Results: This first survey is about scams that target retirees and other trusting people. If you or someone you know has been a victim of one of these and you want some advice, pose the question in "Ask TW" and we can all do our best to help.
Published on 12/06/2023
Someone I know was recently a victim of a scam called "The Bank Investigator" and lost significant money. There are many other scams and new ones pop up all the time. The reporting of them is a patchwork of information and some of these scams are known and some not. Here is a brief description of some of them. We all need to protect each other, especially at this time of year when there are more scams around than at most other times. Some of my information is sourced from : https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/scams-fraudes/azindex-eng.htm
QUESTIONS
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Comments
1.
1.
In the bank investigator scam, a scammer calls you to ask for your help to catch a bank employee who has been stealing money or claims to be helping you resolve suspicious transactions on your bank account. Here are some characteristics/variations of the Bank Investigator scam. Which of them were you already aware of?
In its most common version, a scammer calls you to ask for your help to catch a bank employee who has been stealing money. To help, you need to go to your bank and make a cash withdrawal from your account. The scammer tells you not to let the bank teller know what you're doing because the teller might be involved. After the withdrawal, the scammer meets you in a nearby parking lot, where you turn over the cash.
17%
360 votes
Variation: Fraudsters go to the victim's residence in person to pick up their bank cards. Some recent reporting identified victims being directed to put their bank card and PIN number in an envelope and place on their front steps for pick-up by an "investigator". Fraudsters retrieve the card and proceed to complete unauthorized transactions.
12%
251 votes
Variation: The scammer claims to be from the bank or a major credit card provider. They say there are unauthorized charges on your account or your account is compromised. In some cases, the scammer demands that you provide your credit card information. The scammer will tell you to send money for reimbursement fees or as "bait money" to help catch a bad "employee"
22%
471 votes
Victims are sometimes directed to dial *72 followed by a phone number. *72 is used to forward any calls directed to the victim's phone number to an alternate phone number. If *72 is dialed by the victim, the criminals will receive all incoming calls including legitimate financial institution ones that may otherwise potentially flag actual fraudulent charges by the criminals.
8%
166 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
29 votes
Not Applicable
61%
1274 votes
- None
- Logically speaking they don't need my help to catch the guilty person
- They wouldn't. I worked in Risk Management in the Banking Industry for 3 years of my career.
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.94% | 12 | |
| Just plain caller Beggin for money without giving true informant about the true use of money, | 0.08% | 1 |
| I didn't know about any of these. | 0.08% | 1 |
| Just spam | 0.08% | 1 |
| You would have to be really stupid to fall for these | 0.08% | 1 |
| aware of all. | 0.08% | 1 |
| Lots of calls about charges to my credit card that I have not made but I know they are scammers and they want my credit card information. I tell them that they called me and that they can give me the information that they have. They hang up. | 0.08% | 1 |
| Too many to list. | 0.08% | 1 |
| Irs | 0.08% | 1 |
| NONE OF THE ABOVE | 0.08% | 1 |
| They can get in and clean out your bank account | 0.08% | 1 |
| Facebook has oñe where in groups you are in about different things you like they DM you and start trying to get your Cash app info..this happen to me àlmost at least once a week. I have told them off told them I'm aware of what they're doing and they | 0.08% | 1 |
| you get a email from PayPal that your account has been compromised and closed | 0.08% | 1 |
| none | 0.08% | 1 |
| Hotel room scam where someone calls your room from the " front desk" and say your Credit card was denied and they need another card. | 0.08% | 1 |
| the CRA calling to say you owe money | 0.08% | 1 |
| tech help scam.....computer freezes on site number call involves google play cards. | 0.08% | 1 |
| all of the above | 0.08% | 1 |
2.
2.
You can set up a firewall of sorts to protect you from this type of scam and your bank can do a lot more than most currently do. Here are some ways you can upgrade your banking security. Which do you have already or will add after doing this survey.
Any access to your online accounts must involve 2-step Identification. You provide your user name and password then you get a text or phone call or email with a code that you must use to verify your identity. This is such basic security, if your bank doesn't do it change banks.
