Whether you’re trying to build a retirement nest egg, provide for your family, or just cover your bills each month, we understand the importance of saving your hard-earned money.

That's why it's so concerning to hear stories like Marylynne Desveaux. Marylynne is an aged care worker in her sixties who recently lost nearly $40,000 of her retirement savings to a 'sophisticated' impersonation hack.

For Marylynne, the hack was painful. Not only was she losing her hard-earned savings, but it had taken her a long time to build them back up after losing her job during the pandemic.

The details of the hack are harrowing. Cyber criminals had hacked into Marylynne's ING account's payee contact list and changed the bank details of one of her contacts (a man named Graham, who had not received a transaction from Marylynne since 2018) to a different account.

Marylynne Desveaux takes care of her mother despite the $40,000 hack. Image: Facebook.

This allowed hackers to make multiple transfers under Graham's name – and while Marylynne noticed the transactions and called Graham to see why the money was being sent to him, it was too late: the funds had already been sent away.

Marylynne said that a woman from ING told her the bank couldn't explain how the hackers got in as it was 'very sophisticated' and they got in 'a different way than they normally would'. She immediately reported the hack to both the police and Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), though as of yet there has been no news of the money being recuperated.

It's a hard story to read, and one that reminds all of us of how careful we have to be with our money, no matter where it's being held. So, what steps can you take against scammers and hackers? The first thing you should do is be aware of different types of scams. That means familiarising yourself with the types of schemes being used by hackers – and remember, they're always evolving.

Hackers try to steal your hard earned money with various techniques. Image: Freepik.

At the Seniors Discount Club, we like to frequently cover the subject of online safety. If you ever want to learn about current scams, we encourage you to check out our Scam Watch forum here. It also never hurts to double-check with friends or family members regarding anything that seems suspicious. You should also make sure you're using secure software on your devices, as this will help protect against malicious software and activity.

When it comes to your online banking, be sure to set up notifications and security alerts. That way, you'll immediately know if there has been any suspicious activity on your accounts and can take appropriate steps to secure them.

If you ever fall victim to a hack, it's important you report it straight away. You should also contact your financial institution and inform them of what's happened, as well as any other accounts you may have used (credit cards, etc).

Finally, check your accounts regularly. We understand it's not always convenient to check your accounts on a regular basis, but it's crucial if you want to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Being vigilant and taking preventative steps are crucial when it comes to money and online safety. It's really the only way you can ensure your hard-earned savings are protected.

Types of Online Scams and How to Avoid Them

One common scam is 'phishing' - this is where a hacker will send an email pretending to be from a credible source (like your bank) and ask you to provide sensitive information. It might be an email saying there's been suspicious activity on your account and asking you to 'confirm' your log-in details – but in reality, you're just handing over your information to the scammers.

Next, we have 'impersonation scams'. In these cases, a hacker might pose as a friend or family member in need of immediate financial assistance. They might employ emotional manipulation to convince you to transfer money to them quickly, without properly verifying the sender's identity.

'Investment scams' are another type. They lure you with seemingly impossible high-return schemes, fooling you into transferring money or investments into these bogus portfolios, resulting in tragic financial losses.

To prevent falling for any of these fraudulent activities, a few key points can be remembered. Always verify contact requests or transactional information independently, directly with your bank or the person supposedly in need of help. It might take a little extra time to confirm, but it's better than losing your precious savings. Never give away your bank details over email, or to someone you cannot verify beyond doubt.

Key Takeaways

• Aged care worker Marylynne Desveaux lost nearly $40,000 due to a sophisticated impersonation hack into her ING account's payee contact list.
• Hackers changed the bank details of her contact, which allowed them to make multiple transfers to a scammer's account.
• Desveaux has been in limbo with the bank's feedback, who only confirmed that they couldn't recover her funds and are currently investigating the situation.
• A similar ING account hack also happened last year, where $10,000 was taken from a mother on maternity leave's account.

We wish Marylynne all the best with her investigations – we hope she gets her money back! What are your thoughts on this story, members? Share your comments below!

