BEWARE: Woman falls prey to a sophisticated bank text scam and loses life savings

In an era where technology is at the forefront of our daily lives, it's easy to fall prey to sophisticated scams.

One such incident involved Suni Wan, a woman who lost her life savings to a text scam that appeared to be from her bank, HSBC.


Suni Wan's day started like any other until she received a text message from HSBC alerting her to fraudulent activity on her account.

The message seemed legitimate, appearing in the same thread where she usually received messages from her bank.


SDC 1.png
A woman fell prey to a text scam that she believed was from her bank. Image source: HSBC Australia.


It informed her that a new device had logged into her account and urged her to call back immediately if it wasn't her.

The device in question was an S8, a Samsung phone model that Suni had previously owned.


Fearing that someone had gotten hold of her old phone and was attempting to access her bank account, she promptly called the number provided in the text.

The person on the other end of the line, posing as a bank representative, asked for her personal information, including her name, address, and date of birth.

They also requested a one-time passcode to resolve the issue.

Suni, eager to protect her account, complied.

'Then he said there’s been some unusual activities, and he put me on hold for quite a while,' Suni recalled.


However, when the supposed bank representative began asking about her cryptocurrency account Coinspot, Suni grew suspicious.

'It finally clicked to me, why would HSBC be concerned about my Coinspot, they wouldn’t pass my details to a representative they would tell me to call Coinspot directly,' she added.

By the time Suni contacted HSBC to freeze her account, it was too late.

The scammers had already siphoned off $49,000.

'The hardest thing for me is to stop blaming myself like I keep blaming myself. Maybe I should have noticed it earlier.'


HSBC, in response to the incident, said: 'For customer confidentiality reasons, we can’t discuss specific customer situations.'

'HSBC takes customer security very seriously, and we thoroughly investigate any reported cases of scam or fraud.'

They also warned customers about 'text spoofing', where fraudsters deliberately falsify telephone numbers of legitimate organisations to make it seem like victims have received a legitimate text from their banks.

'Scam text messages can even appear in the same message chain as real messages from the organisation, making them even harder to spot.'

HSBC emphasised that they will never ask customers to provide their PINs, passwords or verification codes on a phone call in response to a text message or email.

'Bank customers need to be vigilant about the risk of scams and are reminded to never give out bank codes or passwords.'


In similar news, one couple lost their entire life savings worth $100,000 after they followed the lead of a fraudster pretending to be a Westpac employee.

It all began when the man received a seemingly legitimate text from Uber asking him to update his bank details. But little did he know, this was only the first step in a sinister plan.

An hour and a half later, he received another text from the same Westpac line he had been contacted on before, warning him that scammers were trying to take $5,500 from his account.

In a state of alarm and uncertainty, Green hurriedly called the security number included in the text.

He spoke to a person pretending to be a trustworthy Westpac employee and was convinced that he was doing the right thing when he began to transfer his money into a new account created by the said representative.

You can read more about this scam here.
Key Takeaways
  • A woman named Suni Wan lost her life savings after falling for a text scam, supposedly from her bank, HSBC.
  • She received a text message alerting her of fraudulent activity on her account, which appeared to be from HSBC and even appeared in the same message thread.
  • Suni provided her personal information, including a one-time passcode, to the scammer, thinking they were official bank employees.
  • HSBC stated they thoroughly investigate scam or fraud cases and reminded customers not to provide their PINs, passwords, and verification codes in response to such messages.
Have you ever received a suspicious text message or fallen victim to a scam? Share your experiences and tips for avoiding scams in the comments below.
 
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It's not Rocket Science.
Leave on-line banking alone, period.
Do your banking in-person at a physical Branch, or at a pinch, at your Post Office.
If your Bank isn't 'big' enough to have local Branches, is it REALLY the kind of outfit to which you want to entrust your wealth?
Couldn't agree with you more. The rot promoted by the Bank wanting to move eveything to Digital Banking is opening the doors for the scammers. Look at what is happenimng around the World time and time again when IT people gather informations and intelligence even from the bets people in IT employed by these institutions and Governmnet departments.
How do these people know people's personal bank accounts details is totally beyond me especially when Banks are promoting safety of your deposits and your money.
Something sounds very fishy and it smells like a dead fish left lying in the sun for over a week. ASIC, the ACCC and others authorities should do full investigations on these things/problems and if Bank are found at fault, WHICH WOULD NOT BE THE FIRST TIME, make them pay and fine then extremely hard. Only them they will realise that they better start doing what they are supposed to be doing.....Protect their clients money which has been entrusted to them OR, BETTER STILL STOP THIS ROT OF DIGITAL BANKINGS ALTOGETHER AND LET PEOPLE USE THEIR CASH NOT SOME RIDICULOUS WAY OF BANKING WHICH ONLY BENEFITS THE BANKS.
How do you think that Optus, Medibank and a few others large companies and Govt. Depts, have been hacked.??
Did they answer email like someone here is telling us.?
 
