Someone other than me accessed one of my bank accounts recently, and when I logged in yesterday, I was informed that the account was shut down. Although we went through a lengthy verification process over the phone, I was informed that I now need to go visit a branch and show a government issued photo ID. Isn’t that racist? The Obama Administration argues that it’s racist to require people to show a photo ID to vote, but to protect my own money, I have to show one. Clever.
What I do online, I do with full knowledge that it opens me up to certain things. I monitor my accounts regularly, check my credit report every few months, and change my passwords when the state tells me I should. I started text alerts to notify me when accounts are accessed, and I do a lot of things per post, knowing that it's a lot easier to steal my information, identity, and wealth electronically than any other way. Like I told the fraud specialist, I intentionally access my banking from fixed IP desktops and avoid using wifi or smartphones because it makes it easier for people to capture, even if they're not trying to. When I write on this blog or my twitter, I know that people will not like what I say betimes or be in possession of information with which to cause me damage, but I take this risk with full knowledge and purpose to put out what I think. Some things I keep to myself because they are none of your business.
Upon arrival at the bank, I learned that my initial phone call had not been properly documented. By the time we got back in touch with someone who knew what was going on, was authorized to act, and was interested in acting, I had been at the bank for an hour. I felt annoyed that I had to prove who I was but when this person who tried accessing my account multiple times on Monday and Tuesday had not been asked to verify their identity like I had. Racists. I told the banker, with whom I have no personal beef, that this was every incentive to subsequently close my accounts, especially since I had just proved that I was me, before someone tried again to purloin my pelf.
I find it slightly odd that in a time of unrestricted surveillance that they do not know who did this and that I am who I claim to be. I access the internet from the same three fixed IP addresses all the time. When I travel, I inform the companies so that they don't shut down my credit cards. I am glad they shut it down. I am annoyed that they insisted on inconveniencing ME so much while they just prevent the perpetrator from subsequent attempts. During my initial phone conversation, I pointed out that the woman on the phone had essentially told me "this is really too bad, but I can do nothing for you" and asked her to consider how annoyed she might be if our positions were reversed. I am annoyed with this bank that it took me three hours to get things back on track. I am glad they shut it down before any damage was done. I wish they offered the same controls as my major bank to vouchsafe the integrity of my accounts, but I suspect they don't because I don't have "enough" money in their control. Sometimes organizations get so big that their left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing. As for the branch banker, he was fine, and he totally understood my frustrations. He didn't however offer anything to make it right.
No comments:
Post a Comment