 

[kenrconn]

I consider myself to be “scamaware” and delete any emails or messages that I receive which are not relevant to me. For instance I have not subscribed to Norton for 10 years or more but often get messages reminding me that my subscription need renewing. The one thing that I do worry about is the ease of using internet banking. I use an online-only bank and one of the big four. Neither of these offer 2fa ( two factor authentication) Where I would get a code sent to my phone which I have to enter before I can proceed with the banking process. Is there any good reason why this is not offered, especially from a bank who made a cool $7M half year profit? I don’t think that they are giving the protection we deserve and need.

 

[Kyria]

Above article ......"When it comes to your online banking, be sure to set up notifications and security alerts."
I went into my bank to set up notifications & security alerts. They were already ticked. BUT, I could not find anything about notifications or security alerts if a large withdrawal was made. Bank should have a notification if a withdrawal is over an amount which I have previously specified.

 

[Jennie]

Whether you’re trying to build a retirement nest egg, provide for your family, or just cover your bills each month, we understand the importance of saving your hard-earned money.

That's why it's so concerning to hear stories like Marylynne Desveaux. Marylynne is an aged care worker in her sixties who recently lost nearly $40,000 of her retirement savings to a 'sophisticated' impersonation hack.

For Marylynne, the hack was painful. Not only was she losing her hard-earned savings, but it had taken her a long time to build them back up after losing her job during the pandemic.

The details of the hack are harrowing. Cyber criminals had hacked into Marylynne's ING account's payee contact list and changed the bank details of one of her contacts (a man named Graham, who had not received a transaction from Marylynne since 2018) to a different account.

View attachment 34461

Marylynne Desveaux takes care of her mother despite the $40,000 hack. Image: Facebook.

This allowed hackers to make multiple transfers under Graham's name – and while Marylynne noticed the transactions and called Graham to see why the money was being sent to him, it was too late: the funds had already been sent away.

Marylynne said that a woman from ING told her the bank couldn't explain how the hackers got in as it was 'very sophisticated' and they got in 'a different way than they normally would'. She immediately reported the hack to both the police and Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), though as of yet there has been no news of the money being recuperated.

It's a hard story to read, and one that reminds all of us of how careful we have to be with our money, no matter where it's being held. So, what steps can you take against scammers and hackers? The first thing you should do is be aware of different types of scams. That means familiarising yourself with the types of schemes being used by hackers – and remember, they're always evolving.

View attachment 34462

Hackers try to steal your hard earned money with various techniques. Image: Freepik.

At the Seniors Discount Club, we like to frequently cover the subject of online safety. If you ever want to learn about current scams, we encourage you to check out our Scam Watch forum here. It also never hurts to double-check with friends or family members regarding anything that seems suspicious. You should also make sure you're using secure software on your devices, as this will help protect against malicious software and activity.

When it comes to your online banking, be sure to set up notifications and security alerts. That way, you'll immediately know if there has been any suspicious activity on your accounts and can take appropriate steps to secure them.

If you ever fall victim to a hack, it's important you report it straight away. You should also contact your financial institution and inform them of what's happened, as well as any other accounts you may have used (credit cards, etc).

Finally, check your accounts regularly. We understand it's not always convenient to check your accounts on a regular basis, but it's crucial if you want to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Being vigilant and taking preventative steps are crucial when it comes to money and online safety. It's really the only way you can ensure your hard-earned savings are protected.

Types of Online Scams and How to Avoid Them

One common scam is 'phishing' - this is where a hacker will send an email pretending to be from a credible source (like your bank) and ask you to provide sensitive information. It might be an email saying there's been suspicious activity on your account and asking you to 'confirm' your log-in details – but in reality, you're just handing over your information to the scammers.

Next, we have 'impersonation scams'. In these cases, a hacker might pose as a friend or family member in need of immediate financial assistance. They might employ emotional manipulation to convince you to transfer money to them quickly, without properly verifying the sender's identity.

'Investment scams' are another type. They lure you with seemingly impossible high-return schemes, fooling you into transferring money or investments into these bogus portfolios, resulting in tragic financial losses.

