Posted on 03/29/2011 4:00:12 PM PDT by FourtySeven
I thought I'd share this with you all, as some may benefit from this.
Today, I was called by Wells-Fargo's fraud protection department to let me know my online ID and password had been compromised.
Not only could they not tell me when exactly this occurred, or for what reason, but I was also told, I would have to run a full virus scan before they could restore my access. Now I could easily lie of course, although they make a point of saying that if an online scan truly was not performed, then they are not responsible for any unauthorized transactions. But all of this isn't the point.
I have a Macintosh, and I have never had a need to have anti-virus. From what I understand, it's impossible to get any kind of malware unless I knowingly download something, like a pirated movie or program, and purposely and knowingly install it on my computer. I have not done that. So the matter here is one of principle. I did NOT want to pay to get an antivirus program for a Mac, when it cannot POSSIBLY be my fault!
And even all of that wouldn't be such a big deal if I could know WHAT triggered this alert of "suspicious activity", so I could know what to avoid in the future. The only thing I've been doing in the last 72 hours is normal, Internet browsing. If this IS due to some kind of malware, how can I know where I got it? How can I know what site it came from??
If the antivirus program says I'm "clean", HOW can I trust that, when I thought I was "clean" BEFORE?
Now of course, what is going to happen is (as I write this now, a newly purchased antivirus program is running) I will find NO infection on my computer, and yet, have no sense of security as I will have NO idea what I did to compromise my online ID and password.
Wells Fargo has the worst security. My sister has, on three occasions, had her account hacked and monies were pulled out to pay cell phone bills in Malaysia. She doesn’t have a card, an online account, hell, she doesn’t even own a computer.
She has always been able to recoup her money, only after constant calls and threats from her brutish brother.
Wells Fargo IS the problem.
I have two accounts and I manage two accounts for my mother at US Bank. All four accounts have an online presence and we both have cards. Never a hint of security issues.
A couple of years ago, I was in the bank doing some stuff for my mom and I casually mentioned that I was going to be out of the country for a few weeks and wondered if my cash card would work at the ATM’s in the UK. The lady I was dealing with said that it would work. Once. Becaause this was out of my normal pattern of withdrawls, suddenly having it taking funds from an ATM in N. Ireland would run up a red flag and the acoount would be frozen. Good to know.
Go to your branch and speak with a personal banker.
It sounds like they did a good job watching your back in this situation .
Interesting thanks. Yes, I have other accounts I use, without any problem.
I don’t believe that was really Wells Fargo calling you. Sounds like a scam.
I think your first problem is Wells Fargo, and I would start by changing banks as quickly as I could. I’ve seen some of the way they do business and I won’t have anything to do with them at all.
Is there a local Credit Union you can join?? They are usually quite responsible and responsive to their customers and in my experience are a lot easier to deal with than any of the large banks.
Just a thought, and good luck!
Of course I’m happy they are being safe, not sorry. I’m not angry about that. I’ve gotten similar calls before. This is just the first time I was practically FORCED to run a program I didn’t want to run! And now, I’d even have to prove I DID run it if there were to be an unauthorized charge on the account. (?!?)
Crazy. I’ve never heard of a company demanding as a prerequisite for restoration of online access the operation of an anti-virus program. Never.
It seems like either the dumbest customer service model I’ve ever seen OR a RAT way of WEASELING out of any charges I say are not authorized. I’m starting to think the latter.
Copy and paste your posting to Snopes and see if they can match this to a current scam:
http://www.snopes.com/cgi-bin/comments/webmail.asp
Thanks and yes, I will no longer do business with them after I get the reward points off the card.
Sheesh. I’m glad I paid my mortgage with them off.
You can’t completely prevent it all; however:
1. Use a program like Secunia’s PSI to scan your computer against the latest security fixes for all of your software. Sadly, Sun’s Java updater only checks once a month and many other programs’ updater programs only check upon boot up, meaning constantly Suspending or Hibernating your system, rather than doing a total shutdown, may leave you never updating.
2. Use a browser like Firefox that has add-ins that block scripts and Flash objects from auto-running unless you whitelist the sites you think are safe.
3. Set up your DNS to use OpenDNS with a free account, configuring your options to disallow resolving websites reported to have malware. Also consider using browser add-ins the do likewise, or use Google’s prescreening to vet your sites before going there (I limit use of Google for personal reasons, but this is a good use of Google).
4. Maintain and buy a good malware/anti-virus program for your Apple.
I hope this helps.
I'm just guessing here, but think about it this way. If they didn't insist that people do this what would happen?
Many people are clueless about security and probably shouldn't be doing online banking.
If they insist you do this after a compromise; it might weed out people who don't know how to keep their computers secure.
Banks take this stuff very seriously. They have no control over how secure customers keep their computers and what websites they visit to pick up garbage.
I think it be a very tough area to work in a bank.
I get those all the time on one of my business phones. Problem is it is a disposable with no name or information associated to it.
Are you sure it wasn’t with a local Wi-Fi connection?
I don't travel overseas very often, but my son does. I learned from him that if you plan to take any of your credit cards overseas with you, it is important to call the bank(s) prior to your trip, tell them the dates you will be there, and the countries you will be going to. It also doesn't hurt to call again a day or two before departure to ensure that the info was put into your record correctly. I did as he advised, and had no problems using my credit cards or debit card during the 33 days I traveled in Europe.
I have found that Wells Fargo is clueless about security.
Protection against fraud is pretty standard stuff at banks. Most banks will have a limit of $50 or something. My banks will reimburse for 100% of any claim. Check the disclaimers or call their office.
Protection against fraud is pretty standard stuff at banks. Most banks will have a limit of $50 or something. My banks will reimburse for 100% of any claim. Check the disclaimers or call their office.
Yep. That’s exactly what I did while I was sitting there in the bank. Trip went off without a hitch.
Yes. I have the “Ask me about joining networks” turned off on my iPhone. There is no possible way it automatically joined some other Wi-Fi network; it must have been on AT&T’s 3G.
Number 1 question how quite is your computer on the internet? Dont have any idea what that means it is something you need to know. Firewall do you run one will it allow your computer to echo pings (ICMP Echo) requests, will it accept unsolicited packets, TCP packets, what ports are open, what types of identifying information will it allow out of your computer.
These days you need a stealthed system a good firewall will do that for you.
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