Thread by @jameshurley

Thread following my interview with Julian Watts, founder of the @BankSigForgeCam who claims banks are engaged in "persistent, serious organised crime against the public"
thetimes.co.uk/article/banks-…

For the last year or so, Mr Watts has been compiling and investigating evidence of alleged signature fraud and document manipulation from his spare bedroom in Guildford. The signature allegations breakdown into three broad categories.

1. Identical signatures being recorded against multiple names (e.g.) this signature has been used under the name of at least three different Lloyds Banking Group workers (left), as well as at least two staff in a different institution, Yorkshire Building Society (right).

This signature has been found being attributed to up to 10 different Lloyds staff.

2. Markedly different signatures, including handwritten ones, being recorded against the same name, allegedly including on legal documents such as contracts. For example, here are three signatures for a single Lloyds employee.

3. Alleged forgery of customers' signatures. For example, a purported personal guarantee for a Lloyds customer was supposedly witnessed by a CM on October 26, 2012. Except CM had stopped working for customer and has flight tickets showing he was out of the country.

There's a real mixture of issues here that will have distinct legal implications. Banks are perfectly entitled to use electronic signatures that are not the same as the author's on standard, volume correspondence. Little issue that I can see there.

It's much less clear cut when such signatures start appearing on legal documents. Some interesting discussion on that here (if somewhat partial to the case for the defence).
walkermorris.co.uk/publications/e…

The other critical issue here is one of treating customers fairly and checking the facts. As @SteveBakerHW has pointed out, the concern is that “anyone is signing” key documents at certain institutions. Mr Watts says: “No one is checking anything.”

Of course, if customers' documents are being manipulated during disputes with their bank as Mr Watts alleges, that is fraud.
Lots to unravel here. Mr Watts @BankSigForgeCam will likely hone in on examples on legal documents and those used in disputes with customers.

Mr Watts has produced 136 reports, each relating to a distinct case of alleged signature forgery or document manipulation. The NCA, FCA and SFO has the evidence but no formal investigation has been launched.

Allegations of wrongdoing denied by Lloyds and other banks. Mr Watts is working around the clock on this, calling it a "massive strain" but a "moral obligation.” Looks like he will continue until he can convince the authorities to investigate.

Three key questions that need to be answered, via @steve_pomfret.
-Is the person who signed aware they have signed?
-Is the 'signature' legitimate?
-Is the person authorised to sign?