ttempted takeover of my Standard Bank Profile. Shocking support from SBSA

Attempted takeover of my Standard Bank Profile Date of Incident: 12 June 2024 Time: 12:20 Calling from: *** SMS from +***

The caller was charming and reassuring when she informed me that my card was used to make Cellphone purchases in Bloemfontein a short while ago. When she was satisfied that she had a possible target, she sent me an SMS to confirm the legitimacy of the call by advising me that my card was blocked, and the reference number was STD805470.

The *****ster then proceeded to “check” whether my profile was still active. Out of habit, I did not enter the correct password the first time. There were sympathetic noises from the lady on the phone. I then put in my correct password.

When the *****ster did not do a security verification, I knew it was a *****ster.

The *****ster advised me that there is a security feature on the Standard Bank App, that by entering a special password, I can stop further intrusions on my account. The password she gave me was Pillay.12?. She then proceeded to walk me through the password change process, by asking me to enter the password she provided. I entered another password, just to check that there was such a security feature. Unfortunately, there was not.

The *****ster then asked me to log off the application and asked me to provide her with my email address to send a confirmation email. Again, I gave her the wrong email address. While I was logging off, I informed the *****ster that there was an incoming call from Standard Bank ***** Department, which was a lie. The *****ster asked me to ignore that call and to deal with her. I disconnected the *****ster’s call and placed an outbound call to Standard Bank ***** Department. The *****ster tried to call me twice, and I disconnected both calls.

Whilst the *****ster was charming, the Standard Bank Call Agent was frustrating as she was bound by a process! Despite my asking for somebody specific, the call agent’s bland answer was “I don’t know anyone by that name”. She didn’t even bother to check the email directory for the person I was asking for.

When she wanted to perform an authentication, I was not happy to do so. Her reply was that I should use my Banker to help deal with this matter. What utter nonsense! However, I cannot fault her, as she is just doing her job. Despite me informing the young lady that I needed to speak to a supervisor or the other person to explain this modus operandus, she was not moved by my plea.

I informed her that I will report this to HelloPeter, so that somebody or everybody in Standard Bank can call me!

Out of respect to the Call Centre Agent, I will not list her name publicly. I know that this may be an old MO, Nevertheless, Standard Bank should know that they are flavour this week.