I was tricked into being a money mule

I got a message from one of my closest friends. She sent me on Snapchat a post from one of her other friends who went to the same church’s as me and her about ways to earn more money as a university student from student finance. She sent it as a kind gesture like “this may help you, contact him, but I’m not sure” so I added the boys Snapchat. And messaged him asking what it was about. And he said that it was a way to get more money from student finance, increase my loan so my rent can be paid and I’d have money to spare. I had no idea that any of this will happen. I thought it was legitimate because when I was actually applying for my student loan, there was a bunch of extra questions to fill out to get a larger loan. I done that however it failed and I still ended up getting the lowest. The loan I get is not even enough to cover my rent, let alone food or travel etc. so I thought the guy who was a friend of a friend from *my old church would be trustworthy. I followed his instructions. He asked me for all my bank details, my card number and pin at the back. My address, a picture of my passport with me holding it and also a university acceptance letter. I thought if he was asking for my university acceptance letter then that means there’s no possibility I would lose money. So I sent all those in and waited for his response. He also gave me his contact details. He came back and said I was eligible for a £5900 student loan instead and that it would come installments. I believed him. Then he told me it would land in my account in a few days, however when I messaged him about it the money not coming in, he said there was a problem with my application and that the photo I sent wasn’t clear so I had to resend it. Then I waited. And he said the first installment that would come would be a bit over £1000. I was so happy. Then I waited and waited, occasionally he would text me. Asking for a security code That would send to my mobile phone. I didn’t think anything of it. Then I checked my bank account at one point and my mother gave me £500 to pay my rent at the end of December. I saw that the money was sent to a Payee called A. I was so scared and messaged Him asking if that was him. And he said yes. And I asked him to send me the money back immediately. He said he would but kept taking long to reply and changing the subject. I asked my friend who knew him to message and call as well but he wasn’t answering at all. After a while he came back and said that the money would land again. And this time it actually did. Then all my doubts disappeared. Then he asked me to withdraw it. In my account was £1600 and something. And he told me to withdraw £1100 from the NatWest bank. So I did then he told me to meet one of his associates. In a student accommodation called crown place. I gave the man the cash and they said they would get back to me. He gave me a 2nd phone number and told me not to contact him on the first one. It is However after a while, my bank account wouldn’t let me in. It got blocked. I called the bank and they said to call the fraud team. So I did and they referred me to another team. I talked to them and they told me that my account was used to hold fraudulent money. I was SO SHOCKED. And on they phone they were being so rude to me making me feel like I deserved this and that it was my plan all along. However I have screenshots and voice notes from him. I knew nothing at all. From what he told me was that it was coming from student finance. I trusted him because he was someone that one of my closest friends knew personally from church. So I have lost £500 that my mum gave to me for rent. And also he took all of the £1100 and I didn’t get any “student loan installment money”.

I legit had no idea at all. It would’ve been different if this person was a complete stranger but they weren’t. And I admit I was really stupid but I didn’t do any of this with malicious intent. I hope the evidence I have will help me. Like the voice notes, text messages and also phone number and Snapchat details. What do you guys think I should do next? I’ve submitted the evidence to the email the bank provided me on the phone.

But also there a thousands of people in my same position, so there should be a law that favours us if we have enough evidence that we were conned, because believe It or not its common in teenagers and elderly people sadly. Far too common, especially in people who use "snapchat plugs".

No, there should not be a law to 'favour you'. You broke the rules, your negligence and irresponsibility cost the bank money and funded crime and fraud. And you want a law to favour you... Jesus.

I don’t think you read properly. Go back. I said a law that favours people in my position. I agree I was stupid however there a plenty of others this happens to as well. So this situation is not just a one time thing. I guarantee you’ve another thread like this one.

