We understand how distressing it can be to lose money in a scam. To assist you in recovering your funds, it’s essential to provide comprehensive evidence of the scam. This article is your guide to gathering and submitting the right information to give your claim its best chance. Whilst not everyone can become victorious by winning their claim, providing evidence is one of the most important steps you can take…
Why Is Evidence So Important?
When investigating a scam, your bank and the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) need as much supporting evidence as possible. This helps them understand the nature of the scam, verify your claim, and progress with the investigation. Failing to provide detailed evidence can delay the process, and in some cases, could lead to your claim being closed without a resolution.
Below is a breakdown of the key types of evidence that will help you build a case.
-
Conversations with the Scammer
One of the most critical pieces of evidence is the communication you had with the scammer. Whether you communicated via email, WhatsApp, Telegram, or another messaging platform, saving and providing these conversations is essential.
Here is how to provide copies of these conversations, as evidence that you were tricked by scammer:
WhatsApp (iPhone): Open the chat, tap the person’s or group’s name at the top, scroll down, and select “Export Chat.” You can choose whether to include media (images, videos, etc.)
WhatsApp (Android): Open the chat, tap the three dots in the upper right-hand corner, select “More,” and then “Export Chat.”
Telegram: Export chats by opening the menu in any chat and choosing “Export Chat History.”
Emails: Save emails as PDFs. For most email platforms, this can be done by selecting the “Print” option and choosing “Save as PDF” instead of printing.
By converting these chats into a text-only format, you make it easier for the bank and FOS to assess the nature of your communication with the scammer.
-
Screenshots of the Scam Website or App
If the scam involved a website or app, make sure to capture screenshots of any relevant pages. These may include:
– The scammer’s website or app interface.
– Promises or guarantees made by the scammer.
– Any messages or pop-ups that might show how the scam operated.
Screenshots provide visual proof of the scammer’s methods and promises, helping to show how you were misled.
-
Your Bank Statements
A key part of evidencing a scam claim is showing unusual activity on your bank account compared to your normal usage. The bank and FOS typically request the last 12 months of bank statements leading up to the final payment to the scammer. If your account has been open for less than 12 months, simply provide all statements since the account was opened.
Providing bank statements is more straightforward than you might think:
Open Banking: This is the quickest and most convenient way to share your bank statements with Allegiant. Through open banking, we can gain read-only access to your bank transactions and retrieve the necessary information.
Download Statements: If you prefer not to use open banking, you can download your statements directly from your bank’s online portal. Most banks offer this feature, and statements are typically downloadable as PDFs.
For example:
– Barclays, HSBC, NatWest: These banks allow you to access your transaction history through their mobile apps or online banking sites.
– Monzo, Revolut: These platforms offer options to download your bank statements via their mobile apps.
Be sure to highlight or note any transactions made to the scammer, to avoid the investigation into your claim getting delayed.
-
Crypto Transaction History (if applicable)
If the scam involved cryptocurrency, it’s crucial to show the money was transferred to the scammer and not just moved into your crypto wallet. Cryptocurrencies, while secure in some ways, make it difficult to trace or recover funds once they’ve been sent. Here is how to provide the crypto transaction history:
Binance: Generate your transaction history directly from Binance Support.
Coinbase: You can download your transaction history from your Coinbase account.
eToro: Look for your investment history on the eToro app or website.
Kraken: Export your account history through the Kraken platform.
Other Crypto Platforms: Most platforms, such as OKX, MoonPay, or HTX (formerly Huobi), offer transaction history export features.
-
A Detailed Explanation of the Scam
In addition to the above documents, you will also need to provide a detailed explanation of how the scam unfolded. This should include:
Initial contact: How did the scammer reach out to you? Was it through social media, email, or phone?
Their claims or promises: What did the scammer promise? Did they offer investment opportunities, loans, or job offers?
Your transactions: Provide a timeline of all payments made to the scammer, including dates, amounts, and any specific references.
The clearer your explanation, the easier it will be for the bank or FOS to understand how the scam progressed and the losses you incurred.
How Allegiant Finance Can Help
At Allegiant Finance, we are dedicated to making the claim process as straightforward as possible. Our Allegiant Portal is designed for you to connect your bank, in a streamlined and secure environment, allowing Allegiant read-only access to your bank statements and transaction history.
We can also guide you through any issues you may face when collecting evidence. Whether it’s accessing bank statements or retrieving chat logs, we’re here to help every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if I cannot provide all the evidence?
A: In some cases, it may be difficult to gather all the evidence. For example, if you’ve lost access to certain chats or bank accounts, let us know. We will help you explain these challenges to the bank or FOS and advise you on what alternative information might be acceptable.
Q: Do I need to use Open Banking to share my bank statements?
A: No, using open banking is optional. However, it is the fastest and most secure way to share your bank statements with Allegiant. If you prefer not to use it, you can download your statements manually and send them as PDFs.
Q: What if the scam happened more than a year ago?
A: In most cases, you’ll still need to provide 12 months of bank statements up to the final payment to the scammer. If the scam occurred longer ago, let us know, and we can discuss how to proceed.
Q: Can Allegiant help with crypto scams?
A: Yes, Allegiant can assist with claims involving cryptocurrency. However, it’s essential that you provide the transaction history showing the transfer of funds to the scammer, as this will be a key piece of evidence.
Victim to Victory?
By providing comprehensive and detailed evidence of your scam, you might significantly increase your chances of a successful reimbursement. At Allegiant Finance, we are honest and will never guarantee success, but we’re here to support you throughout this process, ensuring you have the right guidance to gather and submit the necessary documents.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us.
If you are ready to start a new claim, ‘Apply Now’ at https://allegiant.co.uk/fraud-scam-form/fraud-scams-and-investments-shams/.
Finally, here are some sites and pages which you might find helpful when gathering your claim evidence together: