An unfortunate saver had his checking account blocked for a month. But the suspicious word he wrote in a bank transfer description was misunderstood.
A Finnish saver had his bank account blocked for a month due to a single word written in the reason for a bank transfer—a word that was misinterpreted by automated security systems.
The man, acting in good faith, included a term considered “suspicious,” which triggered the bank’s security protocols and alerted the authorities.
While technological advancements have improved the speed and security of financial transactions, such as bank transfers, automated systems remain imperfect, sometimes leading to paradoxical situations like this.
Writes a Suspicious Word in the Transfer Reason: Account Blocked
The incident occurred after the man attended a seminar in Helsinki for work. Upon returning home, he requested reimbursement for expenses such as train tickets and hotel stays, which he had paid for with his credit card. However, the word he used in the transfer reason triggered the bank’s security system, resulting in his account being frozen.
The seminar focused on cultural activities in sparsely populated rural areas, summarized in Finnish by the acronym “HAMA.” When the man transferred 572 euros, he included the phrase “hama-seminaari” in the transfer reason, meaning “Hama seminar.” Unfortunately, the proximity of the “S” in “seminaari” to “hama” raised an alarm in the banking system, as it was misinterpreted as a reference to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.
A Long Wait to Regain Access to Funds
Upon discovering that his bank account had been blocked, the man immediately contacted his employer and the bank to resolve the issue. What followed was a frustrating bureaucratic ordeal. The bank took nearly four weeks to contact him for clarification about the flagged word.
During this time, the man submitted multiple requests to the bank’s customer service, attempting to expedite the process. Eventually, his employer intervened, contacting the other bank involved in the transaction to help resolve the matter.
According to the man, the bank showed little interest in understanding the context of the flagged term or verifying his explanation. Despite knowing his employer and the nature of his work, the bank failed to investigate further or cross-check publicly available information.
The man works for an organization providing cultural services to rural communities, and “hama” is an official acronym in Finnish for sparsely populated areas (“harvaan asutusta maaseudusta”). A simple online search could have confirmed the legitimacy of the transfer reason, avoiding unnecessary delays.
Only after persistent efforts did the man manage to explain the situation to a bank representative. He provided detailed information about the seminar and even sent additional documentation about his work. Eventually, the bank lifted the block on his account and compensated him with €100 for the inconvenience.
When Automated Systems Get It Wrong
This case highlights significant flaws in how banks handle automated monitoring systems for financial security. While preventing illegal activities is vital, it is equally important for banks to distinguish legitimate transactions from suspicious ones through better communication and context awareness.
Inadequate responsiveness from banks can cause unnecessary stress and delays for customers, as seen in this case. A more proactive approach, including better use of context and available data, is crucial to preventing similar incidents in the future.
The news was reported and confirmed by Finnish media as of January 3, 2024.
Original article published on Money.it Italy 2024-11-18 11:15:17. Original title: Scrive questa parola nella causale del bonifico e gli bloccano il conto per un mese