35%
741 votes
Any transaction on your account from a different location than your typical pattern (banks have this info) would raise a flag and your bank would contact you to make sure it is legit
31%
650 votes
Any transaction on your account in a significantly higher amount than your typical pattern (banks have this info) would raise a flag and your bank would contact you to make sure it is legit
29%
600 votes
Any transaction or combination of transactions that would exceed a daily limit (banks have this info) would raise a flag and your bank would contact you to make sure it is legit
24%
497 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
22 votes
Not Applicable
43%
913 votes
- The bank let someone place a cover over the ATM that recorded PIN numbers and then accused customers of giving out their PIN (TD Bank)
- Nn
- Never because I don't use an ATM
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.48% | 12 | |
| all of the above | 0.08% | 2 |
| I don't allow online banking. | 0.04% | 1 |
| ! | 0.04% | 1 |
| Get LifeLock | 0.04% | 1 |
| ALL transactions are immediately texted to my iPhone - problem solved | 0.04% | 1 |
| F | 0.04% | 1 |
| I get notification of every transaction within minutes of it being made. | 0.04% | 1 |
| all of the above are provided by my bank | 0.04% | 1 |
| Sounds in your rental building, then door clicks: these are neighbours or curious listening on your personal information where you live: this scam is played by scammers who take over the wireless networks to gain access to your accounts and credibil | 0.04% | 1 |
3.
3.
Here are some warning signs that a scam attempt may be in progress and how to protect yourself. Are any of these now obvious (with the benefit of hindsight)?
Don't dial *72; it will forward all incoming phone calls to the fraudsters
18%
385 votes
Fraudsters will often provide the first 4 numbers of your debit or credit card to suggest they are legit but most debit and credit card numbers with specific financial institutions begin with the same 4 numbers so it is easy to guess.
21%
448 votes
Calls from Bank Investigator fraudsters tend to happen early in the morning when a victim is still sleeping or not alert.
15%
323 votes
Financial institutions will never request transferring funds to an external account for security reasons.
29%
610 votes
Financial institutions or police will never request you to turn over your bank card nor attend your residence to pick up your bank card.
29%
603 votes
Criminals use "call-spoofing" to mislead victims - Don't assume that phone numbers appearing on your call display are accurate
25%
523 votes
Never provide remote access to your computer.
28%
585 votes
If someone phones you "from the bank", get them to confirm details of your accounts that only the bank would know. Don't give them information they should already know.
25%
515 votes
If you get an incoming call claiming to be from your financial institution, advise the caller that you will call them back. End the call and dial the number on the back of your card from a different phone if possible or wait 10 minutes before making the outgoing call
23%
481 votes
Above all, don't let them panic you. Give yourself at least 10 minutes breathing space to think things through before you respond in any way.
22%
463 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
12 votes
Not Applicable
41%
871 votes
- I go into my branch just to see the name of an experienced clerk who has been there awhile and always ask for them when I call.
- None
- I know the name of one. and yes they have called me before for real reasons
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.14% | 7 | |
| all of the above | 0.04% | 2 |
| I am always skeptical and never click on a link or answer calls from unknown sources. | 0.02% | 1 |
| SORRY BUT NONE OF THEM SOUND FAMILAR TO ME | 0.02% | 1 |
| I never answer the phone unless I know who it is. Also have apps that deal with scammers | 0.02% | 1 |
4.
4.
Are you interested in more surveys about some of the scams that would seem to be targeting people like us. Some that come to mind are "The grandchild in trouble" scam, The Lonely hearts Club" scam, the Identity Theft scam (and there are others). Let me know if you are and I will do some digging.
Yes
39%
819 votes
No
13%
278 votes
Undecided
17%
360 votes
Not Applicable
31%
643 votes
- ATM skimmer - money withdrawn from ATM in Malaysia on Friday of long weekend - a classic scam.
- No
- Tried to get into my computer to remove an fake amount
COMMENTS