Banks are still refusing to help customers who lose life-changing sums in bank transfer scams, despite growing criticism from campaigners.

Unlike with credit card transactions, if someone sends money via bank transfer they are deemed to be wholly responsible for what happens to it. If the money has already disappeared from a recipient account held by a fraudster, banks will not reimburse the victim.

Banks have agreed to pay compensation only in cases where victims have proved that the institution did not follow its own procedures when dealing with the fraud. Telegraph Money has helped several readers recoup thousands of pounds in this way.

But despite high-profile criticism, financial institutions are refusing to make even basic inquiries about fraudulent accounts run by other banks or building societies.

Lisa Blagden, 39, was refused help by Nationwide, her own bank, and by Santander, which provided the bank account used by a fraudster who stole £6,900 from her via a bogus car purchase.

Miss Blagden said she needed a car for her job as a support teacher visiting children in care. She searched for cars on the internet and found one of the exact colour and model she wanted on a website called Car Dealerships Ltd, which came top of an online search.