I got a message from one of my closest friends. She sent me on Snapchat a post from one of her other friends who went to the same church’s as me and her about ways to earn more money as a university student from student finance. She sent it as a kind gesture like “this may help you, contact him, but I’m not sure” so I added the boys Snapchat. And messaged him asking what it was about. And he said that it was a way to get more money from student finance, increase my loan so my rent can be paid and I’d have money to spare. I had no idea that any of this will happen. I thought it was legitimate because when I was actually applying for my student loan, there was a bunch of extra questions to fill out to get a larger loan. I done that however it failed and I still ended up getting the lowest. The loan I get is not even enough to cover my rent, let alone food or travel etc. so I thought the guy who was a friend of a friend from *my old church would be trustworthy. I followed his instructions. He asked me for all my bank details, my card number and pin at the back. My address, a picture of my passport with me holding it and also a university acceptance letter. I thought if he was asking for my university acceptance letter then that means there’s no possibility I would lose money. So I sent all those in and waited for his response. He also gave me his contact details. He came back and said I was eligible for a £5900 student loan instead and that it would come installments. I believed him. Then he told me it would land in my account in a few days, however when I messaged him about it the money not coming in, he said there was a problem with my application and that the photo I sent wasn’t clear so I had to resend it. Then I waited. And he said the first installment that would come would be a bit over £1000. I was so happy. Then I waited and waited, occasionally he would text me. Asking for a security code That would send to my mobile phone. I didn’t think anything of it. Then I checked my bank account at one point and my mother gave me £500 to pay my rent at the end of December. I saw that the money was sent to a Payee called A. I was so scared and messaged Him asking if that was him. And he said yes. And I asked him to send me the money back immediately. He said he would but kept taking long to reply and changing the subject. I asked my friend who knew him to message and call as well but he wasn’t answering at all. After a while he came back and said that the money would land again. And this time it actually did. Then all my doubts disappeared. Then he asked me to withdraw it. In my account was £1600 and something. And he told me to withdraw £1100 from the NatWest bank. So I did then he told me to meet one of his associates. In a student accommodation called crown place. I gave the man the cash and they said they would get back to me. He gave me a 2nd phone number and told me not to contact him on the first one. It is However after a while, my bank account wouldn’t let me in. It got blocked. I called the bank and they said to call the fraud team. So I did and they referred me to another team. I talked to them and they told me that my account was used to hold fraudulent money. I was SO SHOCKED. And on they phone they were being so rude to me making me feel like I deserved this and that it was my plan all along. However I have screenshots and voice notes from him. I knew nothing at all. From what he told me was that it was coming from student finance. I trusted him because he was someone that one of my closest friends knew personally from church. So I have lost £500 that my mum gave to me for rent. And also he took all of the £1100 and I didn’t get any “student loan installment money”.

But your position is that you didn't use any common sense and just handed over important details to a stranger. You may not get legal charges but there shouldn't be laws to help people that hand over money like this.

For all they know this whole thing is set up to make it look like you had no idea but really you were part of it. Making it that they weren't scamming you but you were scamming the bank.

Unfortunately in the eyes of the law, ignorance is no defence.

I got a message from one of my closest friends. She sent me on Snapchat a post from one of her other friends who went to the same church’s as me and her about ways to earn more money as a university student from student finance. She sent it as a kind gesture like “this may help you, contact him, but I’m not sure” so I added the boys Snapchat. And messaged him asking what it was about. And he said that it was a way to get more money from student finance, increase my loan so my rent can be paid and I’d have money to spare. I had no idea that any of this will happen. I thought it was legitimate because when I was actually applying for my student loan, there was a bunch of extra questions to fill out to get a larger loan. I done that however it failed and I still ended up getting the lowest. The loan I get is not even enough to cover my rent, let alone food or travel etc. so I thought the guy who was a friend of a friend from *my old church would be trustworthy. I followed his instructions. He asked me for all my bank details, my card number and pin at the back. My address, a picture of my passport with me holding it and also a university acceptance letter. I thought if he was asking for my university acceptance letter then that means there’s no possibility I would lose money. So I sent all those in and waited for his response. He also gave me his contact details. He came back and said I was eligible for a £5900 student loan instead and that it would come installments. I believed him. Then he told me it would land in my account in a few days, however when I messaged him about it the money not coming in, he said there was a problem with my application and that the photo I sent wasn’t clear so I had to resend it. Then I waited. And he said the first installment that would come would be a bit over £1000. I was so happy. Then I waited and waited, occasionally he would text me. Asking for a security code That would send to my mobile phone. I didn’t think anything of it. Then I checked my bank account at one point and my mother gave me £500 to pay my rent at the end of December. I saw that the money was sent to a Payee called A. I was so scared and messaged Him asking if that was him. And he said yes. And I asked him to send me the money back immediately. He said he would but kept taking long to reply and changing the subject. I asked my friend who knew him to message and call as well but he wasn’t answering at all. After a while he came back and said that the money would land again. And this time it actually did. Then all my doubts disappeared. Then he asked me to withdraw it. In my account was £1600 and something. And he told me to withdraw £1100 from the NatWest bank. So I did then he told me to meet one of his associates. In a student accommodation called crown place. I gave the man the cash and they said they would get back to me. He gave me a 2nd phone number and told me not to contact him on the first one. It is However after a while, my bank account wouldn’t let me in. It got blocked. I called the bank and they said to call the fraud team. So I did and they referred me to another team. I talked to them and they told me that my account was used to hold fraudulent money. I was SO SHOCKED. And on they phone they were being so rude to me making me feel like I deserved this and that it was my plan all along. However I have screenshots and voice notes from him. I knew nothing at all. From what he told me was that it was coming from student finance. I trusted him because he was someone that one of my closest friends knew personally from church. So I have lost £500 that my mum gave to me for rent. And also he took all of the £1100 and I didn’t get any “student loan installment money”.