To prevent falling for any of these fraudulent activities, a few key points can be remembered. Always verify contact requests or transactional information independently, directly with your bank or the person supposedly in need of help. It might take a little extra time to confirm, but it's better than losing your precious savings. Never give away your bank details over email, or to someone you cannot verify beyond doubt.

Key Takeaways

• Aged care worker Marylynne Desveaux lost nearly $40,000 due to a sophisticated impersonation hack into her ING account's payee contact list.
• Hackers changed the bank details of her contact, which allowed them to make multiple transfers to a scammer's account.
• Desveaux has been in limbo with the bank's feedback, who only confirmed that they couldn't recover her funds and are currently investigating the situation.
• A similar ING account hack also happened last year, where $10,000 was taken from a mother on maternity leave's account.

We wish Marylynne all the best with her investigations – we hope she gets her money back! What are your thoughts on this story, members? Share your comments below!

Ing would have to be one of the worst banks for security. We had all our super and savings with them, for some reason they locked my hubby out of the account. I went in each day and transferred $25,000 out to another bank, I did this each day till I drained it. It was over the govt reporting amount, but no query at all on any transaction. Some of the transfers were made using my details and some using hubby's, this after they said he was unauthorised because of a discrepancy in his info. O security, no queries, wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Ing would have to be one of the worst banks for security. We had all our super and savings with them, for some reason they locked my hubby out of the account. I went in each day and transferred $25,000 out to another bank, I did this each day till I drained it. It was over the govt reporting amount, but no query at all on any transaction. Some of the transfers were made using my details and some using hubby's, this after they said he was unauthorised because of a discrepancy in his info. O security, no queries, wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

As far as I know there isn't any government limit on how much money you can take out of your own account.
The $10,000 cash deposit is the limit, where you must be able to explain where you got this amount of cash from. This is to prevent money laundering by drug dealers, etc.

 

[IJH]

If her account in ING was hacked surely ING should be held responsible?!

 

[Jennie]

As far as I know there isn't any government limit on how much money you can take out of your own account.
The $10,000 cash deposit is the limit, where you must be able to explain where you got this amount of cash from. This is to prevent money laundering by drug dealers, etc.

Yes, sorry I got that wrong, it is only for cash deposits. Even so you would expect the bank to query why so much was being transferred suddenly, as the account usually sat untouched for months.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Yes, sorry I got that wrong, it is only for cash deposits. Even so you would expect the bank to query why so much was being transferred suddenly, as the account usually sat untouched for months.

Yes, I bank with.Beyond Bank and would recommend them highly.
I cannot make a transfer for a large sum without having to send a code back to the bank to verify.
I do the internet banking for my husband and also my daughter and there is also a limit on moving money between our own accounts.
When purchasing a property in joint names the bank required to see the sales contract to ensure that all three names were on the contract as joint
owners, even though I have Power of Attorney for both, before they would release the funds
I feel very safe and secure with this bank.

 

[Staffordshire Whippet]

Never bank online, and NEVER bank with ING.

 

[Macarj]

If her account in ING was hacked surely ING should be held responsible?!

YES

 

[Wandiwa]

If her account in ING was hacked surely ING should be held responsible?!

Not necessarily ... what if she had a very easy password or had shared the password with others?

 

[Wandiwa]

Neither of these offer 2fa ( two factor authentication) Where I would get a code sent to my phone which I have to enter before I can proceed with the banking process. Is there any good reason why this is not offered, especially from a bank who made a cool $7B half year profit? I don’t think that they are giving the protection we deserve and need.

I'm very skeptical of 2 factor authetication. On my laptop I open MyGov and username and password are autoloaded, I cant workout how to change that ... next it sends a 6 digit code to my phone on messenger, which I open on my LAPTOP and retrieve it bypassing my phone. If my laptop is ever stolen, MyGov is 100% accessable even with 2FA and without access to my phone.

 

[Marylynne]

This is my story, I did add this disclaimer when I posted it on the Online forums.

