Suppose that one fine morning, one realizes that he or she cannot open his or her bank account. That is something that nearly half a million of the Patelco Credit Union clients experienced over the current weekend. Here’s what you need to know:
The Big Freeze
On Saturday, Patelco Credit Union cyberattack struck the credit union with 37 branches in Northern California. The group was forced to temporarily stop their online banking, as well as the mobile application used by customers to safeguard their money. This means no payments via the Internet, no deposits directly, and no transferring of money.
What’s Going On?
A Patelco heavyweight, Rina Johnson, said, “It was a Ransomware Attack Indeed”. That is when the black hats confine the computer systems and request for a ransom to release them. Patelco ransomware attack has engaged cyber engineers to solve the issue but they have not revealed when operations will get to normalcy.
Customers in a Panic
Customers are under so much stress that they are commonly described as being ‘worried sick.’ ‘I’m afraid my mortgage payment will be overdue, and my credit rating will drop’, a woman from Albany, Marina Bukowski said. A lot of people seem to be stressed out on social media, especially because it is rent season for most.
Some Good News
Patelco rises to the challenge, claiming to assist. They will compensate for any and all the delayed fees resulting from this confusion. They will pen down letters to explain the downtrend noticed in your credit score as well. Moreover, they were organized to give up their share of the fees until those issues were resolved.
What Should You Do?
- Just continue to monitor Patelco’s site and see what changes they have made.
- Wait your turn – phone lines are going to be really busy.
- If for instance, you are in someone’s debt such as your landlord, do him the courtesy of informing him or her what is going on.
- They should enter the organization’s accounts back online to monitor it frequently.
Expert Advice
A woman named Michelle Dennedy who is a professional in cybersecurity recommends that one should try calling the people one owes money to. Make them understand that you would like them to give you more time in which to pay this until you sort out this chaos.
Let me remind everyone, that it can happen to any bank. It is important to always have a backup on where your money will be held. More updates on this banking drama can be expected soon so STAY TUNED!