Someone has been tapping into my bank account!!!

[moosmom]

I went to the bank today to deposit some money, knowing that my account was overdrawn. Little did I know how much! :eek: It seems that a business called Freecreditreport.com has been taking money out of my account illegally, in $12 increments. Those $12 increments along with three $35 overdraft fees brought my account even more overdrawn. I spoke with the bank president and he put in for a reversal of all fees plus the amount taken and will go after the company making those withdrawals. He is also issuing me a new debit card with a restriction on it that will not allow withdrawals if the account is overdrawn.

I just wanted to warn everyone to pay very close attention to your bank accounts. This is the SECOND time this has happened to me. The first time was with AOL who kept taking out fees a year after my account was closed.

[Cookiebaker]

Yikes, Donna, how scary! :eek:

I reconcile my bank statement weekly (I can go online and get a current statement). And that way, if anything funky is going on, it is caught within 7 days.

Good Luck, and that's great that they reversed the charges and the fees! :)

[moosmom]

The fees I'm getting back are over $100!! I hope they go after these people. UGH!! :mad:

[Karen]

I am sure they will go after them, kudos to your banker for understanding!

[kuhio98]

Wow, that's pretty scary. I also check my balance online each week. Do the same with my credit card. If I see anything on there I don't recognize, I call immediately to get it on the record. Once I was charged twice for the same meal at a restaurant and 3 times by another. It took a while to get it straightened out.

[gini]

Donna, I am sorry this happened to you and happy that your banker realized what is going on and reversed all of the charges for you.

It seems as though more and more companies are requesting to dip into your checking account to pay a monthly bill - such as the phone or other utility.

They claim it is "so easy" for you - no stamps - no paper work - yeah right!

And what about those times when you have "no money" and want to delay that payment just a few days?

I don't trust them - any of them - and will not allow anyone to debit my account for anything - unless it is my own choice when I purchase something.

But, I also, go online regularly to check on my account.

There are those that while we are sleeping - are up all night figuring out new ways to scam us

[jazzcat]

Wow, it's scary to know just how easy that can happen. Thanks for the heads up Donna. Glad you got it straightened out.

[moosmom]

If they were ATM transactions, then the bank could've disputed them. But they were made by a company whose name showed up, so the bank knew it wasn't me. That's one of the reasons I've stayed with Citizens Bank for so long.

Ed, the president, said that they've had ALOT of problems with AOL taking out money from accounts.

[Craftlady]

I check our account daily.
We have several bills (couple major ones) that come out automatically but we set them up that way.

[shais_mom]

yikes
one of my friends her brother in law had his business checkbook stolen and his wife works at the bank - closed the account just leaving enough money to cover some of the checks they had written - one of her co-workers saw that the checks were overdrawn so she took money out of their savings to cover them without asking! She didn't realize the acct was closed? :confused: I think they should garnish HER wages!

[shais_mom]

there was also a time when I had a checking account (I don't have one now) I deposited $100 into my account to cover checks coming and I gave the girl my acct number which is one number off my dad's b/c it was at the credit union that at the time was specifically for the company he worked for and it was his clock number so they just added #'s in front of like 1-2-3-4- etc for your acct number. They deposited the $100 into my dad's acct so those checks bounced all the way to the credit union. I was livid - I called and told them and they revoked the fees and covered the checks.

[sparks19]

Thats terrible.

I had a similar thing happen when I was 15 years old. Every month someone was taking over $70 out of my account. The bank returned my money and put a stop for the day that payment came out. So what did the company do? took it out an another date. it was an insurance company, so I called them and told them what was happening and the lady on the phone says "well you must have some sort of account with us if we are taking money out of your bank." I said "listen lady, I am 15, I don't have house insurance, I don't have car insurance and I don't have life insurance. how about you type in my name and see if I have an account" It turns out it was a customer of theirs and his bank account was one digit different from mine and the insurance company screwed up when they put it in the system.

It's really frustrating. I am glad your bank is taking care of everything :D

[Logan]

I have tons of automatic drafts to my checking account, but so far, so good. One month, one payment was drafted twice in the same day and it did cause a problem because the mortgage payment hit the same time, but the one that caused the problem paid me back the fees and immediately reversed the double payment. Maybe I'm too trusting, but it sure is a lot easier for me.

I'm sorry you had such problems, Donna.

Logan

[cyber-sibes]

Donna, I am impressed that they are returning your overdraft charges & the money. I'm not sure my bank would be so cooperative.
It is a good idea to check your balences & charges on line. My husband checked his one time and found several hundred dollars missing. Apparently someone used his credit/debit card number at a casino in Puerto Rico! The bank actually had the nerve to ask if he was sure it wasn't him. Duh! We assured them he had not been out of the country. He even had to call this casino to verify the charge - it turns out they run things through some off shore bank. It took several weeks to resolve, but the money was returned and the bank said they were going to pursue the fraud, but who knows.

[Sevaede]

WOW! That is incredibly HORRIBLE! :mad: I hope somebody gets a swift kick!

[K9karen]

Hey, Donna! We have another thing in common..I've been with Citizens bank (and their "old" names) since I was 6 yo and banked $1 a week at school! Great service, friendly, helpful people. I'm glad you got your money back. I know I check all my accounts with a fine tooth comb all the time.

