Abbey Online Banking Fraud

James

There's a new website dedicated to helping victims of e-crime.

e-victims.org (click here).

The site is relatively new and they're asking victims for their stories.

mrgrumpy_3

I feel for all the Abbey customers who got ripped off....!!! Before changing (If you can ) ive had nearly 40,000 taken internally from HSBC. They dont want to do a damn thing about it either. Ive been fighting them for nearly 7 months...!!! Good luck to you all

antiquatedanne

I have read the above posts with interest. On Sunday I set up a large funds transfer to meet a property commitment on Thursday (allowing the 4 days transfer time). I was surprised I was able to process the whole amount in a single transaction and found that quite worrying. This morning I received a phone call from a "Chris" asking me to confirm security details. I have a rule that I always ask for a number and ring back. The number 0845 850 6999, although answered electronically as Abbey etc., was no longer in use and I was given another number to ring. Then started the merry-go-round and eventually I ended up in e-commerce, confirmed the transaction and was told that the funds were now available, but I would have to reprocess the payment. Unfortunately this was unsuccessful due to insufficient funds in my account! Another call to e-commerce and I was then told that the funds would only be available in 48 hours as they had already been transferred and were in the BACS system. To cut a very long and tedious story short, it turns out that if an unusual transaction takes place, fraud recall first, then phone to check - this is their security procedure. I was pleased they checked the transactions, but was then upset that a) they recall the funds without first trying to contact me, b) when confirming it is a legitimate transaction, they apparently cannot replenish my funds in less than 48 hours and c) they were not the slightest interested that the funds were required for a property transaction and I might lose the property. For any further assistance they referred me to "my branch", but I don't operate from a "branch". So the only way round this is by going into any branch and setting up a CHAPS payment (£25 cost) for a same day transfer - I only hope the original funds are back in my account when I do this. Oh yes, I never found "Chris" again!

Once again, reading the threads above, it seems to me that there is one rule for a legitimate transaction stopped by them and another if the Account holder suffers a fraudulent transfer and contacts them.

patrick0

The trouble with Abbey is that the login details are the same every time you visit their site.

I prefer to use a bank that provides me with an electronic login device such as Lloyds TSB or Nationwide. This means my login details are different each time, so anyone who captures my details can't use them. Most large companies provide these devices to staff for accessing company computers remotely as they're far more secure than a username/password combination.

Also worth using Firefox instead of Internet Explorer. Bugs in IE are frequently targeted by fraudsters and just visiting a particular website can be enough for them to infect your computer with software to capture keystrokes. Firefox is generally more secure and bad websites are blocked within Firefox very quickly.

Also ensure any passwords you use are not used on other websites. It's worth keeping all your web passwords in a program such as KeePass or Password Safe - these will encrypt the passwords and let you access them as required via a master password. This makes it easier to have different passwords on each website.

Windcaid

I've been reading the posts about Abbey's lack of interest in their customers money with shock, especially since I just lost £12000 from my online business account. Here's the story so far....
I get a call on 2nd July from Abbey saying that they think fraudulent activity is taking place on the account, and quote me a transaction for £4000 that I do not recognise, which I confirm. I am put through to E-commerce dept who tell me that not only that transaction, but two subsequent transaction of the same amounts have also left my account! I was promised the money would be back in my account by the next morning. I'm writing this a week later after a catalogue of ineptitude and what can only be termed as lies coming from Abbey staff. Friday 3rd nothing returned, am told that the dept has now closed at 5.00pm, and I will have to wait till Monday. Monday 6th arrives and I speak to Joanna in the Fraud dept who apologises profusely after informing me that the Thursday call had not been registered so no action had been taken! She promises to action it immediatley and say's that without fail, the funds will be back in my account "within 48 hours, probably earlier." Surprise.no return of funds on Wednesday. I then speak to Laura in online banking, who speaks to Tina in Fraud and gets back to me saying that Monday 12th is now the time the mney will be returned. At this, Idemand to speak to a manager, and am put through to Neil, who to his credit shares my sense of disbelief and is coming up against the same wall of deaf ears in the Fraud dept. However, he is calling me twice a day to keep me posted. The last thing he told me this morning, a week after I was contacted by Fraud dept about this, is that they still have no record of this incident!!
I can't understand how Abbey can firstly inform me of fraudulent activity, then fail to stop not just that transaction, but 2 subsequent ones...and then have no record of their or my calls for over a week. Being a computer troubleshooter specialising in IT Security, I can say with with confidence that any simple keylogger could record username, passcode and ID as they are always the same on the Abbey site, and have to be typed in. Cahoot for instance, requires that you use a mouse click to identify elements of your passcode which can be logged but just as clicks on an empty screen. I have asked to speak to someone in security for over a week and just get no response.
I'll keep you informed of the outcome........to be continued, but not for to long I hope!

dsolveonline

Regarding the above.

It all sounds very familiar. I had fraud on my account aswell and it took 11 weeks before I got everything back. My initial claim for the fraud was deleted by someone and I had to resubmit the claim after the 5th week. Utterly terrible service and no apologies or any explanations. You will get your money back but dont be surprised if it takes a few months. I have since changed banks. I would advise you to cancel internet banking with Abbey now to avoid the same thing happening again - the internet banking service is not secure (they did a story about it in the times just last month aswell).

ronniem_2

Having similar problems with dodgy direct debits/fake cheques and standing orders not set up by me. Abbey have been awful at resolving problems and currently in the process of setting up a website as an online petition to be able to ue for grounds to take further action. Your experiences would help, would you be willing to support and share your experiences? If you are interested in helping please email me directly at - [EMAIL="mail@abbeyfraud.com"]mail@abbeyfraud.com[/EMAIL] - it would help if you include your location (town) amount, if it has been resolved (if so how long it took) and also a contact number.

Thanks guys...
a very unhappy abbey customer

joshskyers

Interviews needed if you or anyone you know has had fruad problems with abbey or just plain bad costumer service then please get in contact with at [EMAIL="josh_skyers@hotmail.com"]josh_skyers@hotmail.com[/EMAIL] interviewees may be paid depending on the intensity of your story. if you are interested then contact my a.s.a.p

Mr.Mulla

Dipak wrote: »

Again it was with Abbey, do you think there is a flaw in the security?

IMO, yes there is. Not only with Abbey but with some other banks as well be it in the UK or in the US.

Like what jones said, fraud happens and it's a fact. But sometimes the flaws in the security helps in making things happen for some fraudsters. Especially in phone banking. Some customer service people will not even verify the account and if some will do, just some basic questions. Questions and answers that can easily be accessed by some fraudsters. Sometimes, or maybe most of the time, fraudsters get a hold of your information through "PHISHING". And they do this by calling your banks and they will try to access your account.