Authorised Push Payment (APP) Compensation

Push payment fraud (also called APP fraud) happens when cybercriminals deceive individuals into sending them money. Because the victim believes the fraudster to be genuine, they authorise the handover of cash. The money is then quickly transferred to different accounts, often abroad, which makes getting it back almost impossible.

Push payment fraud is a serious crime, and victims can suffer financial loss and distress as well as loss of privacy. But, in many push payment scams, banks are reluctant to compensate. So, people can be left not knowing where to turn.

If you have been a victim of this form of cybercrime, Hayes Connor Solicitors can help you to get your money back, as well as compensation for any distress suffered.

At Hayes Connor Solicitors, we have decades of combined experience helping people to claim compensation for push payment fraud caused by an organisation’s negligent handling of their data. We can help you claim for your emotional distress, loss of privacy and any financial losses.

We understand that making a compensation claim for an authorised push payment can be stressful, especially while you are dealing with the emotional impact of having your data exposed. That’s why we make sure you always know what’s happening with your case and remove the jargon from the process to keep things as simple and stress-free as possible.

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Where we believe you have a case for claiming compensation for an authorised push payment, we may be able to act for you on a no win, no fee basis, removing any financial risk from the process of making a claim.

Think you are entitled to compensation for push payment fraud? Use our simple and secure online claim form to share the details of your situation and we will get back to you shortly to let you know whether we can help.

To speak to a member of our team now about what to do if your data has been exposed, please call us on 0330 041 5138.

What is authorised push payment fraud?

Authorised push payment (APP) fraud occurs when an individual or business is tricked into sending money to someone who is posing as a genuine payee. Money is usually paid into an account controlled by a fraudster and is then quickly transferred across multiple accounts, making it difficult to track and recover.

Types of authorised push payment fraud

Push payment fraud is done in many different ways, but the aim is to trick you into thinking you are making a payment to someone you can trust (e.g. bank staff or lawyers).

Typical push payment scams include:

• Sending fake invoices that look genuine (e.g. from a child’s school or a legitimate tradesperson)
• Convincing people to transfer money to someone official, such as a solicitor (e.g. when buying a house)
• Conning people to transfer cash into fraudulent bank accounts
• Sending emails pretending to be from a friend asking for money.

At Hayes Connor, we claim against banks who have failed their clients after they have lost money through no fault of their own. For example, where inadequate processes at a bank made it easy to trick customers into handing over money. This includes where banks have failed to:

• Keep their internal telephone/text/email systems secure
• Keep their internal security protocols safe and secure, allowing fraudsters to easily access to them to commit fraud
• Undertake proper checks on large transactions from clients who don’t normally transfer large sums
• Undertake proper checks on transactions to accounts where there is no history of transactions
• Stop transfers and freeze accounts when they are informed that fraud might be happening
• Liaise with the fraudsters’ banks to chase down the money and/or find out who the money has gone to.

Reporting authorised push payment fraud to the police.

If you have been the victim of an attempted push payment scam, you should contact Action Fraud ASAP. Action Fraud is the national fraud reporting service. However, if you have lost money as a result of the scam, you must also report it as a crime. You should also inform your bank.

Can you get your money back after authorised push payment fraud?

Getting your money back from an authorised push payment fraud criminal.

If someone is convicted of a cybercrime against you, such as authorised push payment fraud the court may order them to pay you compensation. Where the authorities are not interested in pursuing compensation, or where you do not want to make a criminal case, we can assist with a private prosecution.

However, many factors will determine whether this is possible and how successful you are likely to be. First and foremost, the scammer has to be caught, and that is rarely the case. Whether you will get your money back also depends on whether money is available for compensation.

If you’d like to find out more about whether you can seek reimbursement from a cybercriminal, contact us today.

Getting your money back from a bank.

Historically, banks have avoided paying authorised push payment compensation to victims. However, there are protections to help victims of push payment scams to secure compensation. In fact, your bank can only refuse to reimburse stolen funds where you have shown a very significant degree of carelessness. Where a bank refuses compensation for authorised push payment fraud, you can take your case to the Financial Ombudsman service.

What’s more, cyber-criminals often get access to your data because the necessary security processes are not in place. If you have become the victim of push payment fraud because of the negligence of your bank (or any other organisation), you may be able to claim compensation.

Making an authorised push payment fraud claim

What can we do?

If you want to claim compensation following a push payment scam, Hayes Connor can help. Our professional, friendly team will be pleased to answer any questions you might have and advise you on whether you have a valid claim.

We can help you to

• Get your money back (possibly with interest)
• Freeze accounts where the bank has refused to help
• Claim for any distress and stress caused by the fraud
• Seek to recoup money lost from missed financial opportunities
• Hold the banks to account.

Are you owed compensation for authorised push payment fraud?

Our professional, friendly team will advise you on whether you have a valid claim for push payment fraud. If you are not sure whether your data has been misused or mishandled, we can find this out for you.

Once we establish that you have grounds for authorised push payment compensation, we will take care of the whole claims process for you.

Our team will contact the organisation you hold responsible for failing to protect your data. Where we believe you were let down by their security processes, we will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.

To get the claims process started for authorised push payment compensation, you can use our simple and secure online claim form to share the details of your situation and we will get back to you shortly to let you know whether we can help.

To speak to a member of our team now about what to do if you have been a victim of push payment fraud, please call us on 0330 041 5138.

What compensation can you get for authorised push payment fraud?

You can claim compensation for the following if you are the victim of a push payment scam whether the scam has been successful or not.

Financial losses

A push payment scam can involve financial and/or identity fraud. And the result of either of these can be devastating. With enough information, cybercriminals can apply for credit in your name, set up fraudulent bank accounts and access your existing accounts.

Distress, anguish and anxiety

Even if you haven’t lost out financially after a bank or credit card scam, this doesn’t mean that there is “no harm done.” A personal data breach is a 21st-century version of being burgled. If a criminal came into your home and stole your private information, you would be distressed. So why should you feel any less upset at having your personal data taken? Being the victim of a crime can have a significant impact on you mentally and physically. Of course, everyone reacts differently, but for some people, the effects can include a lack of sleep, feeling ill, unsettled or confused.

Loss of privacy

You do not have to have experienced harm as a direct result of a data breach and subsequent push payment scam. If a company does not protect your data in the way it is legally obliged to do, and you have suffered a loss of privacy, you can make a claim. For example, if your email address was stolen or otherwise put at risk.

Start your bank/push payment fraud claim today.

At Hayes Connor Solicitors, we help you to claim authorised push payment compensation and steer you through the aftermath of a bank or credit card scam – minimising the impact on you as much as possible.

With strict time limits in place for making push payment fraud claims it’s important to act now to make sure you don’t miss out on your right to claim.