The scam might feel the same to the victim, but if card details are used to steal money, the rules are different – that’s because the October rules mentioned above don’t apply.
Richard Daniels at TSB stresses that again, the steps to follow are the same – report it to the bank and gather evidence – and each case will be assessed on its merits.
But one thing that can make it harder to get your money back is if you’ve bought something for the criminals, a common example being where people are tricked into buying gift cards.
In these cases, Paul Hampson from CEL solicitors says that from the bank’s point of view you’ve made a legitimate purchase: “On those occasions it’s very difficult. There isn’t a lot we can do for people where that’s happened.”
However, if you’ve bought something from an online seller that turns out to be a fraud (remember the Great Knitted Cardigan Scam?) your chances are much better.
Banks are generally pretty quick at refunding these lower amounts if it’s a genuine scam, says Richard Daniels.
Other payments will be treated differently – for example credit card purchases have extra protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
And an increasingly common tactic involves digital wallets – think Apple Pay or Google Pay – with criminals using your card to set one up. “In most cases when we consider it is a true victim of a fraud or scam, they’ll get a refund,” says Richard Daniels of TSB.
In general, banks should be spotting spending patterns that are out of character as part of their fraud controls, says David Geale. So that’s something worth pointing out when you’re making your case for a refund.
