I'm afraid that Barclays Bank having Romanian 'money mule' accounts is sadly a major problem affecting UK banking presently. It's the most extraordinary phenomenon I've ever heard of and I was in UK banking all my life before I retired. Out of the last 100 accounts reported here something like 98 have been with that bank and most of those have had Romanian names.
I know that one person is in contact with a UK newspaper over the issue but I don't have any further details or know if it's going anywhere as regards a story. The amount of stolen money currently being laundered must be phenomenal considering that the amount of each one is usually in the order of £5,000, though much larger amounts have been reported, and it's not just claiming UK victims. I've spoken to Greek and Dutch victims.
I've contacted a scammer myself as a spoof victim and guess what they offered me to launder the money they wanted to scam off me ? Just trying to get an idea of the number of scam ads being placed is worrying enough.
If the authorities don't get a grip then ad sites will be dead. I'd complain to the bank and then take it to the FOS on the basis that there appears to be a systemic problem. Until it's admitted there's a problem, nothing can or will be done about it. If everyone who had been scammed went to the FOS the FOS would collapse under the strain.
The situation is really quite bizarre.
This is a newspaper story about another victim from a few months ago.
http://www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/barclays-accused-in-ebay-car-sale-scam-8580967.htmlThe UK is reputed to have the most stringent money laundering legislation in the world, but seemingly it doesn't apply to money obtained fraudulently. It has been said that we have the legislation, but fail to apply it.
The horror is, that if people get to understand how easy it is to perform this type of fraud and get away with it, our whole banking system is going to start wobbling again as everyone joins in. I can tell you the best way to do it, though of course I won't, but it makes it ridiculously easy for the authorities to work out who's involved.
in the old days a person would turn up with a suitcase full of cash, but nowadays a 'money mule' herder could easily pass upwards of £250,000 through his accounts without it causing a ripple. It's the most secure way for a fraudster to handle money. Now I can spot the ads, I can be sure of pulling the accounts off the herders, but I know I can't do it faster than they can open them. Considering that it destroys trust in the implements of commerce you'd think it worth protecting.
I''ll just grit my teeth and get on with it.