[Buchanfarmer]

Bank Account Scam​

I was discussing with my partner my account balance then I looked at it - there was $124:23 missing. Called my bank and asked - oh they said, it’s an automatic payment to Vodafone. But I don’t use them as there is no service here.
Asked them to block and get my money back.
3 more times later called the bank again, oh they said and got back 2 of them.
Here is the rub, someone has entered my account number with that company and it continues to try and withdraw that amount, I guess they bought a phone.

Am still waiting for the rest of the money and call the bank each day from a phone box as I can’t afford the expense of waiting on hold for so many hours. Not as bad as Centrelink though.

 

[Trish21]

Bank Account Scam​

I was discussing with my partner my account balance then I looked at it - there was $124:23 missing. Called my bank and asked - oh they said, it’s an automatic payment to Vodafone. But I don’t use them as there is no service here.
Asked them to block and get my money back.
3 more times later called the bank again, oh they said and got back 2 of them.
Here is the rub, someone has entered my account number with that company and it continues to try and withdraw that amount, I guess they bought a phone.

Am still waiting for the rest of the money and call the bank each day from a phone box as I can’t afford the expense of waiting on hold for so many hours. Not as bad as Centrelink though.

I had money taken out of my account by nerdy toys the first was $17.50 I got in touch with the bank and they gave it back 2 days later $101 was taken out then $105 was taken my bank said it was my own fault. As I had clicked on my end I then received a receipt for a smart watch for $205 plus $17.50 postage I knew I had not bought one so I got back onto Westpac and explained I did not click or give my bank details to anyone I then googled nerdy toys to find a lot of messages about them being scammers I sent this to the bank but have not heard back from them

 

[Robbo3006]

Banks are crooks, no doubt about it.

 

[marni]

Just close your account and get a new account - not hard. I did this when I inadvertently had a book club deduct every month when I bought just three books. No account - they cannot have automatic deduction.

 

[Ingot]

We should all check our bank account/s every day if you are online.
Occasionally I find something that doesn't make sense, and contact the bank.
So far it was only a coffee shop "Trading as ..XYZ P/L".
Big relief.

Sometimes it's one of those Chinese-owned "Dollar Discounts" that my wife likes to get an occasional arts and crafts article, and they use all sorts of "Trading As ..." names too.

But just the act of daily checking can get you in the bank's face in a timely manner to retrieve your money.
Don't be slack.
Don't give the scammers a head-start.

And daily checking helps you to recall what you spent, where you spent it, and whether it is a familiar place.
Strange merchants will stand out immediately, if you are aware of your "normal" spending pattern.

And do not allow the banks to push you around.
They are all aware of the scams - they deal with them every day - you are NOT the odd person out.
So dish it to them hard on the first contact.