A big thank you to Lucy Slade from nine news for telling this story on my behalf… the hypocrisy of what is happening to me is that I was not scammed… ING bank was scammed, and they allowed funds to be transferred to a known fraudulent account without any action or approval on my part. I did not respond to an email or text or phone call. The hack was on ING’s banking systems… and they are attempting to take NO responsibility or accountability for the loss of my savings… by them.
The scandalous nature of what is happening to me is that it happened 12 months ago as reported by Lucy Slade and ING has not resolved this problem and continues to blame and put the burden on their customers for their inability to keep our saving safe… If you have money deposited with ING be forewarned… their incompetence may result in money being transferred from your accounts without your approval and ING blaming you for this fraudulent act that occurs on their systems without your knowledge…
If you have suffered a similar fate n want share ur story. Contact reporter Lucy Slade at [email protected]

 

[Marylynne]

Whether you’re trying to build a retirement nest egg, provide for your family, or just cover your bills each month, we understand the importance of saving your hard-earned money.

That's why it's so concerning to hear stories like Marylynne Desveaux. Marylynne is an aged care worker in her sixties who recently lost nearly $40,000 of her retirement savings to a 'sophisticated' impersonation hack.

For Marylynne, the hack was painful. Not only was she losing her hard-earned savings, but it had taken her a long time to build them back up after losing her job during the pandemic.

The details of the hack are harrowing. Cyber criminals had hacked into Marylynne's ING account's payee contact list and changed the bank details of one of her contacts (a man named Graham, who had not received a transaction from Marylynne since 2018) to a different account.

View attachment 34461

Marylynne Desveaux takes care of her mother despite the $40,000 hack. Image: Facebook.

This allowed hackers to make multiple transfers under Graham's name – and while Marylynne noticed the transactions and called Graham to see why the money was being sent to him, it was too late: the funds had already been sent away.

Marylynne said that a woman from ING told her the bank couldn't explain how the hackers got in as it was 'very sophisticated' and they got in 'a different way than they normally would'. She immediately reported the hack to both the police and Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), though as of yet there has been no news of the money being recuperated.

It's a hard story to read, and one that reminds all of us of how careful we have to be with our money, no matter where it's being held. So, what steps can you take against scammers and hackers? The first thing you should do is be aware of different types of scams. That means familiarising yourself with the types of schemes being used by hackers – and remember, they're always evolving.

View attachment 34462

Hackers try to steal your hard earned money with various techniques. Image: Freepik.

At the Seniors Discount Club, we like to frequently cover the subject of online safety. If you ever want to learn about current scams, we encourage you to check out our Scam Watch forum here. It also never hurts to double-check with friends or family members regarding anything that seems suspicious. You should also make sure you're using secure software on your devices, as this will help protect against malicious software and activity.

When it comes to your online banking, be sure to set up notifications and security alerts. That way, you'll immediately know if there has been any suspicious activity on your accounts and can take appropriate steps to secure them.

If you ever fall victim to a hack, it's important you report it straight away. You should also contact your financial institution and inform them of what's happened, as well as any other accounts you may have used (credit cards, etc).

Finally, check your accounts regularly. We understand it's not always convenient to check your accounts on a regular basis, but it's crucial if you want to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Being vigilant and taking preventative steps are crucial when it comes to money and online safety. It's really the only way you can ensure your hard-earned savings are protected.

Types of Online Scams and How to Avoid Them

One common scam is 'phishing' - this is where a hacker will send an email pretending to be from a credible source (like your bank) and ask you to provide sensitive information. It might be an email saying there's been suspicious activity on your account and asking you to 'confirm' your log-in details – but in reality, you're just handing over your information to the scammers.

Next, we have 'impersonation scams'. In these cases, a hacker might pose as a friend or family member in need of immediate financial assistance. They might employ emotional manipulation to convince you to transfer money to them quickly, without properly verifying the sender's identity.

'Investment scams' are another type. They lure you with seemingly impossible high-return schemes, fooling you into transferring money or investments into these bogus portfolios, resulting in tragic financial losses.

To prevent falling for any of these fraudulent activities, a few key points can be remembered. Always verify contact requests or transactional information independently, directly with your bank or the person supposedly in need of help. It might take a little extra time to confirm, but it's better than losing your precious savings. Never give away your bank details over email, or to someone you cannot verify beyond doubt.

