UPDATE: ‘We’ll refund Scotiabank VI fraud victims!’ – Jennifer O’Leary
“Scotiabank is aware that there has been a recent increase in fraudulent activity as a result of breaches of card related information that occurred at some US retailers in 2014,” said O’Leary in the statement.
“Scotiabank has been taking proactive measures to protect our customers, including tightening our controls on transaction authorizations and issuing replacement Credit and/or Debit Cards,” she said.
“We are contacting affected customers to verify activity on their Cards and where we cannot reach them, we are placing a temporary hold on transactions. If a transaction is identified as fraudulent the Debit and/or Credit Cards will be blocked, replaced and the customer refunded,” said O’Leary, who is based at Scotiabank & Trust (Cayman) Limited in the Cayman Islands but has responsibility for the Virgin Islands as well as Turks & Caicos.
“Scotiabank takes the safety and security of customer accounts and information very seriously, and we want to reassure customers that our systems are secure,” she said.
“We are also asking all of our customers to closely monitor their accounts and contact the Bank immediately if they see any transactions that do not belong to them. For customers who have any questions or concerns please contact Marvelyn Baker on 284-852-2128, Yolandetha Todman on 284-852-2166 or Natasha Bain at 284-495-6976. We appreciate your business and thank you for your patience,” said O’Leary in the statement.
See previous article published on November 23, 2014:
UPDATE: Scotiabank BVI identified as 1 victim of ID theft
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Following the disclosure that scores of accounts had been compromised over the past days, this news site can confirm that Scotiabank BVI is one of the financial institutions whose customers were affected.
We were able to confirm this by speaking to Ryan L. Best, Scotiabank BVI Branch Manager on Friday November 21, 2014.
Best confirmed that the local branch of the financial institution was awaiting an official response that was expected to come from the bank's regional headquarters located in the Cayman Islands.
When pressed, Best was reluctant to disclose more details about the situation in the absence of the official response, preferring to let the response speak for itself. He promised to make that response available to this news site as soon as it was possible for him to do so.
However up to post time this official response from the bank was not forthcoming nor was anything posted on Scotiabank BVI’s website.
It is believed that Scotiabank BVI may not be the only bank in the Territory whose customers’ identities were stolen.
Many of Scotiabank BVI’s customers who had their accounts compromised are peeved that they now have to wait three months before they can access their accounts.
It is believed that persons unknown used rogue magnetic strip readers to swipe the information off account holders’ debit cards while they were performing legitimate business using point of sale machines. It is believed that the crimes were perpetrated in the Virgin Islands as well as the US Virgin Islands.
This news site will continue to follow this developing story and bring you details as they become available.
See previous article published on November 22, 2014:
Local Visa Debit Card holders’ accounts compromised!
-accounts placed on hold for 3 months without logical explanation
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - It was a scene of panic at one of the leading banks yesterday November 21, 2014 as several persons have complained of their accounts being compromised and monies withdrawn without their knowledge.
Speaking to this news site, one woman who asked not to be named explained that she discovered a problem with her account on Thursday November 20, 2014 and when contacted the Bank acknowledged that a number of their customers' accounts have been compromised by a person or persons unknown targeting shopping in the USA.
She further explained that the bank offered her a replacement card which she accepted but much to her surprise she couldn't use it as every attempt was declined.
She said the complaint was made to the manager of the bank who requested her to send him an email and this was done.
"Until now he hasn't responded to my email and he is not taking my calls now. All my money is on that account and they are telling me that my account is frozen for three months. What is that?" asked the distraught woman.
Several others confirmed the same fate and are calling on the management of the bank to make a public statement. "We need to have some statement out,” said another woman, pointing out that the same thing is also happening in St Thomas.
“On Friday I went into the bank and all of my money was withdrawn off the account. Another set of staff went in and the same thing happen. They bank said that it will take 90 days before they could know who went into the account,” another woman said to this news site.
“I am a single parent and this kinda crazy. All of the money removed from the account and they are telling me they don’t know when and if I am going to get it back and that it will take 90 days for them to actually know,” she said.
The woman said that no one else could have had access to her debit card as it is on her person at all times. She believes that the information from her card might have been stolen when she swiped it at a point of sale machine in St Thomas recently.
Our call to the Manager of the named bank went unanswered twice before press time. However a message was left requesting a return call.
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48 Responses to “UPDATE: ‘We’ll refund Scotiabank VI fraud victims!’ – Jennifer O’Leary”
This in and of itself is a crime!!!!!?
Featured / News / Virgin Islands / November 20, 2014
FirstBank VI is in the middle of a massive security breach crisis, with many of its Visa Debit card customers blocked from using their cards and some customers claiming to have had “thousands of dollars” stolen from their personal accounts. Banco Popular and Scotia Bank on St. Croix are also reporting security breaches at their institutions.
