This just happened to a female friend of mine. I would like to write a bit about it here with the hope that it helps someone.
First I would like to say the the person, my friend, is not a stupid person. In fact, I would say, that she is well above average in the intelligence department.
The Story: Tonight my friend went on line to check her bank balance. She told me that this is something that she rarely does but for some reason tonight...
On line she found that her balance was zero. There should have been a fairly healthy balance in that account-almost 9000 euros (I live in Europe). It seems that a few weeks ago, when she returned from a trip abroad and was checking her accounts, a message popped up on her screen.
The message said it was from her bank and that they were updating security. The message asked her for private information. She gave that information.
Now I can just hear all the groans. But as I said, this is not a stupid person. She is a very trusting soul and she does not spend time on line nor does she read many news papers. It looked like a message from the bank and it looked like they were trying to help update security.
Very fortunately, the transfer (as it was such a large amount) was on hold. The date that it was to go through is tomorrow morning. She went (after a short freak-out) to the local police station which is just around the corner. They told her the money was gone!!! Nothing to do but fill out a report!!!
Luckily she then phoned another friend who is very computer literate. He came right over and got on line. Within 5 mins. he had found the bank to which the money had been transfered. My friend's bank was closed with no 24 hr support available (in this day & age???).
We got on the phone to the other bank and managed to find a living breathing person. We told him the story.
Now the money is in limbo. It is not in my friend's account but has not been authorized into the other account. The police on that end have been notified. Hopefully the red flag we raised is big enough that it will not go through in the morning.
So I am writing this here to remind everybody to be cautious about internet banking. Never, never give out sensitive, private numbers when solicited. Always check with a live human being first-and even then be careful.
And if you know anyone who banks on line yet does not pay too much attention to news papers etc., remind them of this from time to time.
I know I will from now on.
First I would like to say the the person, my friend, is not a stupid person. In fact, I would say, that she is well above average in the intelligence department.
The Story: Tonight my friend went on line to check her bank balance. She told me that this is something that she rarely does but for some reason tonight...
On line she found that her balance was zero. There should have been a fairly healthy balance in that account-almost 9000 euros (I live in Europe). It seems that a few weeks ago, when she returned from a trip abroad and was checking her accounts, a message popped up on her screen.
The message said it was from her bank and that they were updating security. The message asked her for private information. She gave that information.
Now I can just hear all the groans. But as I said, this is not a stupid person. She is a very trusting soul and she does not spend time on line nor does she read many news papers. It looked like a message from the bank and it looked like they were trying to help update security.
Very fortunately, the transfer (as it was such a large amount) was on hold. The date that it was to go through is tomorrow morning. She went (after a short freak-out) to the local police station which is just around the corner. They told her the money was gone!!! Nothing to do but fill out a report!!!
Luckily she then phoned another friend who is very computer literate. He came right over and got on line. Within 5 mins. he had found the bank to which the money had been transfered. My friend's bank was closed with no 24 hr support available (in this day & age???).
We got on the phone to the other bank and managed to find a living breathing person. We told him the story.
Now the money is in limbo. It is not in my friend's account but has not been authorized into the other account. The police on that end have been notified. Hopefully the red flag we raised is big enough that it will not go through in the morning.
So I am writing this here to remind everybody to be cautious about internet banking. Never, never give out sensitive, private numbers when solicited. Always check with a live human being first-and even then be careful.
And if you know anyone who banks on line yet does not pay too much attention to news papers etc., remind them of this from time to time.
I know I will from now on.
