or a fraudster who has talked their way into your online banking can all lead to payments you never agreed to make. If this has happened to you, you have strong protections for a refund, although banks don’t always apply them fairly.

Examples of unauthorised fraud

Shoulder Surfing

A physical way of being the victim of unauthorised fraud is shoulder surfing. This is where a fraudster looks over your shoulder when you are taking money out of a cashpoint as you enter your pin number. Usually, they will film this or note the number down. Fraudsters will also look to watch you enter your pin number on your phone, which will allow them access to your online banking and your card if they steal your phone or cards.

Remote Access

Fraudsters can remotely access your account or computer in several ways and make payments from your account to an account controlled by them. A more common example of this is “safe account” scams, where the fraudster will trick you into giving them access to your account by pretending to be your bank and asking you to share a verification code, which allows them access to your online banking. Fraudsters can also pretend to be tech support or the police and may need access to your account for various reasons.