SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Abusive partners have found new and ‘nasty’ ways to target their victims:
It’s a bizarre and “nasty” new form of psychological abuse and thousands of Australians are doing it every day.
Commonwealth Bank has said it uncovered at least 8000 separate individuals sending threatening and abusive messages to people via its apps and online banking systems.
In one instance, CBA’s general manager of customer vulnerability Catherine Fitzpatrick told news.com.au, a single person sent their victim hundreds of abusive messages, one every few seconds, over a two-hour period.
[...] Ms Fitzpatrick spoke to news.com.au at the launch of a new initiative launched by CommBank that aims to support people impacted by domestic and family violence, including financial abuse.
[...] As part of CBA’s research prior to the program’s launch it found a number of its customers were being harassed by people during the process of sending them low value online payments, often as low as one cent.
[...] Most of us move money around online, say if we owe a mate some cash or to pay a bill. When you do, you usually have to write a description of what the transaction is that goes onto the statement of the person receiving the money.
“I might write ‘love mum’ if I’m sending something to my children, but these people will send abusive messages,” said Ms Fitzpatrick.
[...] Aside from the pain of receiving the message itself, some victims may, for example, need to rent a house and be forced to show a letting agency their bank statements meaning a complete stranger will see the messages.
“Its technology assisted abuse and it can be a precursor to financial abuse,” Ms Fitzpatrick said.
What laws does Australia have concerning threats and intimidation? In what other countries could this happen?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by MostCynical on Monday July 20 2020, @11:13PM (17 children)
banking app:
bank related activities.
payments
transfers
balances
etc
nothing in that includes "chat with others" - why does a bank want to be whatsapp/sms/telegram?
This is not "banking".. just... no
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 5, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2020, @11:21PM (1 child)
Transfer to: MostCynical
Amount: $0.01
Message: Die, you fucking baby-molesting asshole
Best $0.01 I ever spent.
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Tuesday July 21 2020, @03:31AM
thank you.
RTFA fail.
shouldn't be trying to add comments while at work :-)
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by takyon on Monday July 20 2020, @11:21PM (7 children)
Isn't this like writing "FUCK YOU" on the memo field of a paper check?
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 4, Informative) by Kell on Monday July 20 2020, @11:46PM
Pretty much exactly that, but with very little throttle on how fast you can send it.
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2020, @11:49PM (5 children)
Yup. Like paying a $2,000 alimony check by writing 200,000 cheques, for 1¢ each, with a nasty note in each comment field.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by takyon on Monday July 20 2020, @11:54PM (2 children)
So it is different, but there is no point in being incredulous that an equivalent "memo" field exists for electronic payments.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Kell on Tuesday July 21 2020, @02:06AM (1 child)
Thing is, the memo field is sometimes necessary - I use it to tell my real estate agent that it's me paying for my rent, and not some other rando's rent. It's a damn-fool strategy to abuse it, though, because if -anyone- keeps good records of transactions it's banks. Take the payment transcripts to the judge and use them to get a restraining order that includes abusive messaging.
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 21 2020, @09:05PM
better check up on how CHECK-21 works w.r.t physical checks...
its better to fk with someone by giving them a two-party check instead, where the one person its meant to go to really doesn't want to interact with the other party.
common in divorce.
you worried your soon to be ex might be using the cash but failing to disclose to the court, and then claiming you never sent it?? at the very least write that check out to the ex and their attorney...
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Tuesday July 21 2020, @03:05PM (1 child)
Assuming, you got your checks for $0.05 apiece, that would be some seriously expensive payment method. Then, you'd need to factor in the amount of time you'd need to write them all. Which might be able to be negated somewhat by increasing your cost by printing them somehow. That would take a seriously twisted and warped mind. At which point, they'd likely just garnish your wages, instead.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by kazzie on Tuesday July 21 2020, @06:06PM
In some parts of the world (e.g. UK), free banking is the norm. No charges for debit card transactions, deposits, withdrawals, or cheque books on personal accounts. The banks make their profit in interest rates instead.
This would be a perfectly viable strategy here, except for the fact that I only get 50 cheques per book.
(Score: 2) by arslan on Monday July 20 2020, @11:23PM (1 child)
I think you need to re-read the article, its not the banking's dedicated messaging app or social media app, its the payment facilities that typically allow you to add a comment or some text reference. When someone is paying alimony, there's probably a lot of anger there and there's a text box for you to type whatever you want..
(Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday July 21 2020, @01:27AM
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2020, @11:27PM
its not a chat app, its a money transfer with a comment field.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday July 21 2020, @12:16AM (3 children)
I don't use that field anymore, but I did when I wrote paper checks all over the country. The explanatory field was useful not just for myself, but for the spouse. "Why did you write a check in Galveston for $80?" "I can't remember, what does it say in the bottom left corner of the check?" "Oh, "new tire on Chevy" - I remember you telling me about blowing a tire out now." "Yeah, I was lucky to find that place - the first guy I talked to wanted $120 for the same damned tire!"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 21 2020, @12:20AM (2 children)
So she never figured out that hookers cost $80 in Galveston?
(Score: 5, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 21 2020, @12:45AM (1 child)
There are no $80 hookers in Galveston. But you could always buy 80 $1 hookers instead. Now that is value for your money.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 21 2020, @11:31PM
The clown likely got ripped off, with 40 "two dollar whores" that are actually 50-cents whores.