Not upheld: CIFAS fraud marker lodgement complaint against Monzo Bank Limited

Decision detail

Summary

Mr A complained that Monzo improperly lodged a CIFAS fraud marker on his account after they received a report that £250 sent to him was fraudulent. Mr A claimed the money was from a friend as payment for a restaurant bill, but could not provide evidence of the meal. The ombudsman found that Monzo had sufficient evidence that Mr A was knowingly receiving fraudulent funds, including the complaint from another bank's customer, Mr A's inability to corroborate his story, suspicious movement of the funds, changing testimony, and a pattern of receiving and forwarding payments. The ombudsman upheld Monzo's decision to lodge the marker as compliant with CIFAS requirements.

The Ombudsman's reasoning

The ombudsman applied the CIFAS marker requirements, which mandate reasonable grounds to believe fraud was committed and clear, relevant, rigorous evidence. The ombudsman found that Monzo had sufficient evidence: the complaint from another bank's customer, Mr A's inability to provide corroborating evidence of the restaurant meal, the suspicious movement of funds immediately after receipt, Mr A's changing testimony, the pattern of receiving and forwarding payments, and Mr A's overseas location making the restaurant story implausible. The ombudsman concluded Mr A was knowingly receiving fraudulent funds and that Monzo acted properly in lodging the marker.

How this compares

Source

Read the original decision on the Financial Ombudsman Service website