Businesswoman scammed out of $42,000 in seconds: could this text message be a threat to you too?
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'Be Alert, Not Alarmed' is a mantra we know. This slogan doesn't just apply to pesky telemarketing or junk mail scams.
In this digital age, where convenience often beats caution, we need to protect ourselves against a rising tide of online criminals.
This brings us to the saga of Savannah Jackson, a businesswoman from Queenstown, New Zealand. She mentioned that she is typically ‘hyper-aware’ and exercises caution regarding texts from potential scammers.
But on June 22, Savannah was caught off-guard. A seemingly ordinary text message claimed her bank, Bank of New Zealand (BNZ), had authorised a new device for her account.
She said, ‘I am the only one that uses this account, so I stupidly clicked on the page, and as soon as I did it, I said “Oh f***”.’
Caught in a moment of weakness, Savannah clicked the embedded link, instantly punching a $42,000 hole in her savings.
‘Normally, I’m hyper-aware of these things, but I was busy at work and clicked on the link, it went to an official-looking BNZ bank page.’ Jackson said.
The horrifying truth is the speed of the theft; in less time than it takes for your coffee to cool, your life savings could evaporate.
As Savannah recounts, ‘It was $42,000. All the money for my GST, my staff wages to pay, my creditors, everything was gone within literally a couple of minutes.’
Without delay, Jackson promptly contacted her bank, and while she awaited assistance on hold, the bank's fraud department reached out to her regarding suspicious activity detected on her account.
She said, ‘They saw all the funds in my accounts transferred to (international currency transfer and payment company) Wise and were calling me to check if I had done the transfer.’
‘The fraud agent told me that they had flagged the transaction as a possible fraud theft but that the bank had already let the transfer go through.’
Within minutes, the funds from Jackson's business account were swiftly depleted and transferred to a third-party company called Wise, formerly known as Transfer Wise.
Jackson conveyed her dissatisfaction with the bank for permitting the transaction to proceed initially.
Jackson shared, ‘I can’t understand how a major bank like BNZ and their fraud department can’t get through to a major international funds transfer company.’
So, how can we guard ourselves? Well, first and foremost, treat every unexpected mail, text, or call that involves financial transactions with suspicion.
Remember, even a seemingly harmless text like the one Savannah received can have disastrous consequences!
Members, have any of you encountered similar messages? Share your experiences and let us know how you stay vigilant against such scams.
In this digital age, where convenience often beats caution, we need to protect ourselves against a rising tide of online criminals.
This brings us to the saga of Savannah Jackson, a businesswoman from Queenstown, New Zealand. She mentioned that she is typically ‘hyper-aware’ and exercises caution regarding texts from potential scammers.
But on June 22, Savannah was caught off-guard. A seemingly ordinary text message claimed her bank, Bank of New Zealand (BNZ), had authorised a new device for her account.
Scams through text messages have become increasingly prevalent, with fraudsters attempting to deceive unsuspecting individuals through schemes such as phishing, fake prizes, or urgent requests for personal information. Image by Pexels from pixabay
She said, ‘I am the only one that uses this account, so I stupidly clicked on the page, and as soon as I did it, I said “Oh f***”.’
Caught in a moment of weakness, Savannah clicked the embedded link, instantly punching a $42,000 hole in her savings.
‘Normally, I’m hyper-aware of these things, but I was busy at work and clicked on the link, it went to an official-looking BNZ bank page.’ Jackson said.
The horrifying truth is the speed of the theft; in less time than it takes for your coffee to cool, your life savings could evaporate.
As Savannah recounts, ‘It was $42,000. All the money for my GST, my staff wages to pay, my creditors, everything was gone within literally a couple of minutes.’
Without delay, Jackson promptly contacted her bank, and while she awaited assistance on hold, the bank's fraud department reached out to her regarding suspicious activity detected on her account.
She said, ‘They saw all the funds in my accounts transferred to (international currency transfer and payment company) Wise and were calling me to check if I had done the transfer.’
It is crucial to stay vigilant and exercise caution when receiving text messages from unfamiliar sources to protect oneself from falling victim to these scams. Image by ademay from unsplash
‘The fraud agent told me that they had flagged the transaction as a possible fraud theft but that the bank had already let the transfer go through.’
Within minutes, the funds from Jackson's business account were swiftly depleted and transferred to a third-party company called Wise, formerly known as Transfer Wise.
Jackson conveyed her dissatisfaction with the bank for permitting the transaction to proceed initially.
Jackson shared, ‘I can’t understand how a major bank like BNZ and their fraud department can’t get through to a major international funds transfer company.’
So, how can we guard ourselves? Well, first and foremost, treat every unexpected mail, text, or call that involves financial transactions with suspicion.
Remember, even a seemingly harmless text like the one Savannah received can have disastrous consequences!
Members, have any of you encountered similar messages? Share your experiences and let us know how you stay vigilant against such scams.
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