Ontario man says he's out $3,000 after making simple e-Transfer mistake
An Ontario man says he's out $3,000 after he accidentally transferred money to the wrong person using his banking app.
Brampton man Percival Plummer said he was trying to transfer a roofer the next part of a deposit for work being done on his home when he made the error.
He said on June 2, he logged onto his Scotiabank app and tried to send the money to his roofer, whose name is Andre.
Without noticing, he said he clicked on someone else in his contact list with a nearly identical first name and transferred the money.
"I typed in 'Andre,' Plummer told CTV News Toronto. "I didn’t realize it was the other name that came up and I hit send."
A person is seen holding a phone in this photo. (File)
He said he didn't think anything of it until later that day when the roofer told him he didn't receive the money.
Plummer said when he checked the app, he realized his mistake straight away and went to his closest Scotiabank branch.
At the branch, Plummer said he was told the money could be retrieved, but he had to call the customer support line.
"I called them right away," he said. "And they said there is nothing they could do for me."
The recipient of the money was using a banking feature called auto-deposit, meaning when Plummer sent the money it went directly into the account without the person needing to answer a security question.
Plummer said he's also contacted Peel Police, but he was told because he was the one who transferred the money, there isn't anything to investigate.
In an email to CTV News Toronto, a Scotiabank spokesperson said they couldn't comment on Plummer's case specifically for privacy reasons, but did issue a warning to people sending money online.
"We encourage all customers to use caution and conduct proper due diligence when verifying and confirming electronic money transfers sent to other parties," Scotiabank said in a statement.
"(This includes) carefully reviewing notifications regarding auto deposit activated by the transaction recipient."
WHERE DID THE MONEY GO?
Plummer said his family has made multiple attempts to contact the person who was sent the $3,000, but they haven't received a response.
He said that while he doesn't know the recipient, he may have sent them money in the past through volunteer work at his church.
"I must have done some kind of transaction through church. I don't know the person," Plummer said.
Plummer, who has worked at a custodian for the Peel-Dufferin Catholic School Board for the past 17 years, said the situation has left him barely able to sleep.
He said he accepts that he made the mistake, but believes there should be a way for him to get his money back.
"I get upset every time I think about this," Plummer said. "I'm $3,000 out the window. That's more than I work for in a month."
"I need that money."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Oh my God, you're my brother': Man in his 70s discovers 6 unknown siblings
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Rates of cancer declining in Canada, but more work needed to save lives: projections
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
DEVELOPING Trump trial arrives at a pivotal moment: Star witness Michael Cohen is poised to take the stand
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial is set to take the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Canucks hold off Oilers for 4-3 win in Game 3
Brock Boeser had two goals and an assist, and the Vancouver Canucks hung on for a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
Man fatally 'slashed in the neck' in downtown Toronto, suspect outstanding
Police are searching for a male suspect after a man was “slashed in neck” on Sunday morning in downtown Toronto and died.