In the past 2 weeks - someone hacked into my joint account and my personal savings account. My hubby always is checking the joint account to see what has cleared and posted. On April 29th, 2019 - someone withdrew $250.00 multiple times. When my hubby brought it to my attention - immediately I'm contacting my bank. Thank goodness - our bank provided the guidance on getting on top of this. A fraud case was immediately opened, since (2) accounts were compromised - we had to close them. Someone was able to get my login information - change the email & cell phone # to allow this crook to use the ZELLE app to get this money. I've not heard of Zelle - until this happened - after reading the reviews about them - it is easy for this thief to have easily used their app to fraudulently take monies for other folks accounts. In the midst of discovering the Zelle withdrawals - I found whoever access my account - had taken just about all of my savings 10 days prior. Someone used "Sofi" to fraudulently take those funds. I've never even heard of them either. Even with this going on - I still have to look at the positive.
All monies have been recovered as of today. We have an awesome bank. I don't know how my account became hacked. Of course I start thinking back at odd things. All of sudden I know I began getting bank notifications via my work email - thought it was odd - didn't remember having the account tagged to my work email. I don't recall opening up the links either. I began to think what do these 2 accounts have in common - they both were tied to PayPal. Was Paypal hacked? When I purchased software from ebay - when I downloaded the links to add to my computer - is this where the hacking began. Even when I closed my accounts and had to re-establish new accounts - change emails and phone #'s - I was sent an email from what supposedly was Zelle stating they were working on my case & provided a case #. Yet the bank advised they were working with both entities and there was nothing further for me to do. Zelle would have no need to be sending me an email. So how was it they got my email I just changed while at the bank. When this type of stuff happens to you - everything looks suspect.
If this does happen - stay calm. Contact your financial institution - they will instruct you on what all you need to do next. close out all compromised accounts. File a police report. If possible contact the vendor or entity (however let the Bank contact them). No - I actually contacted the (2) sources which were identified as being used to do this fraudulent activity. Zelle and Sofi - never heard of them - after this situation - best believe - I will not use them now. If someone can use their application/platform or tools to fraudulent take monies from other people accounts that is not their own - then how likely is it they (Zelle or Sofi) have proper securities in place to check who they are doing business with and/or if the customers are legit.
What I do know moving forward - - check your bank accounts, credit card and credit report regularly- because fraudulently activity can happen just in an instant.
Be diligent.
Thank you -
Blog you later