Fax Chronicle

Misdeeds and mistakes haunt the fax world.  

The Bank of Montreal has learned the hard way that simply dropping the number “1″ in a fax transmission can electronically ricochet the private financial information of its customers into the great unknown. Edmonton businessman Rob Tate said he has been telling BMO he has been receiving faxes containing other people’s credit card numbers, back account information and home addresses.

The errant faxes started three years ago but stopped briefly after he complained to BMO officials, Tate said Thursday.

Now it is happening again – four times since February. Tate also complained in January 2006 about wayward faxes.

“People’s private information should not be falling into the wrong hands,” said Tate, who is also a BMO customer. “It is lucky for the Bank of Montreal that they came to us who are honest, hard-working folks.”

Source: Alberta businessman receiving misdirected financial faxes from bank