Is It Feasible....?

[KARL]

Let's say person A bears a grudge against person B and A works for a bank plus knows B's bank account details. Is it at all possible for A to put a hex on B in some way whereby B's transactions are flagged as potential fraud and thus blocked, again and again ?

[ubasses]

No.

[ToraToraTora]

depends on what function A has. It's possible but those sorts of things end up on a report and have an audit trail so when B phones up to complain it will be clear that A did it so if there is no reason for A to do what they did they would be asked to account for their actions. In sort yes but they'd probably get fired if they kept doing it without a valid reason beyond a personal vendetta.

[KARL]

Thanks TTT for the quick response - a furious enough grudge may just explain events. Two different banks, but the right seed in the right place.....?

[douglas9401]

When you say 'hex' do you mean witchcraft, sorcery or some other supernatural means?

[ToraToraTora]

It's possible but unlikely, I've worked IT in banks for most of my working life and yes operatives do have actions to functions that can effect the clients that's part of the job but it's very unlikely because everything is auditable, verified and if someone did something to effect a client without any sort of reason beyond their own mischief they would be fired.

[newmodarmy]

Still no.

Could it be due to credit score?

What sort of transactions are they? Unusual transactions are flagged.

[ToraToraTora]

19:27 putting a hex on something is mostly an american term. In this context it means sabotage.

[douglas9401]

Righto. 🙄

[Old_Geezer]

How useful is auditing when bank folk close individuals' accounts and refuse to explain why ?

[ToraToraTora]

well they may not explain why to you but there will be a an auditable reason for the action.

In all the banks I worked for we had PWC auditors up our jacksie constantly. More so since 2008, we have the FCA and the yanks have the SEC and they are all powerful believe me.

[KARL]

The first was the debit card purchase of travel money at the Post Office (exceeding £1000 - fraud check, card eventually unblocked after four hours and a visit to a branch), literally my next transaction was an online payment to a UK architect's firm/account (new recipient, less than £1000 - fraud check with really invasive/humiliating questioning regarding the recipient, the transaction, etc.)...........    Surely all that is needed is to ensure the account holder intends for the transaction to go through and that he/she accepts responsibility for it.

[THECORBYLOON]

You've had checks by different banks and you're wondering if someone has a grudge against you?

[Khandro]

KARL; I wonder if you use that card only occasionally.  If a debit card isn't used for a while and there is sudden request for a large sum the bank's robots smell a rat and can block it.

My wife and I have both had this problem visiting England with cards that hadn't been used for a while.

Credit cards are much more readily accepted because the payee receives the money no matter what.  If there are any issues, they are between you and your card supplier. 

[Tuvok]

Friend had her card blocked, but was not informed that it had hapened. 

Only found out when she asked me to try to pay her electric bill online as it wasn't working for her.

Bank unblocked her card so she coud pay her electric, then blocked it again so they could send a new one.

The cause - she'd tried to buy something online and it didn't go through! Was only for £9.99, but think it was the company she'd tried to buy from in good faith that was enough to trigger the bank systems!

 

[bhg481]

I rarely use my Debit Card. A few years ago I tried to pay for something with it and it wouldn't work. We tried m wife's on the same account and there was no problem. When we checked with the bank they said that their cards are "expired" if they're not used for a long time, even though they are within the date on the card. It was Metro Bank and they made me a new card whilst I waited.

[KARL]

CORBYLOON, A and B have separate banks, B's transactions in question were all at the same bank. The grudge is very real.

Khandro, the card had not been used for a while but there were movements on the account. Buying money (i.e. taking out cash) on a credit card carries a charge plus interest - hence the use of the debit card in the first flagged transaction.

[Peter Pedant]

No that is against the law and will lead to condign poonie for A ( strict punishment). Dismissal at least

Every keystroke ( should) be audited nowadays - I can imagine a bank saying 'oh yeah we didnt quite get around to that'

and so.... A has to wait until someone else has accessed B's data and hitch a ride - or even wait for a B transaction to come up in the course of business

( in an NHS context I cannot imagine entering false information on a clinical record - it  is  like hanging yourself. Even correction of notes has had strict rules for the last 50-60 y)

[Peter Pedant]

19:27 putting a hex on something is mostly an american term. In this context it means sabotage.

actually it cd be accurate: Putting a hex ( it is  hexed) means cursing - but in the comics there is  frequently an outward sign ( the flag, here)

The thing  is : the first refusal, query was reasonable wasnt it? and it wd be natural automatically to add a flag that says previous transaction queried

I actually welcome ( since I have a LOT of time on my hands) intrusive Bank enquiries, as it shows they are on their mettle. ( we have been hacked a few times and lost cards etc)

[Peter Pedant]

( I have  had more  trouble with fraudsters taking a little nibble and then going for the big one) but I always carry a er second card and cash

[Khandro]

KARL: //Khandro, the card had not been used for a while but there were movements on the account....//

I think there lies your problem; it doesn't matter how much your account is  used, what matters is how often you use your card.

To stop this happening again, I suggest you make a point of using your card now and then - perhaps paying for small items with it, or getting a few quid out of an ATM machine.