The majority of Canadians now bank online and e-Transfers, or emailing money, is becoming a common method of payment but so is e-Transfer theft.
Carmen and Dave Jordan were reviewing their bank statement and discovered that someone had taken $19,000 from their account via several e-Transfers.
The Jordans say they have no idea how the thief got their account number and password, which enabled the offender to login and transfer money to another email address.
The money was then moved to another bank account and the whole thing was done under a false identity.
“I knew right away we were the victims of some kind of fraud that I didn't even know was possible and my heart just sank,” said Carmen Jordan.
The Jordan’s bank, First Calgary, did reimburse them in full even though it wasn’t the bank’s fault.
CTV Calgary’s Consumer Specialist Lea Williams-Doherty says most banks are contractually obliged to do so in cases of banking fraud.
Lea contacted a computer expert who says thieves typically get your account number and password directly from you in two ways:
- They use familiar methods, like phone calls to trick you into giving your information or by gaining access via spam or spoofed websites.
- They install viruses and malware directly onto your device that record your online banking keystrokes. Cellphones and tablets are favorite targets.
“So we have full computers that just happen to also function as phones so we do need to protect them as if it were an actual computer and we are defending a full system against viruses and malware,” said Daniel Ginter, from Tech Squad.
Experts says the best way to protect yourself is to install anti-virus software on your phone and tablet as well as your computer and be just as vigilant and update it like you would your desktop.
They say people should do this regardless of whether they have Apple or Microsoft powered devices.
Ginter says Apple products are not bulletproof any more, but they are not attacked with viruses and malware as often of other devices.
For more information on how to protect your computer from virus season, click HERE.
(With files from Lea Williams-Doherty)
