It’s not just the National Bank that doesn’t lift a finger when customers empty their accounts hacker. All financial institutions do the same, leaving humiliated and desperate victims to fend for themselves.
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“I don’t need my $350,000 to live, but it shortens my retirement,” says Guy Fortin, 77, who has been in the business for 50 years.
On July 25, the owner of Groupe Pador, a Montreal company, had $350,000 stolen from his business account at Caisse Desjardins.
Let’s face it: At 77, he was easy prey. His mistake? I personally called the number provided in a fraudulent email to renew a McAfee license.
Believing he was speaking to a reputable company, he called to cancel the $529.99 payment he was demanding. Instead, he called a call center that does exactly that: scam.
The hackers sent him a TeamViewer invitation to take control of his computer. He accepted. Then everything happened.
“My screen went black. I lost control of my computer for three days. When I took it back, the damage was done,” says the septuagenarian.
The fraudsters made three transfers to Hong Kong totaling $350,000. The first took place on July 25th, the second on July 27th and the third on July 28th.
Although Guy Fortin has never transferred money anywhere other than Canada and the United States, transactions to Asia have been seamless.
The fund has never planted its flag before it was too late. She also didn’t call her client to ask if he was the one who had just transferred $350,000.
No refund
However, Desjardins uses voice biometrics, a technology that allows a person to be identified by their voice on the phone, says Simon Marchand, a fraud expert.
But the Caisse only called Mr. Fortin on August 1st and not at the time of the crime. For his part, the entrepreneur thought all along that he was talking to the bank, but he was talking to the fraudsters.
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There is also another technology, behavioral biometrics, which makes it possible to target customer habits and detect anomalies when a stranger manipulates an AccèsD account or session.
“A 22-year-old Indian doesn’t handle a mouse like a 77-year-old Quebecer,” explains Simon Marchand, who adds that Desjardins doesn’t use behavioral biometrics.
Enraged, Guy Fortin reported the crime to the police and demanded compensation from Desjardins. The fund refuses. In a letter dated August 16, she advised her client that “all circumstances” led him to reject his claim.
“I have worked hard all my life, I have been in business for a long time and I think that I am no worse than an administrator. I’ve never experienced such a slap in the face,” says the man, who has been a Desjardins customer for 30 years.
He accuses Desjardins of failing to fulfill his obligations by not reacting quickly enough during the crime.
The Caisse responds that its fraud prevention teams were in telephone communication with Mr Fortin from the first transaction. “As he was properly authenticated and authorized the transfer, we cannot refund the amounts,” a spokesman said.
For Simon Marchand, it’s a sad story that deserves a better ending.
“Fraudsters specifically target older people. “We cannot allow them to be deceived like this, we have a responsibility as a company or as a society,” argues the expert.
Five types of scams to watch out for
Whether it’s your 84-year-old grandmother or your 18-year-old little brother, everyone will be cheated until they die. Here are the 5 most common examples today.
Text scam
Photo from the HEC Montréal website
Hacker groups send the same message to 100,000 or 1,000,000 phone numbers. Shipping takes place at the same time and takes 1 minute. If three out of 100,000 fall for it, the scammer can make thousands of dollars in less than 60 minutes.
Returning packages
There is a variety of training available on dark web fraud, says expert Simon Marchand. “The skill level required to commit fraud has never been lower,” he says. For example, it is easy to find a 60-page document that explains in detail how to commit fraud by systematically returning all packages received. Enough to make anyone want to cheat.
Spoofing – identity theft
This is what happened to David Trubiano (see other text). Scammers pretend to call from the bank. They use a very simple technique. They steal your password. They speak to you on the phone and log into your online account. You will receive an SMS with a security code. You will be asked to hand it to them to confirm your identity. They steal your money. And the bank refuses to refund.
Easy money on the internet
This is probably the oldest scam on the internet. We’ve added cryptocurrencies that are often used to make thousands of dollars out of people looking for quick profits. According to the Better Business Bureau, which tracks all types of fraud, those who fall for investment scams lose an average of $5,500. This is the most devastating scam the BBB has discovered.
What the National Bank criticizes about its customers
When the BNC recently compensated its defrauded business customers, it expressly emphasized that everyone, without exception, was responsible for their misfortune. They may have clicked on a link, said the bank’s security chief. Are they responsible for $250,000 disappearing from the account? No, says expert Simon Marchand. If banks were forced to repay, they would invest more in security. It’s that simple, he says.
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