Key Takeaways

• Aged care worker Marylynne Desveaux lost nearly $40,000 due to a sophisticated impersonation hack into her ING account's payee contact list.
• Hackers changed the bank details of her contact, which allowed them to make multiple transfers to a scammer's account.
• Desveaux has been in limbo with the bank's feedback, who only confirmed that they couldn't recover her funds and are currently investigating the situation.
• A similar ING account hack also happened last year, where $10,000 was taken from a mother on maternity leave's account.

We wish Marylynne all the best with her investigations – we hope she gets her money back! What are your thoughts on this story, members? Share your comments below!

This is my story and thank you so much for putting this story on this forum. Please note I am very much a person that uses cash, I am very upset as we are pushed into the digital world there seems to be no responsibility or accountability by the bank when there system gets hacked. I was forced to get an IT specialist to confirm I had not malware or viruses on my devices before my accounts were unfrozen. I had to send them proof this was the case and my devices were clean.... Below is my disclaimer I added to the story when I launched all online social media forums... Please careful out there.

A big thank you to Lucy Slade from nine news for telling this story on my behalf… the hypocrisy of what is happening to me is that I was not scammed… ING bank was scammed, and they allowed funds to be transferred to a known fraudulent account without any action or approval on my part. I did not respond to an email or text or phone call. The hack was on ING’s banking systems… and they are attempting to take NO responsibility or accountability for the loss of my savings… by them.
The scandalous nature of what is happening to me is that it happened 12 months ago as reported by Lucy Slade and ING has not resolved this problem and continues to blame and put the burden on their customers for their inability to keep our saving safe… If you have money deposited with ING be forewarned… their incompetence may result in money being transferred from your accounts without your approval and ING blaming you for this fraudulent act that occurs on their systems without your knowledge…
If you have suffered a similar fate n want share ur story. Contact reporter Lucy Slade at [email protected]

 

[Marylynne]

Above article ......"When it comes to your online banking, be sure to set up notifications and security alerts."
I went into my bank to set up notifications & security alerts. They were already ticked. BUT, I could not find anything about notifications or security alerts if a large withdrawal was made. Bank should have a notification if a withdrawal is over an amount which I have previously specified.View attachment 34577

I totally agree. The bank should have been alerted as my accounts were never used for transactions only for income to come in and house payments to go out. ING is the only bank I know that only works with a 4 digit password which can be easily accessed with algorithms hackers. There was no notifications or two authentications sent to me for any of these 14 transactions done in 5 days.

 

[Marylynne]

If her account in ING was hacked surely ING should be held responsible?!

Unfortunately this is not the case according to ING. The only time the government and banks guarantee your money is if you have more than $250K in their account. NO Accountability at all!

 

[Marylynne]

If her account in ING was hacked surely ING should be held responsible?!

Unfortunately they won't. I had to get an IT specialist out as the onus was on me to prove there was no malware or viruses on my devices to un lock frozen accounts

 

[Marylynne]

Not necessarily ... what if she had a very easy password or had shared the password with others?

Unfortunately ING only allow 4 digit numerical password. with the right algorithms it's possible to work the numbers, it's like picking a lock I guess. very disappointed. I never shared password with anyone as I didn't use the account more than 1/2 dozen times since 2018. Monies goes in and money goes out into home loan. usually the only transactions that take place.

 

[Squizzy1]

Whether you’re trying to build a retirement nest egg, provide for your family, or just cover your bills each month, we understand the importance of saving your hard-earned money.

That's why it's so concerning to hear stories like Marylynne Desveaux. Marylynne is an aged care worker in her sixties who recently lost nearly $40,000 of her retirement savings to a 'sophisticated' impersonation hack.

For Marylynne, the hack was painful. Not only was she losing her hard-earned savings, but it had taken her a long time to build them back up after losing her job during the pandemic.

The details of the hack are harrowing. Cyber criminals had hacked into Marylynne's ING account's payee contact list and changed the bank details of one of her contacts (a man named Graham, who had not received a transaction from Marylynne since 2018) to a different account.

View attachment 34461

Marylynne Desveaux takes care of her mother despite the $40,000 hack. Image: Facebook.

