Account Drained In Six Weeks

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

Had a term deposit maturing in our Australian Credit Union account yesterday. Went into the account to see what interest it would be paying when it rolled over.

While checking the account discovered someone had drained $9,000 dollars out of our visa card since Nov. 28th. Rarely go into the account and check it because we keep the credit card in our safe and haven't used it in over 18 months.

Contacted the Credit Union and told them our problem. They said it was a online hacker so no need to report it to the police because there is nothing they can do about it. All of the charges were made in the UK, we have never been to the UK. three of four charges a day were made. They are suppose to challenge any overseas charges but for some reason did not do it. They said it should not have happened.

They emailed us all of the charges and we have to fill out some forms and take them into the Australian Embassy to have them notarized. Of course the embassy is closed until the 5th so can't do it until then.

On the bright side the credit union said as soon as we fax them the information the $ will be credited back into our account. Sounds like it is not an unusual for this to happen. Perhaps that is why they have to charge such a high interest rate. Our charges were paid automatically out of our account to eliminate any interest charges, made it nice for the hackers.

Have canceled the cards so we will not have to worry about it happening again. Would cancel our other cards also but then if you want to order anything on line you SOL.Also need a card for reserving hotel room or renting a car, etc. My feeling is if that had happened on our Thailand Visa card it would not have gone as easily as this has. Must say it is very upsetting when you look at your account and see all of those charges against it.

[Neeranam]

My feeling is if that had happened on our Thailand Visa card it would not have gone as easily as this has.

Would it not be easier as you are IN Thaiand?

[imaneggspurt]

had a similar thing for 2100 pounds, since then i use only credit cards for purchase, that way it its hacked its not your money they take, if on a debit card its yours and not a nice feeling at all, took me 2 months and then i didnt get it all back,

[cocopops]

Had a term deposit maturing in our Australian Credit Union account yesterday. Went into the account to see what interest it would be paying when it rolled over.

While checking the account discovered someone had drained $9,000 dollars out of our visa card since Nov. 28th. Rarely go into the account and check it because we keep the credit card in our safe and haven't used it in over 18 months.

Contacted the Credit Union and told them our problem. They said it was a online hacker so no need to report it to the police because there is nothing they can do about it. All of the charges were made in the UK, we have never been to the UK. three of four charges a day were made. They are suppose to challenge any overseas charges but for some reason did not do it. They said it should not have happened.

They emailed us all of the charges and we have to fill out some forms and take them into the Australian Embassy to have them notarized. Of course the embassy is closed until the 5th so can't do it until then.

On the bright side the credit union said as soon as we fax them the information the $ will be credited back into our account. Sounds like it is not an unusual for this to happen. Perhaps that is why they have to charge such a high interest rate. Our charges were paid automatically out of our account to eliminate any interest charges, made it nice for the hackers.

Have canceled the cards so we will not have to worry about it happening again. Would cancel our other cards also but then if you want to order anything on line you SOL.Also need a card for reserving hotel room or renting a car, etc. My feeling is if that had happened on our Thailand Visa card it would not have gone as easily as this has. Must say it is very upsetting when you look at your account and see all of those charges against it.

It's happened to me twice. Once with an Australian visa card and once with a local one. Both times it was quite painless to fix. In neither case did I need to notarize any forms or anything.

The time it happened with the Australian card it was about $6000. I had to wait about a month while they did some investigating before they actually removed the charges. In the meantime they put a moratorium on the interest and let me increase the card limit so that I could still use it.

You're right, it's very common. A little alarming when you first log in though!

Edited December 30, 2008 by cocopops

[MJP]

Yep, happened to me as well.

My bank stopped the transaction thankfully.

I have since;

1. Changed the card.

2. Moved money into a secure account with no card, but can easily move money around on-line.

3. Bank gave me a PIN SENTRY which I use on-line and to change the card PIN whenever I like.

4. Went into the bank and updated my details to increase security to top level.

Hopefully this will prevent fraud in the future.

Oh, another thief has stolen my savings. A Mr. G. Brown is currently fugitive and wanted in connection with the defrauding of the British people.

I must say this happens to so many people I know.

EDIT: Just to add I check my accounts every few days now.

Edited December 30, 2008 by MJP

[Soutpeel]

Oh, another thief has stolen my savings. A Mr. G. Brown is currently fugitive and wanted in connection with the defrauding of the British people.

Flash Gordon and Darling where spotted recently in Pattaya checking on the progress of their new bar on walking street...Big Brother A-Go A-Go

[MJP]

Oh, another thief has stolen my savings. A Mr. G. Brown is currently fugitive and wanted in connection with the defrauding of the British people.

Flash Gordon and Darling where spotted recently in Pattaya checking on the progress of their new bar on walking street...Big Brother A-Go A-Go

A bar specialising in the gender of the fourth kind.

Unsurprising the fraud committed against the OP originated in the UK.

[phaethon]

They said it was a online hacker so no need to report it to the police because there is nothing they can do about it.

That seems weird - I suspect the bank screwed up and they are trying to cover it up.

[Ricardo]

Oh, another thief has stolen my savings. A Mr. G. Brown is currently fugitive and wanted in connection with the defrauding of the British people.

Don't worry, this crook will soon knock on your door, when he needs your vote !

Please resist the temptation, to give him a swift kick in the goolies, just give him a long lecture about politicians who freeze your poxy UK-government pension, because of where you choose to live ... and then give him the swift kick, plus one from me.

[Soutpeel]

Oh, another thief has stolen my savings. A Mr. G. Brown is currently fugitive and wanted in connection with the defrauding of the British people.

Don't worry, this crook will soon knock on your door, when he needs your vote !

Please resist the temptation, to give him a swift kick in the goolies, just give him a long lecture about politicians who freeze your poxy UK-government pension, because of where you choose to live ... and then give him the swift kick, plus one from me.

[Crushdepth]

Contacted the Credit Union and told them our problem. They said it was a online hacker so no need to report it to the police because there is nothing they can do about it. All of the charges were made in the UK, we have never been to the UK. three of four charges a day were made. They are suppose to challenge any overseas charges but for some reason did not do it. They said it should not have happened.

They emailed us all of the charges and we have to fill out some forms and take them into the Australian Embassy to have them notarized. Of course the embassy is closed until the 5th so can't do it until then.

Make sure that you *do* report it to the police, then the bank is legally obliged to do something about it. If you dont' report it, or leave it too long, you might not be entitled to a refund. I don't know why banks give this sort of advice (they did it to me once too), but I don't think its for your benefit!

Edited December 31, 2008 by Crushdepth

[billd766]

Oh, another thief has stolen my savings. A Mr. G. Brown is currently fugitive and wanted in connection with the defrauding of the British people.

Don't worry, this crook will soon knock on your door, when he needs your vote !

Please resist the temptation, to give him a swift kick in the goolies, just give him a long lecture about politicians who freeze your poxy UK-government pension, because of where you choose to live ... and then give him the swift kick, plus one from me.

Make mine a double kick please

[PennyFarthing123]

Crushdepth, when his bank is in Australia, he is in Thailand and the funds were spent on line in the UK, which police would you report to? Sort of an international problem!!

[think_too_mut]

My colleague had that same problem. The card was not hacked electronically - he remembered a taxi driver in Sydney noting down those 4 digits from the back of the card. With the card swiped + 4 digits it goes to black market where crooks buy them and then try to make whatever they can.

One charge I remember was BKK - Siam Reap flight.... the crooks paid then probably cancelled and another destination for refund provided.

The bank (Westpac) refunded him in full.