But, it is potentially extremely useful for identity thieves using social engineering attacks to get past your bank’s call-centre staff, which is a class of attack that well-known media personalities are generally somewhat less at risk from. Mr Kwame probably won’t get very far phoning up claiming to be Mr Clarkson having forgotten his password.

In any case, I’d agree that you can report the case to the police – however, I think in most cases of reported crime (excepting domestic violence, crimes where the victim is a minor, etc) if the victim doesn’t want to press charges then charges won’t be pressed. I also think that the bank would legally be the victim in this scenario, so they may have the final say.

You assume that you only complain to the bank. You will naturally do that because you want your money back and that is the best place to start.

Surely you could also complain to the police yourself?

Surely it’s not just up to the bank to raise the complaint that triggers the criminal prosecution?

Or if my electricity supplier had to give your bank the money back, they wouldn’t report me for fraud (even though they weren’t at fault at all)?

But given that the transfer is fraudulent and is very likely to be challenged by the owner of bank account, it is of even less benefit to our miscreant, unless of course he wishes to piss off two lots of people at once, say by randomly transfer cash from people they’re annoyed with to charities they DON’T support…