Mobile phone as credit/debit card security backup?

Curly Judge

My daughter works in Abu Dhabi and was telling us recently about how her account was attacked and money illegally drawn down.
Nothing new in that I know, but the interesting thing was the way she was immediately alerted to the attack on her funds.
The credit card companies out there seem to operate a system whereby you are immediately alerted by text of any activity on your account.
Not being very well up on online security, this seemed to me to be an eminently sensible precaution in addition to other basic security practices.
Could it not be offered here , even at an optionally extra cost?

Mr. G

It is a good idea, keeping in mind SMS is not encrypted. I know some banks here can text you when your balance reaches a specified amount.

Text is cheap. I don't know why they don't do it here, the Credit Card companies do ring the customer within minutes of specious activity, once it is above €25 I think, especially after this loyalty fiasco going on at the minute.

Curly Judge

Mr. G wrote: »

It is a good idea, keeping in mind SMS is not encrypted. I know some banks here can text you when your balance reaches a specified amount.

Text is cheap. I don't know why they don't do it here, the Credit Card companies do ring the customer within minutes of specious activity, once it is above €25 I think, especially after this loyalty fiasco going on at the minute.

It seemed to me to be so cheap and simple that I assumed the reason it wasn't implemented here is because of some technical, administrative or legal difficulty.
That's why I wanted it to run the gauntlet of the tekkies on Boards and allow them the chance to pull it to pieces.
Perhaps it'll raise more interest after the weekend?

Curly Judge

I have today written to the Minister for Finance, The Central Bank and my credit card provider asking them to comment on the merits or otherwise of this system.

wil

Combined with something like whatsapp it would cost next to nothing. Seems like a sensible check. Bit like notifications you get from iTunes etc to say you logged in on x computer or at this time. I'd like it as a confirmation receipt say in case a charge was keyed wrong or just as a reminder what I purchased. Paper receipts get lost.

demo1338

Hi just to let people know if they get a phonecall with english number don't answer as it is a fraud scam,saying they are ulster bank fraud.If you answer your account has been compromised.Mine was on Sat. and they took 500 euro from it.The number is +448453512298

yoyo

demo1338 wrote: »

Hi just to let people know if they get a phonecall with english number don't answer as it is a fraud scam,saying they are ulster bank fraud.If you answer your account has been compromised.Mine was on Sat. and they took 500 euro from it.The number is +448453512298

That doesn't sound right, did you provide account details to them over the phone?

Nick

Curly Judge

wil wrote: »

Combined with something like whatsapp it would cost next to nothing. Seems like a sensible check. Bit like notifications you get from iTunes etc to say you logged in on x computer or at this time. I'd like it as a confirmation receipt say in case a charge was keyed wrong or just as a reminder what I purchased. Paper receipts get lost.

A simple,[and perhaps very obvious] example:
You are at a football match and you get a text telling you that you have just bought a 250 euro coat in Marks and Sparks.....

demo1338

No i just hung up.Went into the bank a few mins ago and they said my card was probably cloned

yoyo

demo1338 wrote: »

No i just hung up.Went into the bank a few mins ago and they said my card was probably cloned

I doubt the two are related, I don't think a phone call could trigger such a huge transfer. It was possibly related to the Supervalu holiday deals thing where the company they used had a massive security breach, with thousands of personal details, credit card etc. details stolen recently.

Nick

wil

demo1338 wrote: »

Hi just to let people know if they get a phonecall with english number don't answer as it is a fraud scam,saying they are ulster bank fraud.If you answer your account has been compromised.Mine was on Sat. and they took 500 euro from it.The number is +448453512298

Agreed that doesn't sound right at all and it almost implies all calls from the UK are scams?

Any call claiming to be a financial institution requesting personal details should be declined. If they need you to confirm details it should be when you ring them on a number you can check and confirm

I did once have to stop a rep on the phone when they asked me for an online pin, It was for a legitimate reason but I pointed out they were asking me to do something they constantly advise people never to do. So I didn't give it. Took a 20 minute discussion on online security which I requested to be passed back up the line.

As they claim increasing security measures, it is often amazingly easy to spot simple holes being left from previously more secure methods. There is one current potential exploit which could possibly compromise a card that I was told of by the institution itself. Don't know if anyone has considered it should be addressed.

Thwip!

demo1338 wrote: »

Hi just to let people know if they get a phonecall with english number don't answer as it is a fraud scam,saying they are ulster bank fraud.If you answer your account has been compromised.Mine was on Sat. and they took 500 euro from it.The number is +448453512298

I got a phone call from that number this morning. I answered, heard the automated part mentioning Ulster Bank and fraud and hung up right away. They rang multiple times, so I went onto the Ulster Bank website and found their freephone fraud number and rang them. The guy there told me that my account (along with others) had been compromised but wouldn't tell me how as he said he couldn't because the Police were involved. He cancelled my card and now I have to go into my bank tomorrow to get a new one rushed out to me. I told him that I rang because I was getting these phonecalls and thought they were a fraud and he told me that they (ulster bank fraud team) had been contacting people all day about their accounts being compromised

Does this sound right to anyone?

Dravokivich

Im nof with ulster bank, but have received similar calls from my bank. Although theyve always asked who I was to verify a name then verify a couple of my previous transactions. No other potentially comprimising questions were asked of me.

Odd though, theyve only done it when i purchased games online. Never for gambling or porn!

Curly Judge

Thwip! wrote: »

I got a phone call from number this morning. I answered, heard the automated part mentioning Ulster Bank and fraud and hung up right away. The rang multiple times, so I went onto the Ulster Bank website and found their freephone fraud number and rang them. The guy there told me that my account (along with others) had been compromised but wouldn't tell me how as he said he couldn't because the Police were involved. He cancelled my card and now I have to go into my bank tomorrow to get a new one rushed out to me. I told him that I rang because I was getting these phonecalls and thought they were a fraud and he told me that they (ulster bank fraud team) had been contacting people all day about their accounts being compromised

Does this sound right to anyone?

National Irish Bank phoned me 2 [perhaps 3] years ago just before Christmas to query three transactions on my account.
When I confirmed that I had not initiated these transactions they cancelled my card and [eventually] credited my account with the money taken.
To this day I don't know how they twigged what was going on but I'm deeply grateful to them and their system.
I reported it to Mullingar garda station.
The garda there told me he would be back to me within a few days.
Still waiting for that call.
Should be on any day now?:rolleyes:

Thwip!

Of interest http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/448453512298

Aelfric

Just had the call. Speaking to Ulsterbank now about possible fraudulent activity on my account. The call is 100% genuine