Author Topic: Checking account hacked--next steps?  (Read 3879 times)

Zoot

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Checking account hacked--next steps?
« on: February 03, 2016, 06:00:05 PM »
So I'm downloading transactions in Quicken (it's a daily thing), and I see that a check posted to my account that I did not recognize.  Upon pulling up the image, I see that the check has the routing/account number of my checking account, but it's not written by me or my husband and the check number is out of sequence with my checks.

Of course I called the bank immediately and they are putting their fraud division on it and changing all my account numbers.  It will be a pain to get all my direct deposits and debits set back up with the new number, but it's the right thing to do.  The rep and I checked all the other accounts, and a few weeks of transactions in my checking account (being me, I told her I watch my account like a hawk and this was the first thing I'd seen that I didn't recognize), and everything, uh, checked out (no pun intended) so I think this one check will be the extent of it.  My debit card will be replaced; I have no credit card with them, and no loans, so nothing to do there.

This could just be a printer error on the part of the company who printed the checks for this person, or someone transposed a digit, or something equally innocent--but then again it could be intentional fraud.  Either way, the account numbers are getting changed, because if this person has a pad of checks with my account number on them, ewwww.

My question now:  what other steps should I take with other accounts at other institutions (brokerage, credit cards, other banks--yes, I have accounts at three different banks; long story)?  You don't have to tell me to watch my accounts (did I say daily downloads?  Try at least TWICE daily)--but what other things should I be thinking of?

MDM

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Re: Checking account hacked--next steps?
« Reply #1 on: February 03, 2016, 06:35:20 PM »
Sorry to hear about the hassle, but it would appear you caught it with no financial damage - good for you!

Do you check your credit report regularly?  See http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports if not.

Zoot

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Re: Checking account hacked--next steps?
« Reply #2 on: February 04, 2016, 04:16:35 AM »
Do you check your credit report regularly?  See http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports if not.

Not regularly--thanks for the pointer!  One suggestion I got was to put set up a freeze with the credit reporting agencies so nobody can open an account in my name, but as you point out it will also be a good idea to check to see if that's ALREADY been done. 

JRA64

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Re: Checking account hacked--next steps?
« Reply #3 on: February 04, 2016, 06:59:22 AM »
My local law enforcement just had a post on social media about who to contact if you had problems with your tax return being rejected (i.e. identity theft with the IRS). Maybe talk with your local police and see if there's any reporting they would recommend.

Well Respected Man

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Re: Checking account hacked--next steps?
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2016, 09:57:45 PM »
The credit freeze really works. I tried to open a Social Security online account the other day, and it gave me errors. I called the help desk, and they asked if I have a credit history, is it long, and then I remembered it is frozen. So no one can steal my Social Security account.

Another thing to do is get set up with two-factor authentication for all of your important accounts. Vanguard and my bank offer this. This can be a text message or phone call to give you a code that you have to enter to login to the site.

It's really absurd that in the age of security "researchers" finding minute flaws in crypto implementations that the U.S. banking system requires account numbers and routing numbers printed on the document used to pay strangers.

randymarsh

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Re: Checking account hacked--next steps?
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2016, 12:45:34 AM »
I'm 95% sure the US ACH system runs on "trust". I have a student loan in my dad's name, but the payment comes from my checking account. All I was asked for was my account and routing number. Interestingly, the auto-debit feature required the typical credit report questions like "Your mortgage is 500, 1000, 700, None of the above". These were based on my dad's report though. Using my checking account for payment wasn't verified at all.

I think if you gave me your numbers, I could probably have my student loan taken out of your account. Let's try just for giggles.

Zoot

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Re: Checking account hacked--next steps?
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2016, 08:06:35 AM »
It's really absurd that in the age of security "researchers" finding minute flaws in crypto implementations that the U.S. banking system requires account numbers and routing numbers printed on the document used to pay strangers.

I'm beginning to be with you on this.  After having not one but two checks go "missing" in the mail in the past 6 months (one to the gas company, one to the pest control company) and then having this happen in my checking account, I'm inclined never to use a paper check for anything ever again (or at least not to send one through the mail).  Why would I voluntarily put a document "out there" in the world with my routing/account number on it, just waiting for someone to steal it?

After the checks went missing, I put us on electronic billing with the gas and pest folks, and those were the only two "write a check" vendors we had left.  The annoying thing will be getting that re-set-up with the new account number--I'll have to go pay the gas bill at the office in cash (since I can no longer draw a check on my account while I'm in limbo), and I'm changing over some insurance billing to credit card temporarily (I think there's a surcharge for CC usage, so I don't want to stay on that any longer than I have to).