FINDING FUNDS
My bank account was closed and cards canceled – there were over a dozen withdrawals and it all points back to Facebook
Scammers often pose as executives, government officials, and tax collectors
A Facebook user is cautioning others against making purchases on the social media site after her credit card was hacked.
Judy Goulart's bank account was closed following a series of transactions she couldn't make sense of.
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This past April, a frustrated Goulart posted on social media about her hacking experience.
"BEWARE," she opened, explaining that her bank account was closed and her card canceled because it was hacked by Facebook's Meta Pay.
"I don't even know what Meta Pay is," she wrote, explaining how her account was hit with dozens of withdrawals from Meta Pay as soon as a large deposit went into her checking account.
As Facebook's payment platform, users can make payments on Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and in participating online stores, per its website.
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"Apparently it's linked to Instagram," said Goulart who said she's never used the app and doesn't know what it is.
Meta Pay instructs users to enter their payment or account information only one time to make purchases, send money, or donate.
Users can view their payment history, manage payment information, and access 24-hour chat service for customer support, according to the company.
A PIN, fingerprint, or face ID can be used as security on your device to secure individual payments.
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Despite these protections, Goulart said hackers were still able to reach her account.
"Don't purchase anything on Facebook," she told fellow users.
I got a text that wasn’t out of the ordinary - before I knew it $4,500 had vanished from my account, I’d acted quickly
"Find the product elsewhere," she said in closing. "Your banking information isn't safe on Facebook."
The U.S. Sun reached out to Meta in a request for comment.
BANKING BLUNDERS
The U.S. Sun frequently covers stories of customers getting hacked in banking scams.
Author Reea Rodney told Facebook friends her bank account was hacked by an unknown person.
Despite being out $1,000 and without a bank, Rodney was eventually refunded.
Reasons why a credit card account gets closed
According to Chase, there are several reasons why a customer's bank account gets shuttered without notice:
- Inactivity - if the account hasn't been used for a certain period
- Fraudulent activity - suspicious withdrawals or suspected theft
- Over-limit fees - if a customer makes a transaction larger than the amount of money available in their account
- Credit score - if a client had a significant drop in their credit score
- Delinquency - if payments have been consistently missed
Chase suggests calling the issuer to inquire about reopening if an account is closed. The client may be asked to provide information such as name, address, and Social Security number.
Source: Chase Bank
Her situation is all too common though, as banks are private entities that can generally close an account for any reason.
Bank of America suggests protecting data from smartphones, tablets, or computers by turning off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth when they're not in use.
Customers should avoid giving out their Social Security number or ATM PIN.
Scammers often access credit card information by posing as executives, government officials, or tax collectors.
Read More on The US Sun
The U.S. Sun also has the story of a Chase customer who tried to stop a Walmart charge but lost $50,000 within two hours instead.
Plus, a Capital One customer said they were "cheated out of" a $300 bonus offered by the institution.