LOCK IT or LOSE IT!
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LOCK IT or LOSE IT!
Ever heard of this slogan?
I’m sure some of you may have come across this in one of those Crime
Prevention Messages at the carparks, Crime Watch episodes or posters.
Normally you may think that it refers to locking up your house or cars to
prevent your stuff from getting stolen. However, have you ever wondered
that this slogan may also be applied to your letter boxes?
Let me share with you a story. Recently, I had a chat with one of my close
buddies. It’s been a while since we met and while catching up on daily life
issues, he told me he was recently sued by the bank for Credit Card Debts.
I was shocked... :!: ... as I knew him as a thrifty person who doesn’t splurge
unnecessarily or spend on luxury items. I was surprised and asked him to share
with me with regards to what happened and this was a brief account of his
misfortune.
He already had a credit card with one of the local banks and was cautious
about using it for online transactions, fearing that his personal details might be
abused. Recently, during one of those roadshows, he was approached to sign
up for two other credit facilities with an “XX” bank. It was a bundle deal ie;
meaning the credit card also came with a cash line facility. After giving some
thought, he decided to sign up and gave his personal particulars and other
relevant information to the staff to process his application. After which, he was
told that he would receive his card within a week and so he waited. A week
passed by without any news or follow up and he simply continued to wait. Due
to his busy work schedule he didn’t get back to the bank or called them to
inquire what had happened.. why it took so long.
About a month later, he received a credit card statement of account and he
was shocked to see that he had accumulated over 15K within a spate of a
month. Surprisingly, these transactions were made from cash withdrawals as
well as online transactions. He doesn’t recall receiving the cards nor using it for
any transactions. When he called the bank, they told him that they sent him
the cards a few days after receiving his application. They also sent him his PIN
a few days after sending him his credit card. Again he was surprised as he did
not receive any credit cards or PIN from the bank. He disputed the
transactions and the bank advised him to make a police report, while they
looked into his complaint.
After going to the authorities, he produced his report to the bank and was
referred to their Compliance & Security Manager. He refused to make payment
for the unauthorised transactions. Despite disputing the transactions, the bank
still kept chasing him for overdue payments accumulated during that period. He
was told that he was still liable for the transactions as he failed to report the
unauthorised transactions within 48hrs. This later led to a legal tussle between
him and the banks’ legal representatives.
Just as the matter was about to be brought for proceedings, he received a call
from the authorities who said that they have caught someone in possession of
his Credit Cards. He was asked to appear for investigations for which he readily
did. After the interview, he was curious to find out how the culprit got hold of
his credit cards. He was shocked ( and so was I! ) to know that the culprit had
actually fished out his letters containing his credit cards, PIN, from his letter
box using nothing more than a simple wire. This was done in merely a few
seconds.
Armed with the Credit Card and PIN, the culprit started to make cash
withdrawals from the ATMs and knew the exact amount of his credit limit.
Once the card has almost reached its credit limit, the credit card information
(ie: 16 digit number, VVC & date of expiry) was circulated over the internet for
further abuse via online transactions. That was some scary piece of news. :!:
The authorities told him that they would liaise with the banks to request for
the payments to be waived as the culprit had been arrested. What a
relief...
Before leaving the interview, the officer advised him to secure
his letter box flaps to prevent his letters from getting stolen ( plus avoiding junk mail ).
You either “LOCK IT or LOSE IT!” the officer said. -
:!: :!: :!:
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buds hubs,
thanks for sharing… -
its really easy… when I accidentally broke the letter box keys when I was a kiddo @ our old estate… I also just fish the letters out, before my old man got the lock changed.
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How to receive mail if you lock the flap? :? Is there a retrofit available for boxes for landed properties, those are really non-secure.....
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3Boys:
How to receive mail if you lock the flap? :? Is there a retrofit available for boxes for landed properties, those are really non-secure.....
For HDB blocks, the postman has to open up the back with a key, and all the slots will be available for putting in mail. When he is done, he closes up the door and locks it again. For residents, we still have the flap in front but this time, we can choose to lock it or not. I always lock it as I hate junk mail. -
3Boys:
How to receive mail if you lock the flap? :? Is there a retrofit available for boxes for landed properties, those are really non-secure.....
Yeah lor.. For HDB I think we can choose to lock the flaps but it will be a
problem for landed properties...
Must get someone to invent something to solve this problem.. :idea: -
schellen:
Oops, sorry, I blur.... :oops:3Boys:
How to receive mail if you lock the flap? :? Is there a retrofit available for boxes for landed properties, those are really non-secure.....
For HDB blocks, the postman has to open up the back with a key, and all the slots will be available for putting in mail. When he is done, he closes up the door and locks it again. For residents, we still have the flap in front but this time, we can choose to lock it or not. I always lock it as I hate junk mail. -
Thank you, buds hubs.
No working today? :? -
i havent been receiving junk mail since i lock the flap, but sad to say i have been receiving flyers at my doorstep everyday! :stupid:
3Boys:
Oops, sorry, I blur.... :oops:
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