Never did I imagine I would be an statistic on the online scam roster.
It's no wonder how technology gives freedom to fraudsters in effortlessly accessing personal details, most specifically credit cards and bank accounts.
On the first month of my brief hiatus abroad, I only used my credit cards for two inexpensive online purchases and in a fastfood.
On my second month, I started receiving text messages such as "Your Amazon order failed to be delivered for lack of details. Please contact the link below ... " Cognizant that I did not make any other online order, I did not click or respond. There were other versions of this message.
And then, a series of mysterious calls came in via my local mobile number regarding alleged "authorized purchase(s) from your credit card." The price ranged from $40 to $700.
Out of curiosity, there were times I listened to the harassment-like live calls from a man with an accent. I dared not utter a word and hang up when I sensed impatience on the other end. Some calls were distinctly AI voice generated.
Never Say "YES"
On Day One, my daughter Brenda got me my own Canada mobile number with the cautioned not to answer calls from numbers not on my list. She expressedly said, if I mistakenly pick up a call, "never, never utter the word 'YES' no matter what!"
I learned later that this "Yes" could be used against me in phishing to steal money and identity.
There is a prevalence of credit card scams in Ontario and in the whole of Canada. It is apparently global, not sparing the Philippines.
One late weekend night when we were all having dinner at home, Brenda got an advisory from her local credit card issuer stating that at that very moment, there was "a suspicious transaction" amounting to around $600. Hence, she was asked to contact the bank or her credit card will be put on hold while further investigation is being conducted. So she did instantaneously.
The very next day the bank called again to inform Brenda that "her credit card" was used in another part of Ontario for online gaming!!!
UnionBank Acts Fast
I must confess that despite awareness that such fraudulent activities exist, consciousness that am being targeted as a "victim," made me anxious and stressed.
To assuage the angst as a result of persistent calls and messages, I did not hesitate to send a formal request via email to UnionBank Philippines, requesting that my CitiBank credit cards be temporarily suspended or deactivated in the face of possible phishing. I coursed my request through Ms. Cherie Tinoko, Senior Vice President of UnionBank, who happens to be a good friend.
Almost immediately, they called my Canada number from the Philippines to validate and verify certain details they assumed only I would know.
I commend UnionBank for this as that call — with a proposed appropriate action — gave me the peace of mind.
Voila! And almost immediately, too, the calls and messages became less frequent. Hopefully, these will eventually stop.
Cloned Facebook Account
While I am fully aware that deliberate or potential fraudsters use the new technology (Internet) with ease and anonymity.
Just last week, OpinYon columnist Bob Acebedo was benevolent enough to inform me that "someone using your name and profile photo messaged me".
Since he found it odd I would message him with that style of writing and greetings, in Bob's mind my Facebook account must have been compromised. Someone was trying to hack or clone it. He sent me the screenshot of the convo with his warning to the "message sender".
Thank God, friends as concerned and discerning as Bob still exist. Others could be indifferent.
Just a CLICK Away
I did not hesitate to post this on FB and was not surprised to get numerous reactions from those who had similar experience.
We can only lament the fact that there are still lots who trust "fake info" and "fake news". The upside is that the other party was merely trusting while the downside is that they were unacceptably goofed.
The good side of the new tech is that distance is not a deterrent when everyone and everything is just a CLICK away.
(email opinyon.luchieA@gmail.com)
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