This allowed hackers to make multiple transfers under Graham's name – and while Marylynne noticed the transactions and called Graham to see why the money was being sent to him, it was too late: the funds had already been sent away.

Marylynne said that a woman from ING told her the bank couldn't explain how the hackers got in as it was 'very sophisticated' and they got in 'a different way than they normally would'. She immediately reported the hack to both the police and Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), though as of yet there has been no news of the money being recuperated.

It's a hard story to read, and one that reminds all of us of how careful we have to be with our money, no matter where it's being held. So, what steps can you take against scammers and hackers? The first thing you should do is be aware of different types of scams. That means familiarising yourself with the types of schemes being used by hackers – and remember, they're always evolving.

View attachment 34462

Hackers try to steal your hard earned money with various techniques. Image: Freepik.

At the Seniors Discount Club, we like to frequently cover the subject of online safety. If you ever want to learn about current scams, we encourage you to check out our Scam Watch forum here. It also never hurts to double-check with friends or family members regarding anything that seems suspicious. You should also make sure you're using secure software on your devices, as this will help protect against malicious software and activity.

When it comes to your online banking, be sure to set up notifications and security alerts. That way, you'll immediately know if there has been any suspicious activity on your accounts and can take appropriate steps to secure them.

If you ever fall victim to a hack, it's important you report it straight away. You should also contact your financial institution and inform them of what's happened, as well as any other accounts you may have used (credit cards, etc).

Finally, check your accounts regularly. We understand it's not always convenient to check your accounts on a regular basis, but it's crucial if you want to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Being vigilant and taking preventative steps are crucial when it comes to money and online safety. It's really the only way you can ensure your hard-earned savings are protected.

Types of Online Scams and How to Avoid Them

One common scam is 'phishing' - this is where a hacker will send an email pretending to be from a credible source (like your bank) and ask you to provide sensitive information. It might be an email saying there's been suspicious activity on your account and asking you to 'confirm' your log-in details – but in reality, you're just handing over your information to the scammers.

Next, we have 'impersonation scams'. In these cases, a hacker might pose as a friend or family member in need of immediate financial assistance. They might employ emotional manipulation to convince you to transfer money to them quickly, without properly verifying the sender's identity.

'Investment scams' are another type. They lure you with seemingly impossible high-return schemes, fooling you into transferring money or investments into these bogus portfolios, resulting in tragic financial losses.

To prevent falling for any of these fraudulent activities, a few key points can be remembered. Always verify contact requests or transactional information independently, directly with your bank or the person supposedly in need of help. It might take a little extra time to confirm, but it's better than losing your precious savings. Never give away your bank details over email, or to someone you cannot verify beyond doubt.

Key Takeaways

• Aged care worker Marylynne Desveaux lost nearly $40,000 due to a sophisticated impersonation hack into her ING account's payee contact list.
• Hackers changed the bank details of her contact, which allowed them to make multiple transfers to a scammer's account.
• Desveaux has been in limbo with the bank's feedback, who only confirmed that they couldn't recover her funds and are currently investigating the situation.
• A similar ING account hack also happened last year, where $10,000 was taken from a mother on maternity leave's account.

We wish Marylynne all the best with her investigations – we hope she gets her money back! What are your thoughts on this story, members? Share your comments below!

The banks condone, even encourage us all to do banking online citing how it's safe, they therefor imo are libel when it proves otherwise, end of story.

 

[Rose855]

Whether you’re trying to build a retirement nest egg, provide for your family, or just cover your bills each month, we understand the importance of saving your hard-earned money.

That's why it's so concerning to hear stories like Marylynne Desveaux. Marylynne is an aged care worker in her sixties who recently lost nearly $40,000 of her retirement savings to a 'sophisticated' impersonation hack.

For Marylynne, the hack was painful. Not only was she losing her hard-earned savings, but it had taken her a long time to build them back up after losing her job during the pandemic.

The details of the hack are harrowing. Cyber criminals had hacked into Marylynne's ING account's payee contact list and changed the bank details of one of her contacts (a man named Graham, who had not received a transaction from Marylynne since 2018) to a different account.

