GEESH!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
GEESH!
7
Sun, 10-31-2004 - 10:05am
AMAZING! I just posted down below re doing my banking online, including bill paying, and DH gets this email this morning, supposedly from our bank. Only thing is -- we haven't signed up for online banking as yet. We're still debating about it, considering it an additional risk that we don't have now since we still write checks the old fashioned way to pay bills (we don't allow companies' grubby little hands into our accounts for automatic pay by deducting from an account, either -- been burned that way and we don't trust 'em, LOL!). Now we get this email, with a link that when I click Properties appears to MATCH the login Properties info at the actual bank website. :=O Still, I didn't believe it -- why send it to us, telling us there may have been unauthorized access to our online account, when we don't have one? Called the telephone bank customer service (amazing -- they're working today!) and they said, yes, they're under attack with bogus emails being sent out!

I get these type bogus emails that "supposedly" are from my provider all the time, but they have a link on my member page on which I can plug in the link info from a suspect email, and they will tell me whether it's bogus or not. Always they are bogus. So I send them full headers and a copy of the email and the ISP goes after the servers allowing the lowlifes to function, and close 'em down, but then the lowlifes just find another server and set up their bogus identity theft operation again, and start all over! :-\

Now I'm even *MORE* doubtful about doing online banking! LOL! :P Anybody else get hit regularly with this bogus stuff that looks legit, complete with logos, color schemes and so forth? Anti-virus, firewalls, spyware or adware can't help us with this. Only common sense and being a detective and verifying everything, can. It's getting harder and harder to do anything online without worrying about identify theft. ARRGGGHH! >>>:-[[

Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2000
In reply to: gypsywolfwoman
Sun, 10-31-2004 - 12:56pm
I like paying my bills on-line, I make sure to get into the right web site to set it up and I don't give out my SS# or that type of personally identifiable information - you have the option of using another type of key word only YOU could possibly know, such as the name of your first grade school. The rule of thumb is ALWAYS GO TO THEM, don't trust anything you RECEIVE via an e-mail, because just like you found out, the low lifes come to YOU, by e-mail, phone or mail. Nothing is 100% secure, it probably won't be long when even sites like PayPal are forced to do something new!

 


~~joannaran~~

Avatar for emty_nstr
Community Leader
Registered: 05-25-1999
In reply to: gypsywolfwoman
Sun, 10-31-2004 - 1:34pm

I was paying my bills online through my banks website. I like doing it but like a dummy I thought that when I wrote an electonic check that it went electonically out to the person it needed to get to within a day or so. OOOO NO...... some of mine were taking up to 10 days to reach their destination. No big deal? Send them early? Nice if you have enough money but I have to wait till there is money in the bank before writing checks.....It cost me in late charges to credit cards which in turn cancelled my low rate to one of about 25%. So I had to go back to paper checks. They get to where they are going within 3 days....I kept the online account open because I am able to check to see what is going on and what is in. My loan balance etc......


The one teller at the bank brought that up at a meeting and they are working on getting it fixed so they go out fast. They said they have to give you a day to change your mind. Well I would rather not pay anybills but why would I change my mind unless I want them to come after me? lol.......


As far as the email, I don't think there is any bank that would email you about your account. They would call or send you a regular letter. Please don't open those emails. People with eBay and PayPal accounts were getting letters with the headder that there was something going on and they wanted to verify their account numbers well you know where that led. If in doubt call your bank and ask them if they send emails like that.......


I have gotten so that I don't open forwards even if they are from my kids

Avatar for cl_emty_nstr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: gypsywolfwoman
Sun, 10-31-2004 - 2:11pm

This happens to me all the time. Someone asks a question here and I check my email and one of the newsletters I subscribe to has a story about that very question. So I am going to pass it along....I will also put it down in computer tips.......


http://www.mailfrontier.com/threats/index.html


Janet


 


Have a nice day !.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
In reply to: gypsywolfwoman
Sun, 10-31-2004 - 5:09pm
Awesome! :D I bookmarked it for later. Thanks!

Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
In reply to: gypsywolfwoman
Sun, 10-31-2004 - 5:13pm
Excellent point re: the SSN#. Thanks! I've never been ripped off. I learned with our ISP as they have given us a lot of good education about not falling for stuff like this. I also keep up with PCWorld and watch to hear what's happening out there in cyberspace, so try to keep abreast of new threats and scams out there.... This board is helpful, too! :D

Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
In reply to: gypsywolfwoman
Sun, 10-31-2004 - 5:17pm
Thanks, too, for the warning about bills paid on line not actually getting processed to the payee promptly! It would have never occurred to me to worry about this angle. After all, ATMs are instantaneous when you take out money, LOL! :D I'll definitely call my bank re their procedures on this angle before making a final decision. I'm leaning toward *not* paying online. I have a great setup in Quicken with bill reminders and scheduled bills to be paid and my check register is there, I have carbonless copies every time I write a check, too, plus I get the cancelled checks and a monthly statement from the bank @ no charge. I can also print out my income tax info when it's time. So, maybe it's not so bad the way it is. I pay the bills, take them directly to the post office to mail, and I am totally in control of the entire process until I take it inside the post office for mailing, so the payments get there on time, etc.

Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2003
In reply to: gypsywolfwoman
Sun, 10-31-2004 - 9:27pm
I have recently received two different e-mails urgently requesting personal information to verify my Citi Virtual Credit Card account. I called Citi Bank and it's the same story...They don't e-mail for info. I hope there is no bad news about the Citi Virtual card because I use it quite a bit. Since it gives each order it's own 1X use CC number, I have felt more secure in using it on line, since I am a catalog shopper. I get stacks of catalogs; I wish I had STACKS of MONEY and a FEW FAVORITE catalogs. I guess they go with the territory!

I have looked at the bill paying on line and decided against it but do use the direct withdraw of fixed rate items such as insurance premiums from my account, as well as, direct deposit with our home town bank. jms