Reader question: Irregularities with Transferwise
Dear readers,
Are there any Transferwise users experiencing irregularities on their site? For example, today I noticed that in my list of “Recipients” a bank account had been added even under my name and to the same trusted bank in Thailand (UOB) that I usually work with.
That account number was completely foreign to me, called the bank and they confirmed that I do not have an account with that number. This strange account had the text: “Mark as primary account to receive in THB” and was placed at the top. I almost made a transfer from Belgium to that number because it was automatically indicated to complete the transfer. And the number I always use is in the list (of two) but was not offered.
I don't know how that number got there. I therefore wonder if the Transferwise site might have been hacked as it is data stored at Transferwise and not on my laptop? Normally my list of recipients contains only one number, which I always used before. Now there are two numbers there… I will also try to contact Transferwise to indicate this and find out.
It was close or I had transferred an amount to a completely unknown account in Thailand but with the same bank. And I am the only one who uses this laptop and access only through a password.
If there are others who have seen strange things on Transferwise recently, please share here.
Regards,
Roland (BE)
Just checked. I cannot find any irregularities on my Transferwise account.
Everything still looks familiar to me.
I use transferwise monthly and have now used it several times during my holiday period and NEVER encountered irregularities.
No Roland no strange things, completely satisfied with Transferwise, especially now that the money is going to Thailand even faster
maybe I entered a number incorrectly or something?
Greetings Eric
I think this is a fake transferwise website.
I think it's a good idea to find out.
M curious.
Hallo,
I've been working with Transferwise for years, never had any problems!
Instead of sowing panic here, it might be better to just call Transferwise. In my experience I have always received good, adequate and honest help there.
Good luck with it.
I don't think it's panicking at all. A neat question and warning.
The questioner also immediately asked Transerwise for clarification. More strange things happen
things on the internet.
I don't find this alarming, but appreciate the warning. After all, it is possible to completely take over a computer via malware, to register all keystrokes. It is quite possible that this happened to Roland. Roland, go to programs on your laptop via control panel and see if there is an unknown program there. And do a thorough virus scan.
Or the hack took place at Transferwise.
Please let us know in due course what Transferwise has to say (it should be possible to find out from which IP address and at what time that account was created) or whether you have been hacked.
Sow panic?
I'm sorry, but I think this should be addressed.
Everything I wrote about this was completely correctly observed and checked several times before reporting it here.
And although I may (hopefully) be the only one who has this in mind, it is always interesting for others to know about this.
Have now received a message from TransferWise that they are looking into it and also whether they can call me.. So expect a call from them.
I have never had any problems with them before and have always been very satisfied.
Thank you very much for this message Roland.
I am a regular user of Transferwise and I am satisfied so far.
However, after your contribution I will pay extra attention.
Transferwise does have a new bank number to which the money must be deposited.
That was first a German number and since a few weeks a number in Belgium.
The old number can still be used until 31-12-19.
Tried the new number this week and the transfer went to my Bangkok Bank
on rolls. Transferred within 12 hours.
My Pension and AOW are transferred monthly to this German account number, do I have to change this account number before that date!?, that will be tight then.
I have now sent my question to TrasferWise by email, I will receive an answer within 2 working days, I am curious!
Here's their answer,
Dora (TransferWise)
16. Dec., 09:40 CET
Hello Edward,
Unfortunately, it is not possible to keep the German IBAN. However, you can still receive EUR half a year on this so that you have time to provide the new IBAN wherever it is necessary. Thank you very much for understanding. Kind regards, TransferWise Support
Dear Aduard, what is the new IBAN offered by Transferwise?
But it seems it would be a bank in Belgium.
Shown when you want to transfer money to the German IBAN number
I have been transferring to a number in Estonia for at least a year
To be sure, I checked my account details and those of the recipient(s) at Transferwise. Luckily everything OK. But thanks anyway for the warning.
TIP: When I am logged in to Transferwise, I always check whether the internet address I am on starts with https. Then it is safe. I always do this when I use internet banking through my bank. Requires no effort and confirms a safe internet environment.
It is better to submit your question to Transferwise. Send a screenshot. You indicate that you use a laptop, it is very possible that you have ended up on a phishing site or fake site. Always check whether you have a secure site (click on the key for 'transferwise.com' in your browser bar. It is a lot safer, especially for banking matters, to use the official app. The chance that you will end up in a fake environment is a lot smaller.
And check whether you have accidentally entered an incorrect bank number yourself, which Transferwise has saved anyway. It may be that an old number is suddenly shown again with a request to make it the primary account.