View attachment 34461

Marylynne Desveaux takes care of her mother despite the $40,000 hack. Image: Facebook.

This allowed hackers to make multiple transfers under Graham's name – and while Marylynne noticed the transactions and called Graham to see why the money was being sent to him, it was too late: the funds had already been sent away.

Marylynne said that a woman from ING told her the bank couldn't explain how the hackers got in as it was 'very sophisticated' and they got in 'a different way than they normally would'. She immediately reported the hack to both the police and Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), though as of yet there has been no news of the money being recuperated.

It's a hard story to read, and one that reminds all of us of how careful we have to be with our money, no matter where it's being held. So, what steps can you take against scammers and hackers? The first thing you should do is be aware of different types of scams. That means familiarising yourself with the types of schemes being used by hackers – and remember, they're always evolving.

View attachment 34462

Hackers try to steal your hard earned money with various techniques. Image: Freepik.

At the Seniors Discount Club, we like to frequently cover the subject of online safety. If you ever want to learn about current scams, we encourage you to check out our Scam Watch forum here. It also never hurts to double-check with friends or family members regarding anything that seems suspicious. You should also make sure you're using secure software on your devices, as this will help protect against malicious software and activity.

When it comes to your online banking, be sure to set up notifications and security alerts. That way, you'll immediately know if there has been any suspicious activity on your accounts and can take appropriate steps to secure them.

If you ever fall victim to a hack, it's important you report it straight away. You should also contact your financial institution and inform them of what's happened, as well as any other accounts you may have used (credit cards, etc).

Finally, check your accounts regularly. We understand it's not always convenient to check your accounts on a regular basis, but it's crucial if you want to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Being vigilant and taking preventative steps are crucial when it comes to money and online safety. It's really the only way you can ensure your hard-earned savings are protected.

Types of Online Scams and How to Avoid Them

One common scam is 'phishing' - this is where a hacker will send an email pretending to be from a credible source (like your bank) and ask you to provide sensitive information. It might be an email saying there's been suspicious activity on your account and asking you to 'confirm' your log-in details – but in reality, you're just handing over your information to the scammers.

Next, we have 'impersonation scams'. In these cases, a hacker might pose as a friend or family member in need of immediate financial assistance. They might employ emotional manipulation to convince you to transfer money to them quickly, without properly verifying the sender's identity.

'Investment scams' are another type. They lure you with seemingly impossible high-return schemes, fooling you into transferring money or investments into these bogus portfolios, resulting in tragic financial losses.

To prevent falling for any of these fraudulent activities, a few key points can be remembered. Always verify contact requests or transactional information independently, directly with your bank or the person supposedly in need of help. It might take a little extra time to confirm, but it's better than losing your precious savings. Never give away your bank details over email, or to someone you cannot verify beyond doubt.

Key Takeaways

• Aged care worker Marylynne Desveaux lost nearly $40,000 due to a sophisticated impersonation hack into her ING account's payee contact list.
• Hackers changed the bank details of her contact, which allowed them to make multiple transfers to a scammer's account.
• Desveaux has been in limbo with the bank's feedback, who only confirmed that they couldn't recover her funds and are currently investigating the situation.
• A similar ING account hack also happened last year, where $10,000 was taken from a mother on maternity leave's account.

We wish Marylynne all the best with her investigations – we hope she gets her money back! What are your thoughts on this story, members? Share your comments below!

I Have found that lately I seem to be attracting the scammers who profess undying love for you. The first one went along fine until he tried to make me feel guilty because I refused to send his son an iPhone gift card. He was supposedly in the Ukraine as a surgeon and for security reasons the government had frozen his accounts. So sad, too bad. The next one wanted 300.00 for a video game for his granddaughter's birthday. She was turning 6 and he had custody - sob sob sob, real sad story. I told him I should have stayed with the first one. he only wanted 100.00 and then blocked and deleted him off my Facebook as I had done with the first one. The third one I just did not accept the friend request.
I don't know why they cannot ask you to be a friend. All three had contacted me to say they were having IT problems and could I request them as a friend... Can't trust anyone these days....... By the way, I did not give any of them anything.