On-line banking and potential fraud

Beenie

I have written on other threads about my elderly mother living alone, with the help of carers. She has a current bank account where her pension is paid.

My concern is that any unscrupulous person with access to her house can see her paper bank statements. These show the bank address as well as account details and full name etc.

What is to stop someone opening an online account with the bank? She doesn't have a phone or a computer, so a fraudster could easily use their own phone and email address for bank correspondence.

My husband says I am being too suspicious, but I worry about her well-being. The elderly are vulnerable and this (online banking) is just another headache for family members living at a distance.

Please tell me that it is impossible for anyone to gain access to another's bank account in this way.

enthusiasticsaver

Normally an application for online banking would mean a letter going to the address. Now obviously there is nothing to stop an unscrupulous carer from intercepting the letter. Have you voiced your concerns with your mother or do you have power of attorney. If you have an active power of attorney you can get online access yourself so you can check the account regularly.

alanq

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

If you have an active power of attorney you can get online access yourself so you can check the account regularly.

... and stop anyone else signing up for mobile banking on that account.

Beenie

I am working on getting POA.

I haven't spoken to my mother about my concerns (and I have no proof that anything is amiss because I have no idea what her bank balance is, or if there are suspicious transactions).

My mother has a desk where all her paperwork was kept, but in the last few visits there seems to be a few important things missing (like bank statements and cheque book). She could have hidden them elsewhere I suppose, but that is unlike her.

Beenie

alanq wrote: »

... and stop anyone else signing up for mobile banking on that account.

So alanq, does that mean that it IS possible for anyone to open an online account in the name of an existing customer? A customer that is oblivious to this method of banking? If so, that is very worrying.

alanq

Beenie wrote: »

So alanq, does that mean that it IS possible for anyone to open an online account in the name of an existing customer? A customer that is oblivious to this method of banking? If so, that is very worrying.

I suspect so, if someone has access to post and premises. They may need to find some information such as an NI number and/or date of birth.

There are also risks with off-line banking. If someone has access to a bank card (or its details) they could misuse it. If someone has access to a cheque book they could misuse it. Personal details and documents could be used for identity theft etc.

Beenie

The reason I am suspicious is that my mother gave me a cheque which has bounced.

She should have a healthy five-figure sum in her account.

If the cheque can't be honoured, where is her money?

The bank will not give info (which is quite proper) until I get POA but that could be weeks down the line. Her account could have been emptied by then.

OceanSound

The bounced cheque should have a reason on it. 'Refer to drawer' is usually a euphemism for 'lack of funds'. I believe there are other reasons also. E.g signature not matching.

Tom99

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]What I did in a similar situation is make the account with my Mum a joint account.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]That way I had full online access to the account and a debit card to do her shopping with.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I did it that way even though I had POA which would have been more trouble to use.[/FONT]

Beenie

OceanSound wrote: »

The bounced cheque should have a reason on it. 'Refer to drawer' is usually a euphemism for 'lack of funds'. I believe there are other reasons also. E.g signature not matching.

The cheque was rubber-stamped with

'Advice of Drawing required - please re-present'

Does this mean anything to you?

Tom99

Beenie wrote: »

The cheque was rubber-stamped with

'Advice of Drawing required - please re-present'

Does this mean anything to you?

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I think that means the cheque bounced. It could be lack of funds or maybe a signature check particularly if the cheque was for a large sum.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I had one of my cheques bounce recently because that last time I gave the bank a copy of my signature was in 1980.[/FONT]