Good luck,
Frank
I have indeed made print screens and will also transfer them to TransferWise once they have contacted me back.
I am also 100% sure that I have never entered a wrong account number.
My bank in Thailand (UOB Bank) will also conduct additional research.
Maybe your computer is scanning for ad-ware. Some adware is able to manipulate certain sites with your accounts. I regularly scan my computer with “Malwarebytes”. It is also free to install.
Succes
Yes Ronny I also do that weekly with Malwarebytes.
The latest Windows version is also installed on my laptop. It is a Dell laptop that is also regularly scanned by Dell itself.
The TransferWise site in question was also a secure site (padlock).
Very strange situation.
I received this text on my email address from Trasfarewise, date: November, 21 at 19:03
“We are using a new bank account to receive EUR transfers. The next time you pay for a EUR transfer, please use our new bank details. It will be shown to you when you choose to pay by bank transfer. Don't worry if you recently sent money to our old IBAN – it will continue to work until December 30th. Even so, its a good time to update our bank details if you join them”
I don't quite understand what they mean by this!
Normally you don't get emails from banks nor from Transferwise so be careful.
Good to know and thanks for reporting.
Always be careful with such emails, maybe Brexit has something to do with it. Inquire directly with Transferwise then you are sure.
If the Email comes from Trasfarewise I think you are dealing with a scam. Check the email address.
The correct name is TransferWise.
it is much safer to use your phone for banking. Laptops and PCs cannot protect banks very well. And despite all the good virus protection, it is still easy to leave something behind via e-mail or websites without noticing it, so that things like this can happen. Advice limit banking on laptop and pc.
I use 2-way log-in with Transferwise, so when logging in I always have to confirm with my phone for the log-in. Much safer.
Thank you for this tip.
I turned on 2FA right away. (I didn't know that was possible.)
That immediately makes it a lot safer.
By the way, I use TransferWise every two weeks and have not experienced any problems or strange things lately.
Is that 2-way log in an institution at Transferwise itself on their site or is it separate from it?
Would like to know how to do this.
That is a setting on the Transferwise site itself. Next to your name at the top of the screen you will see a V, click on that and select Settings and there you will find
2-step login, you have to turn it on.
Sounds like you clicked on a wrong link in a previous email or a Troyan added this unknown number to your recipients. Not a problem from transferwise, but on your side.
Hi Aduard II, I got the same message from TransferWise as you. I then asked for further explanation and received the following answer. Now I just hope this really comes from TW.
So I'm not quite sure yet, but check extra with my next transfer whether the bank number has changed. And when in doubt, I refer it to TransferWise first.
Tarek (TransferWise)
Dec 9, 12:19 CET
HelloJoseph,
Thank you for reaching out to TransferWise.
The email sent regarding our new bank details is meant to give our customers a notification about our receiving bank details, that it will be changed by the end of December.
As some customers have our bank details stored in their online bank recipient list and don't check the actual bank details if it is the same or not, so we sent this notification to inform our customers to be aware of this, so whenever you need to make a transfer you need to check our bank details provided in the last step.
No further action needed at the moment.
Should you have any further queries in the meantime please don't hesitate to get back to us, we're here to help.
Kind regards,
Tarek
Business Customer Support Team
TransferWise
Roland I suggest we wait a while until you get a reply from Transferwise. Maybe you want to report that?
I will definitely let you know dear Aad.
I made a transfer from Belgium to Thailand last week. That was on the normal German number and nowhere was there a message that this is no longer possible after December 30 or that a Belgian number now had to be used.
Didn't get any email with that message either....
Still strange I think….
That's also strange, Ronny, that you didn't receive that email from Transferwise like most people did on November 21, I thought. Regarding the change of bank they will be working with from December 30... previously it was DB in Germany.
I too recently had a strange experience. After depositing my salary and that of my wife into my TW account, I got it refunded. So it was not registered. At the second attempt I received both salaries back, but they were credited to my TW account. I am now waiting to see what will happen. So maybe a Christmas present :#)
Christmas present has now been withdrawn again, they have withdrawn the 2nd refund, all in all a bit strange that this is possible, but now everything is back as it should be.
Never had any problems with Transferwise, but I have had problems with Fed-Ex and several transport companies... when I have sent something I always receive an email from these companies with a link... DO NOT open it, Fed-Ex knows nothing about this
May I add as a tip that it is smart to do online banking over a VPN connection, especially if a (public) WiFi is used. #constructiveintended