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Hello guys, thanks for reading this. Please allow me to be as informative as I can here.
Last summer, around July 18th I finished my GCSE exams!
I had 12 weeks off so I decided to start a successful social media page called @nerfdbeard.
I was seeking jobs as I needed something to do and needed money to make as I had 12 weeks off of education to burn. I came across an "employer" whom had previously direct messaged me via instagram and was named katsu.sh. He owned a business named KATSU | PLC and it revolved around managing promotions for bigger instagram pages as well as co-owning them and posting content for them, which I did. I thought I had came across a legit job and was making legit money.
I was being paid approx £650 via PayPal and he'd previously requested information such as my name, address, IBAN and BIC code as well as my email address for payment and as I am only 17 I thought this is the information in which you need to apply at a job. I was enjoying the experience and was able to enjoy myself alot more.
I had several payments of £650 from different paypal accounts which all had the name "KATSU | PLC" so I thought nothing of it. Then it came to the eigth payment and it was a bank transfer from international banking (i have emails from the payments) and I thought it was very dodgy and was scared by this so I questioned katsu using my email, then the next email I received was around 12 days later and it was stating the closure of Katsu | PLC and the funds had came through previous to this which I had then moved to my savings account to conserve the amount to make sure no direct debits or anything would take the money as I was going to send it back. As days went on nobody had came into contact with me so I started spending the money which I spent around £200 of.
Then the week later my mother called me and asked why there was someone elses mother from holland messaging her using facebook saying that I had scammed her son.
With no knowledge of this being a scam I told my mother about the business and I was guessing that the owner of Katsu | PLC had given my personal information to this person that was scammed. The senders mother then requested the money back so I then sent the £500 I had remaining of it back and my mother sent the other £150 back.
Then a week later, I was in a supermarket trying to purchase items and then was confronted with the declination of my card at the checkout. In doing so, I then tried to transfer funds from my bank account and was then presented with an error stating that I had to call a number. I then called the number and they then gave me the Fraud number for Lloyds Bank and I called it. They then asked me about fraudulent funds and obviously as I was in a supermarket packed with people and being with my mother I said something random to stop it from becoming awkard. They then told me that my accounts were being closed. From this I was very sadened as was my family and I hated seeing them in such a way.
I suffer from illnesses called depersonalization-derealization, disacociative amnesia and severe anxiety which didn't help with the situation at all and the overall situation actually worsened my symptoms. I then raised a complaint with Lloyds and they told me over the phone that my story would not reverse the decision and that I should change it, therefore following their word I changed it. When I was presented with the final response I was told that they wouldn't change the decision as I had changed my story (which they'd said to do) and I have now complaint to the FOS and am now coming here to seek help as to what to do as I am not very good with formally presenting letters or anything so I am writing to you guys to seek help as to what to do and for someone to perhaps help me with a formal way of telling the financial ombudsmen what happened.
I am stuck and don't think there is any light or a way out, please help me.
Last summer, around July 18th I finished my GCSE exams!
I had 12 weeks off so I decided to start a successful social media page called @nerfdbeard.
I was seeking jobs as I needed something to do and needed money to make as I had 12 weeks off of education to burn. I came across an "employer" whom had previously direct messaged me via instagram and was named katsu.sh. He owned a business named KATSU | PLC and it revolved around managing promotions for bigger instagram pages as well as co-owning them and posting content for them, which I did. I thought I had came across a legit job and was making legit money.
I was being paid approx £650 via PayPal and he'd previously requested information such as my name, address, IBAN and BIC code as well as my email address for payment and as I am only 17 I thought this is the information in which you need to apply at a job. I was enjoying the experience and was able to enjoy myself alot more.
I had several payments of £650 from different paypal accounts which all had the name "KATSU | PLC" so I thought nothing of it. Then it came to the eigth payment and it was a bank transfer from international banking (i have emails from the payments) and I thought it was very dodgy and was scared by this so I questioned katsu using my email, then the next email I received was around 12 days later and it was stating the closure of Katsu | PLC and the funds had came through previous to this which I had then moved to my savings account to conserve the amount to make sure no direct debits or anything would take the money as I was going to send it back. As days went on nobody had came into contact with me so I started spending the money which I spent around £200 of.
Then the week later my mother called me and asked why there was someone elses mother from holland messaging her using facebook saying that I had scammed her son.
With no knowledge of this being a scam I told my mother about the business and I was guessing that the owner of Katsu | PLC had given my personal information to this person that was scammed. The senders mother then requested the money back so I then sent the £500 I had remaining of it back and my mother sent the other £150 back.
Then a week later, I was in a supermarket trying to purchase items and then was confronted with the declination of my card at the checkout. In doing so, I then tried to transfer funds from my bank account and was then presented with an error stating that I had to call a number. I then called the number and they then gave me the Fraud number for Lloyds Bank and I called it. They then asked me about fraudulent funds and obviously as I was in a supermarket packed with people and being with my mother I said something random to stop it from becoming awkard. They then told me that my accounts were being closed. From this I was very sadened as was my family and I hated seeing them in such a way.
I suffer from illnesses called depersonalization-derealization, disacociative amnesia and severe anxiety which didn't help with the situation at all and the overall situation actually worsened my symptoms. I then raised a complaint with Lloyds and they told me over the phone that my story would not reverse the decision and that I should change it, therefore following their word I changed it. When I was presented with the final response I was told that they wouldn't change the decision as I had changed my story (which they'd said to do) and I have now complaint to the FOS and am now coming here to seek help as to what to do as I am not very good with formally presenting letters or anything so I am writing to you guys to seek help as to what to do and for someone to perhaps help me with a formal way of telling the financial ombudsmen what happened.
I am stuck and don't think there is any light or a way out, please help me.
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