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| 'Fake bank app allowed scammers to shake my hand and steal from me' | 'Fake bank app allowed scammers to shake my hand and steal from me' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Anthony Rudd had power tools stolen in a fake banking app scam | Anthony Rudd had power tools stolen in a fake banking app scam |
| A man who lost £1,000 worth of tools after being scammed by a fake banking app has said it makes you "lose faith in humanity". | A man who lost £1,000 worth of tools after being scammed by a fake banking app has said it makes you "lose faith in humanity". |
| The apps mimic legitimate mobile banking platforms and allow fraudsters to fake bank transfers in person, show the seller a "successful payment" message and then walk away, leaving sellers thousands of pounds out of pocket. | |
| Dr Tim Day, lead in doorstep crime and scams for the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), described the apps as an "emerging threat." He added: "The in-person nature of this scam is unusual." | Dr Tim Day, lead in doorstep crime and scams for the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), described the apps as an "emerging threat." He added: "The in-person nature of this scam is unusual." |
| Victim Anthony Rudd said: "I found it absolutely sickening that you could look someone in the eye, shake their hand, and then rob them." | Victim Anthony Rudd said: "I found it absolutely sickening that you could look someone in the eye, shake their hand, and then rob them." |
| About 500 reports of crimes involving fake banking apps have been made to Action Fraud in the past three years. | About 500 reports of crimes involving fake banking apps have been made to Action Fraud in the past three years. |
| Some of these apps were available on the Google Play store in the past but were removed. Google said the "safety and security of users is our top priority". | Some of these apps were available on the Google Play store in the past but were removed. Google said the "safety and security of users is our top priority". |
| Now, BBC West Investigations have found versions of the apps available elsewhere online which can be downloaded directly to Android phones without the use of an official app store. | Now, BBC West Investigations have found versions of the apps available elsewhere online which can be downloaded directly to Android phones without the use of an official app store. |
| Mr Rudd's power tools were listed for sale on a social media platform | Mr Rudd's power tools were listed for sale on a social media platform |
| Mechanic Mr Rudd was selling more than £1,000 worth of power tools on a social media platform when he received a message from a profile named Liam Wright. | Mechanic Mr Rudd was selling more than £1,000 worth of power tools on a social media platform when he received a message from a profile named Liam Wright. |
| When "Mr Wright" said he was interested in viewing them, Mr Rudd invited him to come to his workshop in Salisbury, Wiltshire. | When "Mr Wright" said he was interested in viewing them, Mr Rudd invited him to come to his workshop in Salisbury, Wiltshire. |
| After the man arrived, he checked over the tools, offered a bank transfer and opened what appeared to be a banking app. | After the man arrived, he checked over the tools, offered a bank transfer and opened what appeared to be a banking app. |
| "He handed his phone over to me and I typed in my account details, clicked send, and it came up with a successful payment notification," Mr Rudd said. | "He handed his phone over to me and I typed in my account details, clicked send, and it came up with a successful payment notification," Mr Rudd said. |
| "It looked absolutely genuine." | "It looked absolutely genuine." |
| While Mr Rudd was waiting for the money to appear in his bank account, he turned his back to pick up accessories to hand over as part of the sale. | While Mr Rudd was waiting for the money to appear in his bank account, he turned his back to pick up accessories to hand over as part of the sale. |
| The scammer used this opportunity to leave with all the tools, but the money never arrived in Mr Rudd's bank account. | The scammer used this opportunity to leave with all the tools, but the money never arrived in Mr Rudd's bank account. |
| The fake banking apps have features that mimic legitimate banking platforms | The fake banking apps have features that mimic legitimate banking platforms |
| "He came into my workplace and took my tools," Mr Rudd said. | "He came into my workplace and took my tools," Mr Rudd said. |
| "It angered me so much that someone could be so brazen, but it's also embarrassing that I allowed this to happen." | "It angered me so much that someone could be so brazen, but it's also embarrassing that I allowed this to happen." |
| Mr Rudd resigned from his job because he said the scam had "a huge impact" on his mental health. | Mr Rudd resigned from his job because he said the scam had "a huge impact" on his mental health. |
| "You lose faith in humanity, that someone could be that low," he said. | "You lose faith in humanity, that someone could be that low," he said. |
| Wiltshire Police told Mr Rudd it will not be taking any further action as it has been unable to identify the suspect since the incident on 11 February. | Wiltshire Police told Mr Rudd it will not be taking any further action as it has been unable to identify the suspect since the incident on 11 February. |
| John Reddock was selling a gold bracelet online when he was scammed | John Reddock was selling a gold bracelet online when he was scammed |
| It was a similar story for John Reddock, from Liverpool. | It was a similar story for John Reddock, from Liverpool. |
| He was selling a gold bracelet in the hope he could use the money to take his two children on holiday to Spain. | He was selling a gold bracelet in the hope he could use the money to take his two children on holiday to Spain. |
| He also used a social media platform to advertise the item, which he listed for £2,000. | He also used a social media platform to advertise the item, which he listed for £2,000. |
| "I was trying to do something nice for my kids and it backfired on me," said Mr Reddock. | "I was trying to do something nice for my kids and it backfired on me," said Mr Reddock. |
| Two men arrived at his house to view the bracelet and decided they were happy to go ahead with the purchase, offering a bank transfer. | Two men arrived at his house to view the bracelet and decided they were happy to go ahead with the purchase, offering a bank transfer. |
| Mr Reddock told them his bank account details and one of them typed it into what appeared to be a banking app on their phone. | Mr Reddock told them his bank account details and one of them typed it into what appeared to be a banking app on their phone. |
