Customer fights for his rights after experiencing $12K fraud: 'It was shocking'
- Replies 20
Navigating the digital age could be a treacherous journey, especially when it comes to protecting hard-earned money.
Online banking, while a marvel of convenience, could also be a ground for potential fraud and theft.
Mohammed Khaoula, a 33-year-old dad, found himself in a financial horror story when scammers hijacked his Commonwealth Bank (CBA) account.
The scammers went on a $12,000 fraudulent spending spree across various services.
Mr Khaoula's ordeal was a stark reminder of the risks lurking behind the convenience of digital transactions.
The nightmare began when Mr Khaoula, a Sydney local, noticed unauthorised purchases on his debit card.
He had not made these transactions, which included dubious overseas business charges, grocery store gift vouchers, and food delivery orders.
The scammers also created a DoorDash account under his name.
They indulged in treats from Subway, Hungry Jacks, Gongcha, and Krispy Kreme.
Scammers also splurged on Coles Online orders and withdrew a substantial amount in gift cards from physical stores.
When Mr Khaoula brought this to the attention of CBA, the bank's response was far from reassuring.
The bank initially stated that they could not halt the transactions and they needed up to ten days to process the purchases before recovering the funds.
To Mr Khaoula's dismay, the bank later concluded that the transactions were not fraudulent.
'The bank has accused me of basically being a fraudster, it was shocking,' Mr Khaoula lamented.
The implication that he had orchestrated this scam was absurd to him, considering the transactions occurred in Forest Lake in Brisbane and Hawthorne East in Melbourne.
The scammers also transferred $5,000 to a suspiciously named overseas company, indicating that they had gained full access to his Netbank account.
The situation took a bizarre turn when Mr Khaoula sought help from his local bank branch.
A teller accused Mr Khaoula of having compromised his account after allegedly viewing X-rated material.
This baseless claim added insult to injury and further eroded his trust in the bank's ability to handle his situation.
On the other side, ZipPay, one of the services used by the scammers, reimbursed Mr Khaoula for the fraudulent transactions.
This contrasting response highlighted the inconsistency in how financial institutions deal with fraud, which could leave customers like Mr Khaoula in a precarious position.
The ordeal led Mr Khaoula to lend his voice to the People Before Profit campaign.
The campaign advocated for mandatory compensation for scam victims, akin to legislation introduced in the United Kingdom.
This campaign underscored the need for banks to prioritise their customers' security and well-being.
As Mr Khaoula's battle with CBA continues with the intervention of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), it should be a cautionary tale for everyone.
Have you updated your banking details and passwords already? We invite you to share your experiences with online banking in the comments section below. Your experiences could help others in our community to stay safe and informed.
Online banking, while a marvel of convenience, could also be a ground for potential fraud and theft.
Mohammed Khaoula, a 33-year-old dad, found himself in a financial horror story when scammers hijacked his Commonwealth Bank (CBA) account.
The scammers went on a $12,000 fraudulent spending spree across various services.
Mr Khaoula's ordeal was a stark reminder of the risks lurking behind the convenience of digital transactions.
Mr Khaoula saw suspicious transactions which used his debit card. Image Credit: Pexels/Mikhail Nilov
The nightmare began when Mr Khaoula, a Sydney local, noticed unauthorised purchases on his debit card.
He had not made these transactions, which included dubious overseas business charges, grocery store gift vouchers, and food delivery orders.
The scammers also created a DoorDash account under his name.
They indulged in treats from Subway, Hungry Jacks, Gongcha, and Krispy Kreme.
Scammers also splurged on Coles Online orders and withdrew a substantial amount in gift cards from physical stores.
When Mr Khaoula brought this to the attention of CBA, the bank's response was far from reassuring.
The bank initially stated that they could not halt the transactions and they needed up to ten days to process the purchases before recovering the funds.
To Mr Khaoula's dismay, the bank later concluded that the transactions were not fraudulent.
'The bank has accused me of basically being a fraudster, it was shocking,' Mr Khaoula lamented.
The implication that he had orchestrated this scam was absurd to him, considering the transactions occurred in Forest Lake in Brisbane and Hawthorne East in Melbourne.
The scammers also transferred $5,000 to a suspiciously named overseas company, indicating that they had gained full access to his Netbank account.
The situation took a bizarre turn when Mr Khaoula sought help from his local bank branch.
A teller accused Mr Khaoula of having compromised his account after allegedly viewing X-rated material.
This baseless claim added insult to injury and further eroded his trust in the bank's ability to handle his situation.
On the other side, ZipPay, one of the services used by the scammers, reimbursed Mr Khaoula for the fraudulent transactions.
This contrasting response highlighted the inconsistency in how financial institutions deal with fraud, which could leave customers like Mr Khaoula in a precarious position.
The ordeal led Mr Khaoula to lend his voice to the People Before Profit campaign.
The campaign advocated for mandatory compensation for scam victims, akin to legislation introduced in the United Kingdom.
This campaign underscored the need for banks to prioritise their customers' security and well-being.
As Mr Khaoula's battle with CBA continues with the intervention of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), it should be a cautionary tale for everyone.
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