A lucky escape

TWall38

Hi, been reading MSE for ages.

Just a warning to people over what has happened to me over the last few, very stressful weeks, and a RECOMMENDATION (:eek: ) for a bank.

I was contacted by my bank about three weeks ago, over payments totalling £3,400 going to a betting company called Totesport. This was a complete shock to me...I've used my card online before, but never for betting or anything like that.

My bank, Natwest, were very reassuring and told me not to worry. I didn't take their advice. I sat there, in shock, crying for the best part of an hour after they had called me. They explained that they would contact the company for 'more details'.

This was the first time I'd ever fallen victim to the horror stories. I'm really careful with my card and I felt terrible.

Two weeks and a few phone calls from me pass, and eventually I recieve a letter from Natwest stating that the 'IP address' (I didn't know what this was a month ago and now I'm as clued up as Bill Gates ) matched the IP address that I had logged in to my online banking from. They asked me to give them a call.

I did this, and this time their tone was a lot less reassuring and a lot more intimidating. They said that I was the only one who could have spent the money, or somebody that I know.

I live by myself, and I knew I hadn't done it, so I fought my corner for once. Even if it was through sobs. I explained that this was a huge amount of money to me - that I had been with them for almost 15 years and only once spent this amount of money (for a holiday), and had never even placed a 20p bet on the Grand National!

They were adamant initially, but eventually they said that they would look into it further.

Two days later I got a phone call from them and they said that they believe my 'IP address' was 'spoofed' by an online hacking. He explained what this meant. It is apparently when somebody impersonates your identity online with their computer.

I had no idea what this meant for my account, but Natwest told me that all they had to do was stop my card and nothing could come of it further.

I checked my account the following morning on the telephone and ALL the money was back in!!

I still won't be using my new card online for anything though. The whole thing has left me a bit shaken and hesitant.

Well done Natwest. :T

Scousebird_2

Good for you and standing your ground!

BenL

It would be interesting to get hold of some scripts or training material for these places to see exactly what the staff are meant to do.

1) Blame the customer

then

2) It was your family

then

3) You have told someone your PIN

4) ok, you have researched on the internet that chip and pin is not secure as they would like to make out, your card was used abroad and swiped anyway, you are actually not responsible for amounts over £50 on a credit card if at all - Here you go, good game, have your money back

Onto the next call and repeat from the top.