When you contacted us we told you about the voluntary code designed to protect scam victims.īanks that have signed up to this code agree to identify and, if necessary, stop suspicious payments and to reimburse blameless victims.Īfter several weeks spent investigating, your bank (Santander) refused to refund you. Your experience also shows what a lottery the reimbursement process can be for scam victims. Who among us wouldn't want to help a loved one in need? Instances of WhatsApp impersonation scams rose by 2,000% in 2021, says Lloyds Bank, with an average loss of £1,950. Michael Tomlinson and Mike Croxford, Which? Money Helpline advisers, sayu2026 When I talked to my son shortly after, he said he'd sent no such message. The HSBC account I was asked to transfer the money to wasn't in my son's name, but I thought it might be a friend who he owed money to, so I went ahead. My son sent me a message on WhatsApp, asking if I could pay a £3,600 bill for him because he'd had problems setting up the online payment. Do you have an issue you need to put right? Which? is here to help get your consumer problems sorted.

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