Today's Most Popular Video
May 25, 2009 10:50 pm US/Central
Stolen Funds, Overdraft Fees After 'SMiShing' Scam
(WCCO)
-
-
If you have been a victim of a scam, you can contact the Minnesota Fraud Enforcement Partnership. (File)
Jupiter Images
It's called "
SMiShing" -- a combination of SMS text mail on your cell phone and phishing for personal information.
WCCO-TV first told you about it last December when viewers contacted us about getting text messages to contact U.S. Bank.
"I came back with probably like $15, $20 in my account," said 24-year-old Ellyn Shun. She had just returned from spring break in Florida when she got a text to contact her bank about a restriction on her account.
"So I called the number," said Shun, "and then it was an automated recording saying, 'Thank you for calling U.S. Bank. Please verify your account information.' And so I did."
Shun didn't think anything more about it until about two weeks later when she had an $831 withdrawal from her account. She contacted U.S. Bank immediately. The bank told her the withdrawal came from Romania.
"I haven't been to Romania anytime lately," said Shun. "I don't even know where Romania is."
She filled out paperwork for U.S. Bank. The bank investigated her claim and in a letter said: "U.S. Bank determined that you initiated, authorized or benefited from the claim transactions." And the bank made her account inactive.
"But the bank is still assessing overdraft fees every day," Shun said.
U.S. Bank wouldn't talk with us on camera, but did say it constantly
warns customers about identity theft. The bank said it usually backs a customer if there is fraud. But it's more complicated if someone gives out a Personal Identification Number.
Shun did give out her PIN. But she says she's been a good customer and wants the bank to reconsider.
"They're not doing anything to protect their customers," said lawyer Avery Appelman. "First she's being victimized by some salacious criminal gang in Romania. And now we have somebody here locally who she trusts with her money, who she trusts with her paychecks and then they tell her, 'We don't believe you. Too bad. Pay us.'"
"I know, 'What was she thinking?' I know," said Shun. "But it could happen to anybody, young and old."
After WCCO started working on this story, U.S. Bank reopened their investigation. But every day Shun is being charged $37 in overdraft charges for the $831 taken by the thieves in Romania.
Just last week, she got another text message from someone claiming to be U.S. Bank. She did not respond this time.
If you have been a victim of a scam, you can contact the
Minnesota Fraud Enforcement Partnership.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Truckers Sue For Unauthorized Citations
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