[catnapper]

OMG! I keep seeing the commercials for that company, and I felt like they were a sleezy scam.... turns out they are! I would be FURIOUS if I were you.

So glad you caught it and the bank is reversing all charges. You are lucky since most banks wouldn't so it. I know even with my bank it varies on branches. I have two accounts. One opened where I used to live, another opened here. If I happen to overdraft one, they ALWAYS reverse the fee without a problem. The other account makes me threaten to leave the bank before they reverse the fee. I was told by my local branch that the fees is how each individual bank makes it money. Now... I made it sound like I always am overdrafted. I am - I'm AWFUL at keeping my checkbook balanced! :o

[joanofark]

OMG! I keep seeing the commercials for that company, and I felt like they were a sleezy scam.... turns out they are! I would be FURIOUS if I were you.

I think Freecreditreport called our house one day asking my mom for info on her bank acount, trying to get into it!! Thank goodness she didn't tell them anything!!

[sirrahbed]

I also hear those commercials on the TV and then after reading your post Donna - I googled freecreditreport scam and it turned up lots and lots of posts about bank account ripoffs.

I am sorry that this happened to you but so glad that your bank is helping you. This is scary isn't it??

[moosmom]

I never would've given it a second thought because my account is overdrawn frequently. However, it didn't make sense when I was putting a whole lot of money into it and never making a dent negative balance. I'm going to ask the manager of the bank to look further to see if they've done it before and I never noticed.

I also am very bad about balancing my check book. That is until this happened. I'm calling the Attorney General's office tomorrow and the better business bureau to report them. I'm also going to open up a whole new checking account so that it will never happen again.

[jazzcat]

Donna I'm just curious, did you do business with them and give them your bank account info? I'm just wondering how they got it in the first place.

[moosmom]

I signed up for a free credit report but never, and I mean NEVER gave them any information on my bank account. They did require my social security number, so I'm thinking that's what did it. I can see now that was a HUGE mistake. :(

[jazzcat]

I signed up for a free credit report but never, and I mean NEVER gave them any information on my bank account. They did require my social security number, so I'm thinking that's what did it. I can see now that was a HUGE mistake. :(
Oh wow, good to know. Thanks!

[moosmom]

I just googled Freecreditreport.com scams and this is what I found. I'm not the only person who has been scammed by these people, who happen to be one of the biggest credit reporting companies in the country, Experian!!!! :eek:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/credit_cards/consumerinfo.html

I think I am going to be sick!!! I filed a complaint with consumer affairs as well.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

How terrible!! I'm glad you are able to get your money back. Good idea about contacting the BBB, they really do help people! I hope that place gets into trouble.

[moosmom]

I'm also getting the media involved. Channel 8 here in New Haven has a consumer reporter. I have a feeling that not many people know about this scam. I sure didn't. If nothing else, I'll get my 15 seconds of fame and will alert people to this rip off.

[DJFyrewolf36]

Good for you for getting the media involved! Ive been ripped by "credit counseling" places and such, I learned never ever give any info to these people...even my SSN or my name for that matter. :p

[smokey the elder]

I was going to sign up for a credit reporting service, since I have vulnerabilities (Paypal, accounts set up with various vendors, a first and second mortgage, etc.) But I think there's a law that you can get a free credit report once a year, which was a provision in the new bankruptcy code. I think it stinks when a well-known company like Experian stoops to such tactics. I think a media blitz and some investigative reporting by 60 Minutes are in order here.

[moosmom]

I got a phone call from a supposed "debt collector" saying I owed $10,000 and if I paid it today, they'd knock off $2,000. When I asked for more details, they got irate. They said if this bill wasn't paid off, they'd come after me, my income, etc. They said my credit would be ruined. It smelled "SCAM" all over. I don't owe anyone that kind of money.

I called the better business bureau and they said it's a popular scam among thieves. Especially with older people, who hear "ruined credit" and will do anything to keep that from happening.

The lengths people go to for money is despicable.:mad::mad:

I also got a phone call from a supposed "process server" as he described himself. He was looking for a Dawn Ploof of 305 Highcrest Road. It was a warrant for "failure to appear". Failure to appear WHERE???

And I have a cellphone!!!! No landline.

[momcat]

Hi Donna,
This is why I NEVER do anything on a computer that involves my bank or credit cards. I do not trust anything involving a computer!!!!!!!!

[BlessAllMeKittys]

I had a debit fee for fishing lures for 3.99?! I dont even fish! I called the phone # next to the fee and got an actual person which surprised me. They assured me it would be credited to my acct. and it was in 3 business days. Just in case I went to my bank and told the branch manager and she issued a new debit card. I check my acct. online everyday..you just never know.

[Karen]

Hi Donna,
This is why I NEVER do anything on a computer that involves my bank or credit cards. I do not trust anything involving a computer!!!!!!!!

One thing you can do, if you want something on website that demands a credit card, is pick up one of the "temporary" Visa, MC or AmEx credit cards at the grocery store that you can get worth any amount. That way, you can give them that number knowing it is not linked in any way to your bank account, and even if someone gets that info, they can only spend whatever the small amount that is on the card. It is worth the small fee they charge (read the details on the card) to have that peace of mind.