kudo's to fidelity

[Blueskies123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golden sunsets ElizabethT I think your comment was totally unnecessary. Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

Math's explanation was acceptable but we should not be so sensitive to a little constructive criticism.

[Taxman59]

I wonder if it was a problem at Fidelity. Last Friday, I was on and when I changed screens (to Full View I think). I got a warning that since I was located in a prohibited country, Treasure Regulations prohibit me from accessing those features of my account. What it meant was any access to my account. I called and left a message at the problem desk, explaining that I was in the same chair in the same house in Greensboro, NC that I had always been in, and I thought it was strange that all of a sudden I was banned from my account. I tried again on Saturday (after 2 reboots and clearing the location from Google maps etc) and I got in. The call back on Wednesday said that I should verify my account information and the gentleman implied that there may have been a software glitch on their end.

[CaliKid]

Thanks for sharing. It's interesting about them wanting you to clean your computer.

I am curious why they make you get a new account number though. It seems like once they stopped the threat, by changing log-in info, what's the big deal about an account number? It seems my financial institution account numbers (and routing) are on every check that gets sent all over the universe anyway; practically public info.

[MRG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliKid Thanks for sharing. It's interesting about them wanting you to clean your computer. I am curious why they make you get a new account number though. It seems like once they stopped the threat, by changing log-in info, what's the big deal about an account number? It seems my financial institution account numbers (and routing) are on every check that gets sent all over the universe anyway; practically public info.

While you are correct the account number is not that secret. It's also part of the data elements that are protected by identify theft laws. So I understand the change. Also some of these types of practice come from "Auditor Monthly Journal".

[mathjak107]

n

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taxman59 I wonder if it was a problem at Fidelity. Last Friday, I was on and when I changed screens (to Full View I think). I got a warning that since I was located in a prohibited country, Treasure Regulations prohibit me from accessing those features of my account. What it meant was any access to my account. I called and left a message at the problem desk, explaining that I was in the same chair in the same house in Greensboro, NC that I had always been in, and I thought it was strange that all of a sudden I was banned from my account. I tried again on Saturday (after 2 reboots and clearing the location from Google maps etc) and I got in. The call back on Wednesday said that I should verify my account information and the gentleman implied that there may have been a software glitch on their end.

wow , I did see that message flash for a second before I was locked out .but they did confirm my wife's info was on a under ground site.


did it happen around 4-5pm est ?

[target2019]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mathjak107 n wow , I did see that message flash for a second before I was locked out .but they did confirm my wife's info was on a under ground site. did it happen around 4-5pm est ?

I have two email addresses that are on compromised sites. I always get alerts from identity protection company that this is so. I use random secure passwords for those. And of course those addresses are no longer used for login.

If the login and PIN were found on a site, that is almost the worst new you could get.

Good luck with the account move. Sounds like a good idea. Also review how the attack may have happened, as the bad guy could be nearby.

[mathjak107]

my wife has not logged in for months and months . my guess is the info was leaked from internal sources somewhere . I am logged in daily so the stolen info would have been mine most likely mine if it was from the computer

[Taxman59]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mathjak107 did it happen around 4-5pm est ?

About 4:30, I was just trying to check the closing prices for the weekend. How did you know?

[mathjak107]

that was the time I got locked out too.

perhaps it was software glitch and the folks in the risk dept were not aware . now I am wondering if the story we got was really the deal .......

[MRG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mathjak107 that was the time I got locked out too. perhaps it was software glitch and the folks in the risk dept were not aware . now I am wondering if the story we got was really the deal .......

That happens frequently, the only folks who know about systems changes are in the IT area. Most of my career was spent attempting not to talk with the business.

(They always wine about customers issues.)

[scrabbler1]

I got locked out last Friday afternoon, too. I saw that "prohibited country" message for an instant, too. After calling a phone rep, I was told my account # and login password (and screen name, perhaps, I forget) were found somewhere in the "darknet."


The phone rep said I had to get my PC "professionally cleaned" even though my 2 anti-spyware scans (Malwarebytes and Windows Defender) came up clean. This annoyed me a lot. I have also lost access to their automated phone system, as I can only speak to phone reps to get info or to make trades. That actually isn't that big a deal because I rarely initiate any transactions. So, I have done nothing to try to regain automated phone or internet access to my accounts.


