Martin wrote:
"Ronald Raygun" wrote in message
om...
Pedt wrote:

Saw an open bank account once. Walked into a hotel lounge and spotted an
unattended laptop that was logged into HSBC BIB and on the CHAPS payment
page. Oops.
What do you mean "oops"? There's nothing you could usufully have
done with it to your advantage (like stealing money by sending
yourself some), because all such transfers are traceable, so as
soon as the owner noticed the unintended transaction and reported
it, they'd know very soon who was responsible.

So unless you had the foresight to set up a receiving account
anonymously, somehow getting round all this MLR identity stuff,
you couldn't get away with it. Even then you you would have
to empty that account by cash machine withdrawals before the
account got identified and frozen.

It may be that it might not matter to you if they know who did it,
but then the amount in question would have to be large enough to
be worth sacrificing your established identity, doing a disappearing
act, and starting a new life in Brazil or wherever. Would need to
be at least a million, I reckon.

Besides, the laptop may not have been as unattended as you think.
The owner may have just gone to the other side of the room to
the coffee machine, and have it in sight all the time. Or nipped
to the bog, or outside for a fag, and be liable to re-appear at
any moment. You'd need to be both quick and lucky to complete
the transfer before said re-appearance.


And another thing... some banks (but not HSBC, IIRC) require p/word to be
re-entered as the final step of making a xfer. Irritating when safely doing
stuff at home - but re-assuring when grabbing that coffee in the hotel
lobby.

Other than have moved to two factor authentication, now require you use
your pin sentry device to create a new payee. So you would not be able
to setup a payment to a new account without also have the device and the
account owners debit card, and also knowing his pin.

--
Cheers,

John.

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