??? Most of this makes no sense.
Well I did understand a bit and all he/she is tryng to tell us, is not to use any of the big Banks barring sisx ogf them the much smaller once who will give you better service than the big ones protected by the Goverment. Do you remember the Policy of the goverment TOO BIG TO FALL.?
Well you got it in black and white Elane41, the big 4 are a protected specie AND EVEN PROTECTED BY THE GOVT. WITH OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY IF THEY NEED TO BE and as such they will do what they like.
So, they can screw us as they please while naking money, and if they fail in their endeavours by doing wrong investments, we will be paying out of our pockets to keep them going. AND THAT IS FACT.
 
Well I did understand a bit and all he/she is tryng to tell us, is not to use any of the big Banks barring sisx ogf them the much smaller once who will give you better service than the big ones protected by the Goverment. Do you remember the Policy of the goverment TOO BIG TO FALL.?
Well you got it in black and white Elane41, the big 4 are a protected specie AND EVEN PROTECTED BY THE GOVT. WITH OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY IF THEY NEED TO BE and as such they will do what they like.
So, they can screw us as they please while naking money, and if they fail in their endeavours by doing wrong investments, we will be paying out of our pockets to keep them going. AND THAT IS FACT.
I think I 've used an expression the elaine41, hasn't heard before.
 
In an era where technology is at the forefront of our daily lives, it's easy to fall prey to sophisticated scams.

One such incident involved Suni Wan, a woman who lost her life savings to a text scam that appeared to be from her bank, HSBC.


Suni Wan's day started like any other until she received a text message from HSBC alerting her to fraudulent activity on her account.

The message seemed legitimate, appearing in the same thread where she usually received messages from her bank.


View attachment 37577
A woman fell prey to a text scam that she believed was from her bank. Image source: HSBC Australia.


It informed her that a new device had logged into her account and urged her to call back immediately if it wasn't her.

The device in question was an S8, a Samsung phone model that Suni had previously owned.


Fearing that someone had gotten hold of her old phone and was attempting to access her bank account, she promptly called the number provided in the text.

The person on the other end of the line, posing as a bank representative, asked for her personal information, including her name, address, and date of birth.

They also requested a one-time passcode to resolve the issue.

Suni, eager to protect her account, complied.

'Then he said there’s been some unusual activities, and he put me on hold for quite a while,' Suni recalled.


However, when the supposed bank representative began asking about her cryptocurrency account Coinspot, Suni grew suspicious.

'It finally clicked to me, why would HSBC be concerned about my Coinspot, they wouldn’t pass my details to a representative they would tell me to call Coinspot directly,' she added.

By the time Suni contacted HSBC to freeze her account, it was too late.

The scammers had already siphoned off $49,000.

'The hardest thing for me is to stop blaming myself like I keep blaming myself. Maybe I should have noticed it earlier.'


HSBC, in response to the incident, said: 'For customer confidentiality reasons, we can’t discuss specific customer situations.'

'HSBC takes customer security very seriously, and we thoroughly investigate any reported cases of scam or fraud.'

They also warned customers about 'text spoofing', where fraudsters deliberately falsify telephone numbers of legitimate organisations to make it seem like victims have received a legitimate text from their banks.

'Scam text messages can even appear in the same message chain as real messages from the organisation, making them even harder to spot.'

HSBC emphasised that they will never ask customers to provide their PINs, passwords or verification codes on a phone call in response to a text message or email.

'Bank customers need to be vigilant about the risk of scams and are reminded to never give out bank codes or passwords.'


In similar news, one couple lost their entire life savings worth $100,000 after they followed the lead of a fraudster pretending to be a Westpac employee.

It all began when the man received a seemingly legitimate text from Uber asking him to update his bank details. But little did he know, this was only the first step in a sinister plan.