VI Consortium was made aware of the matter earlier this week, and FirstBank today confirmed that the problem, which occurred through a security breach deriving from outside merchants, happened on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Alana Alexander, marketing communications manager for FirstBank VI, based in Charlotte Amalie, told VI Consortium in a telephone interview Thursday that the breach affects FirstBank locations in the USVI and BVI. Alexander issued a press release to media outlets stating that, “as a result of recent security incidents in retail locations, FirstBank’s internal security processes detected an external security breach regarding some Visa Debit card numbers.”
When asked how many debit card customers were affected, Alexander said, “The total number of impacted cards has been identified by the business unit and we are ensuring our clients’ needs are being attended to. However, this is confidential information and we are not at liberty to disclose this information.”
Alexander pointed out that when the bank became aware of the problem last Wednesday, bank representatives began calling “clients on a one-on-one basis” to alert them of the security breach. But, when that method proved ineffective due to outdated telephone numbers on file, Alexander said letters were mailed to customers on Monday informing them of the problem and the measures FirstBank had taken to protect their accounts.
The measures, the bank said, included restricting the use of affected customers’ Visa Debit cards to only ATM transactions (through the ATH network) using the client’s personal identification number (PIN) and at retail locations where PIN-based sales are accepted.
“This action was taken to ensure that the clients’ accounts were not compromised further,” Alexander explained.
One FirstBank customer at the Sunny Isle branch in St. Croix Thursday told the VI Consortium that “hackers” had stolen “thousands of dollars” from his personal account, and that he was at the bank to alert management. The man said an employee had reviewed his account and managed to stop the theft from continuing.
When the VI Consortium informed Alexander of the customer’s plight, she said, “A personal account cannot be hacked,” adding, “the email of this individual may have been compromised and the fraudster now has access to their information or the fraudster is originating ACH transactions via another access point.”
For this reason, Alexander continued, FirstBank advises its customers to “ensure they have strong passwords on their email account.”
At the same bank, another customer said he witnessed people shopping in local grocery stores whose cards had declined. One FirstBank customer also contacted VI Consortium and said his card had declined while purchasing lunch at a local restaurant earlier in the week.
When asked if local police were alerted to the matter, Alexander said the FirstBank security breach is not one of local police jurisdiction.
“I can disclose that the breach occurred in two U.S. retailers, therefore FirstBank does not need to involve local police authorities,” she said.
VI Consortium also spoke with an employee at Banco Popular in Sunny Isle, who confirmed that the bank’s security had also been compromised. She said those who were affected should have received a letter in the mail explaining the problem and detailing procedures they should take. If customers did not receive a letter, the employee said they were most likely not affected. Still, the employee said customers who believe they have been affected and did not receive a letter should visit the local branch and speak with someone there.
St. Croix’s Scotia Bank was also affected. Upon visiting the bank’s Sunny Isle branch, VI Consortium witnessed a large crowd trying to attain information from bank representatives. The VI Consortium was unable to speak with a Scotia Bank representative in person because of the influx of customers seeking information. However, after leaving a voice message for a bank representative, the VI Consortium received a return call from Christine Lee, Scotia Bank marketing director.
Lee said the bank is aware that certain of its customers’ Visa Debit card accounts had been compromised and its fraud-detection system immediately moved to temporarily lock those accounts. She said affected customers were contacted right away, adding that customer security is the bank’s top priority. Lee also said she is not aware of any personal accounts being compromised and that only certain Visa Debit card customers were affected. She also confirmed that the security breach happened as the result of outside retailers, and hand nothing to do with an internal banking breach.
Lee encourages affected customers to visit the local Scotia Bank branch for further information.
The Bank of St. Croix was not affected.
FirstBank advises its customers to visit any of its branch locations to obtain a temporary replacement card. Customers may also contact the FirstLine Solutions Center toll free at 1.866.695.2511 (USVI) and 1.284.495.8899 (BVI). In addition, the bank said it will continue to monitor all account transactions and encourages its customers to do the same through Online Banking and notify the bank immediately if any fraudulent activity is detected.
The VI Consortium reached out to the Virgin Islands Police Department for comment on the large-scale security breach at the three banks, but had not received a response at press time.
Local banking customers who wish to obtain a free credit report to monitor activity, may contact any of the three credit reporting agencies below:
Equifax
1.800.525.6285
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
www.equifax.com
Experian
1.888.397.3742
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013
www.experian.com
TransUnion
1.800.680.7289
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
www.transunion.com
CYNTHIA GRAHAM
Consummate journalist. Storyteller. Lover of truth. As Executive Editor of the VI Consortium, I take seriously my responsibility of bringing you fair and timely news coverage of the pressing issues facing America's paradise. When I am not working (although it seems I always am), I fancy myself a budding fashionista. Feel free to email me at cynthia@viconsortium.com with your news tips or just to say hello!
VI Consortium is now on my best wish list.
There was also an earlier article . This bank So far is the only one who called clients in the bvi
Disgruntled ex scotiabank employee go sit your backside down,
You not fooling
anyone. Apply the training she gave you