Hello to everyone that may read this,
I haven't been here for some time and I know I have a lot of catching up to do.
If you have left me a comment I deeply apologize for not responding....I've been really sick with whatever this latest new bug is that's going around.
and then a couple days ago this happened ( I just copied it from another site I belong to and pasted it here ) , cuz I can't sit here very long.
Thanks for understanding....
Bear
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This is a true story folks.
Yesterday morning I went online to see if my disability check was deposited, I needed groceries and pay the bills right?
So I log on, now keeping in mind, I've been using this online banking service for over 4 years now and never had a problem, and it's not the bank's fault either I should point out.
Well I open my account...I have 3, a checking, a savings ( my nest egg ) and another one just for my mortgage payments every month.
The last time I used my ATM card was on Jan 23rd.
On January 28th someone hacked into my bank account and wiped it all out...so much so that right to the limits of all my overdraft protections.....1000's of dollars gone - just like that.
Two possible ways this happened from what I've heard.
1. People make up a phony ATM card and add an encrypted code on the back where that black stripe is that holds all your information.
When they use their own made up hacked ones..they swipe it and a random account comes up...in this case, yours truly, what a lovely way to start the day.
Man I was in shock,devastated, sick, couldn't eat, couldn't sleep.
I was in fact robbed and violated..only no violence was involved.
So, after they swipe their card and get into my, or your account they then make a transaction....example: transferring money from one of your accounts to another and presto it's activated.
Now they can go town and spend like there's no tomorrow, which they did.
They shopped at places I never go to, and I haven't used the card since the 23rd....
Another way is, say at a convenience store or someplace...even some gas stations have a device that records all your information from your swipe, and then they have access too, often times they have a camera above the machine to see what numbers you punch in.
Some cameras can even pick up your numbers no matter how well you think you're hiding them.
Well the cops were just here and left after taking my statement, something the BANK should have told me to do at the time, or I should have known as well to call the cops.....it just never occured to me, I was that devastated and not feeling well, lack of sleep, being sick...it never entered my mind.
So they come over, take my statement and give me a number to give the bank tomorrow to let them know that the police as well are doing an investigation.
The cops were really great, very understanding and compassionate. Great guys!
In Canada you have an option on your ATM card to add 6 numbers ( PIN ) or 4...I would advice 6 just to make it a little harder for these scumbags that are robbing people at an alarming rate I discovered....but even then....how safe are we really ?
Every time you use your card, every store you use it at....who's watching ? what's going on that you don't see that someon'e collecting all your information....ya know the more I think about it the less I want to use it now.
Next time I need cash I'm going to the bank to withdraw what I need and stay away from using it at all stores.
I used to be so against that Veri chip idea...but if they could devise a microchip under our skin that would work the same way as an ATM card, only you wouldn't have to punch in any numbers or worry about someone stealing your info....but then again, with modern technology these hackers would still probably figure a way around that too.
But right now....no one is safe from this, this could happen to anyone at anytime, and I have all the security devices in place, safe guarded my password etc...and it still happened.
The good thing is, I'm fully protected by my bank and will get my money back...thank God....it may take a week, but I'll get it back.
Meanwhile I'm hoping they catch this sonofabitch so I can tesify against him.
Be careful guys...
love and respect,
Bear