An hour and a half later, he received another text from the same Westpac line he had been contacted on before, warning him that scammers were trying to take $5,500 from his account.

In a state of alarm and uncertainty, Green hurriedly called the security number included in the text.

He spoke to a person pretending to be a trustworthy Westpac employee and was convinced that he was doing the right thing when he began to transfer his money into a new account created by the said representative.

You can read more about this scam here.
Key Takeaways

  • A woman named Suni Wan lost her life savings after falling for a text scam, supposedly from her bank, HSBC.
  • She received a text message alerting her of fraudulent activity on her account, which appeared to be from HSBC and even appeared in the same message thread.
  • Suni provided her personal information, including a one-time passcode, to the scammer, thinking they were official bank employees.
  • HSBC stated they thoroughly investigate scam or fraud cases and reminded customers not to provide their PINs, passwords, and verification codes in response to such messages.
Have you ever received a suspicious text message or fallen victim to a scam? Share your experiences and tips for avoiding scams in the comments below.
OMG the poor women xx
 
The point is that you have got it wrong again. Where did I say that I responded or receive an email.? I never reveived one, period.
And now going back to reply, how can you wait on the lane when you got a person impersonating your Bank Fraud Squad telling you that you have been scammed (How these people knew all of my accounts details I will never know but very fishy in my opinion) and when you tell this person that I would ring the Bank first before I do anything and he agreed to wait on the lane for me to come back.
Like I said before the Bank never responded to the call and neither did my Bank Manager and he only rang me back after about two hours or more.
And there is much more to it whcih I don't want to say here because of what I will do next.
As I said above it sounds all too fishy for me and I will see what I cam do or pass it on to AFCA for a full investigation as I still have all the names. And the funny part about it all, I do not bank with HSBC, never have and never will, but the money involved went directly to an HSBC account even though the Bank officer form the Fraud Squad stated (It is all recorded) that he was going to put an immediate stop to the transfer.
You saying your first post you were scammed!.
simple
 
It's not Rocket Science.
Leave on-line banking alone, period.
Do your banking in-person at a physical Branch, or at a pinch, at your Post Office.
If your Bank isn't 'big' enough to have local Branches, is it REALLY the kind of outfit to which you want to entrust your wealth?
Have been doing on-line banking for decades, personal and business and have never had one single issue.
Nothing at all wrong with on-line banking.
Just stop responding th messages or emails. Always deal directly with organisations!
 
You saying your first post you were scammed!.
simple
And you just assumed ever since which is totally wrong on your behalf.
Assuming can come back and bait you hard at times.

As for you doing your banking online and be happy about it doesn't mean that 90% or more of the people should be happy with it. Unless of course you are a bank employee.
Just read the real polls and then say what are those polls saying. BUT HONEST RESPONSE PLEASE not one made up by the Banks and from poeple who have a wheelbarrow full of agenda to push. ESPECIALLY THE BIG 4 crooked ones.!!
If you like something good for you. but don't push it upon others who are against it.
 
Have been doing on-line banking for decades, personal and business and have never had one single issue.
Nothing at all wrong with on-line banking.
Just stop responding th messages or emails. Always deal directly with organisations!
"(Just stop responding th messages or emails. Always deal directly with organisations!)"

You got it all wrong again. Where did I say that I have answered messages or emails.??
Read my posts again and do not accuse me of saying something which I did not do or say.
The point is that I DID Deal Directly with the Organisation and they failed dismally. And IMHO that is an understatement too.
 
And you just assumed ever since which is totally wrong on your behalf.
Assuming can come back and bait you hard at times.

As for you doing your banking online and be happy about it doesn't mean that 90% or more of the people should be happy with it. Unless of course you are a bank employee.
Just read the real polls and then say what are those polls saying. BUT HONEST RESPONSE PLEASE not one made up by the Banks and from poeple who have a wheelbarrow full of agenda to push. ESPECIALLY THE BIG 4 crooked ones.!!
If you like something good for you. but don't push it upon others who are against it.
And visa versa don’t try and push you false ideas on me!
 
And visa versa don’t try and push you false ideas on me!
I am not pushing any false ideas on to anyone I am just gtelling the truth as it is. Period

I have my own ideas about Banks and in the ways they are allowed to operate and you have yours.

This all matter is now closed.
 

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