I think Fidelity's request for me to get my PC "professionally cleaned" is overkill. It's a nuisance not worth the time, cost, and effort to get my access back. I have used internet access for Fidelity for only a few years so losing it isn't a big deal.


Fidelity mentioned a few weeks ago that they will introduce a new, extra layer of security for certain transactions. This can be entering a texted code to make trades, for example. That's fine with me.


If Fidelity wants me to make a new username or password, that's fine. If they want to give me a new account number, that's fine. But I won't haul my PC to Geek Squad or some other outfit and wait around all day (or longer) for them to "clean" my PC.


No kudos to Fidelity from me.

[target2019]

I do not use Fidelity for much. If I did, this series of reports above would cause me to look deeper into "professionally cleaned", and "dark web." Not that these don't exist, but I know for a fact the Geek Squard, for instance, is not gonna send a security specialist for $100.

I'd think, that at a minimum, they would ask you to change the account login and password. Is that possible with Fidelity? Haven't needed to login since liquidating the last of college money.

Also, get a linux boot cd that will have an AV software that can update live. A scan of the computer might reveal something. Wonder what Geek Squad does?

[Dawg52]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrabbler1 I got locked out last Friday afternoon, too. I saw that "prohibited country" message for an instant, too. After calling a phone rep, I was told my account # and login password (and screen name, perhaps, I forget) were found somewhere in the "darknet." The phone rep said I had to get my PC "professionally cleaned" even though my 2 anti-spyware scans (Malwarebytes and Windows Defender) came up clean. This annoyed me a lot. I have also lost access to their automated phone system, as I can only speak to phone reps to get info or to make trades. That actually isn't that big a deal because I rarely initiate any transactions. So, I have done nothing to try to regain automated phone or internet access to my accounts. I think Fidelity's request for me to get my PC "professionally cleaned" is overkill. It's a nuisance not worth the time, cost, and effort to get my access back. I have used internet access for Fidelity for only a few years so losing it isn't a big deal. Fidelity mentioned a few weeks ago that they will introduce a new, extra layer of security for certain transactions. This can be entering a texted code to make trades, for example. That's fine with me. If Fidelity wants me to make a new username or password, that's fine. If they want to give me a new account number, that's fine. But I won't haul my PC to Geek Squad or some other outfit and wait around all day (or longer) for them to "clean" my PC. No kudos to Fidelity from me.

Seems odd this has happened to more than one here on the same afternoon. I will be watching my acct a little closer over the near term.

[mathjak107]

yes very weird especially at the same time . .

we are still waiting for all the accounts to transfer .

[mathjak107]

Quote:

Originally Posted by target2019 I do not use Fidelity for much. If I did, this series of reports above would cause me to look deeper into "professionally cleaned", and "dark web." Not that these don't exist, but I know for a fact the Geek Squard, for instance, is not gonna send a security specialist for $100. I'd think, that at a minimum, they would ask you to change the account login and password. Is that possible with Fidelity? Haven't needed to login since liquidating the last of college money. Also, get a linux boot cd that will have an AV software that can update live. A scan of the computer might reveal something. Wonder what Geek Squad does?

what they require depends on the risk level . it is decided by the risk dept . you deal with a separate dept directly . some levels they let you do your own scan . others not .

[target2019]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mathjak107 what they require depends on the risk level . it is decided by the risk dept . you deal with a separate dept directly . some levels they let you do your own scan . others not .

What did geek squad actually do? Or was it different company?

I tried to login to Fidelity, but the old logins didn't work, and I have no real reason to go there, as the accounts were all emptied several years ago.

I know you can login to Vanguard and change your actual login on your own. Login should be random and as secure as they will allow. Same for password.

Of course each institution is different.

[mathjak107]

i use a local computer guy who is pretty reasonable and good .

[mathjak107]

so far one account is moved and the rest may take another 2-3 days as of saturday's updated phone call .

they mailed out new checks and new debit cards , so basically we are still not up and functioning . it looks like the whole process may actually take about 2 weeks from beginning to end .

[FIRE'd@51]

Did you have a brokerage account at Fido? I do a lot of option trading with them, and a shut down like this could be devastating if I couldn't roll expiring positions, etc. How would this be handled?

[mathjak107]

yes , and i can not trade at the moment .

the problem at this point is the new accounts are posted but still unfunded as the money is still in process being moved