Most typical credit card users do not send in a large payment to cover an outstanding balance, and one customer found out that those who do make a big payment trigger an alarm at Michael Chertoff's Department of Homeland Security.
Even though a retired Rhode Island couple believed they were making a prudent financial decision to pay down $6,522 on an outstanding MasterCard balance, their payment instead demonstrated something else. Big Brother, it seems, is watching for certain credit card payment patterns.
Scripps Howard reported on details of Walter and Deana Soehnge's experience with a payment that was held up by GE Money Bank after receiving the big check in the mail:
They were told, as they moved up the managerial ladder at the call center, that the amount they had sent in was much larger than their normal monthly payment. And if the increase hits a certain percentage higher than that normal payment, Homeland Security has to be notified. And the money doesn't move until the threat alert is lifted.
The article said changes in the Bank Privacy Act after the 9/11 attacks caused this to happen to the Soehnges. "It's scary how easily someone in Homeland Security can get permission to spy," Walter Soehnge said.
---
Tag: Homeland Security |
iEntry 10th Anniversary
RSS
Archive