| It then showed a payment successful notification. | It then showed a payment successful notification. |
| Mr Reddock was hoping to use the money from selling the gold bracelet to take his children on holiday | Mr Reddock was hoping to use the money from selling the gold bracelet to take his children on holiday |
| They left with the bracelet but Mr Reddock never received the money. | They left with the bracelet but Mr Reddock never received the money. |
| "It's given me nightmares and sleepless nights. I'm disgusted about what they've done to me," he said. | "It's given me nightmares and sleepless nights. I'm disgusted about what they've done to me," he said. |
| "It's made me really angry because I was trying to do something good for my kids, and they came to my property to steal from me." | "It's made me really angry because I was trying to do something good for my kids, and they came to my property to steal from me." |
| Mr Reddock reported the incident to the police but no further action was taken. | Mr Reddock reported the incident to the police but no further action was taken. |
| The men faked a bank transfer of £2,000 for the gold bracelet | The men faked a bank transfer of £2,000 for the gold bracelet |
| BBC West Investigations found the fake banking apps - which we are not naming so as not to promote them - are available to download onto an android phone directly from the internet. | BBC West Investigations found the fake banking apps - which we are not naming so as not to promote them - are available to download onto an android phone directly from the internet. |
| Dr Day said: "So much of fraud is now happening online that it's easy to drop our guards when dealing with people in person. | Dr Day said: "So much of fraud is now happening online that it's easy to drop our guards when dealing with people in person. |
| "It gives us a false sense of security but fraud and scams are just as likely to happen in this space." | "It gives us a false sense of security but fraud and scams are just as likely to happen in this space." |
| Dr Day said it also shows how scams are becoming "more complex and sophisticated". | Dr Day said it also shows how scams are becoming "more complex and sophisticated". |
| "The amount of money which is available as a result of fraud is so huge and the relative levels of enforcement possible means it's a crime type which is attracting more and more professional criminals," he added. | "The amount of money which is available as a result of fraud is so huge and the relative levels of enforcement possible means it's a crime type which is attracting more and more professional criminals," he added. |
| He said that tech companies need to be "more engaged" in driving out fraud on online platforms. | He said that tech companies need to be "more engaged" in driving out fraud on online platforms. |
| How to avoid the scam | How to avoid the scam |
| UK Finance represents more than 300 firms in the UK's banking and financial industry. A spokesperson said the fake banking app scam is "a concern" and they gave the following safety advice: | UK Finance represents more than 300 firms in the UK's banking and financial industry. A spokesperson said the fake banking app scam is "a concern" and they gave the following safety advice: |
| Do not be pressured into accepting payment by bank transfer | Do not be pressured into accepting payment by bank transfer |
| Never hand over goods unless you are sure you have received the money and check your own bank account to see if the payment has arrived | Never hand over goods unless you are sure you have received the money and check your own bank account to see if the payment has arrived |
| Check if the buyer has a newly-registered profile before you meet them as this may mean they are not who they say they are | Check if the buyer has a newly-registered profile before you meet them as this may mean they are not who they say they are |
| More information about staying safe from scams can be found here. | More information about staying safe from scams can be found here. |
| Sebastian Liberek sells and repairs phones and computers | Sebastian Liberek sells and repairs phones and computers |
| But this is of little comfort to Sebastian Liberek, who runs his business Seb's Repairs in Gloucester. | But this is of little comfort to Sebastian Liberek, who runs his business Seb's Repairs in Gloucester. |
| He sells and repairs phones, tablets and computers and has been targeted by fraudsters – who walked directly into his shop - using fake banking apps on three occasions in recent months. | He sells and repairs phones, tablets and computers and has been targeted by fraudsters – who walked directly into his shop - using fake banking apps on three occasions in recent months. |
| He said he has lost hundreds of pounds to a bank transfer faked by a customer. | He said he has lost hundreds of pounds to a bank transfer faked by a customer. |
| "It makes you feel angry and vulnerable," Mr Liberek said. | "It makes you feel angry and vulnerable," Mr Liberek said. |
| "When you've spent 15 years building a business and someone can chip at it and take pieces away without consequences." | "When you've spent 15 years building a business and someone can chip at it and take pieces away without consequences." |
| Mr Liberek has now installed extra security measures such as CCTV to protect his business from future attempts. | Mr Liberek has now installed extra security measures such as CCTV to protect his business from future attempts. |
| "The fact it's happened three times, it will probably happen a fourth time," he said. | "The fact it's happened three times, it will probably happen a fourth time," he said. |
| "There's nowhere to go, you cannot find them, you can report them to police, but chances of anything being done about it are fairly slim. | "There's nowhere to go, you cannot find them, you can report them to police, but chances of anything being done about it are fairly slim. |
| "It's a situation without answer, or ending." | "It's a situation without answer, or ending." |
| A government spokesperson said they were taking "ambitious steps to tackle the evolving threat of fraud". | |
| "In the coming months, we will set out further details including plans to strengthen international cooperation, introduce better protections against AI-enabled fraud, and increase collaboration between government and the private sector," they added. | |
| If you want to contact us regarding this story, email westinvestigations@bbc.co.uk | If you want to contact us regarding this story, email westinvestigations@bbc.co.uk |
| Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. | Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. |