Scam Victim Left Empty-Handed
A woman in the UK fell victim to a scam that cost her £3,600 and left her without a new office. Lucy Fletcher, a beauty therapist, purchased a purpose-built shipping container office that she found on Facebook Marketplace. She exchanged messages and phone calls with the seller and even received official-looking invoices. However, the office was never delivered, and her bank only offered to refund half the amount.
Desperate Measures
In an attempt to make room for her new office, Fletcher made the drastic decision to burn down her old office. Unfortunately, this only added insult to injury as she never received the promised replacement. She now feels vulnerable and has lost both money and potential business. Fletcher is urging others to be more aware of scams and to stay vigilant.
Bank's Response
Fletcher believes that her bank, Santander, should have done more to prevent the scam. While the bank initially detected the potential fraud and blocked the payment, they completed the transaction after a phone conversation with Fletcher. Santander states that they have thoroughly reviewed the case and, in accordance with the Contingent Reimbursement Model Code, they have offered to reimburse half of the lost money.
Similar Scam Stories
This incident comes after another customer, Paul Henderson, had £100,000 disappear from his Co-op account. Henderson, a pensioner from Leicester, received three phone calls claiming to be from the bank's fraud department. He believes that he was scammed out of his life savings. These stories serve as a reminder for people to be cautious and vigilant when it comes to their finances.
