Latest news with #financialabuse
ABC News
4 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
ATO debt collection harming domestic violence victims
The ATO is under fire for heavy-handed debt recovery targeting vulnerable individuals and small businesses, including victims of domestic violence and financial abuse.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NAB responds to wild conspiracy theory about customer accounts being frozen
Australians have been up in arms about a policy from one of the Big Four banks that doesn't even exist. Multiple posts have appeared on social media claiming NAB customers could be frozen out of their accounts if they made "mean" comments online. The fake claim even alleged that you could have your account closed down in certain circumstances. Aussies were furious and said it was a gross overreach of power. However, a bank spokesperson told Yahoo Finance these incorrect allegations are linked to a policy that was brought in two years ago. RELATED NAB worker saves grandmother from $50K heartbreak after noticing tiny detail Common neighbour problem plaguing Aussie houses Major inflation change following RBA's shock interest rate decision Where did the NAB conspiracy come from? The incorrect claims have been floating around since 2023, but they have recently been doing the rounds again on social media pages like Facebook and Threads. It all started when NAB updated its terms and conditions to protect customers from financial abuse. The new policy would mean you could have your account frozen or closed if you engaged in "unacceptable conduct". When you send money to someone, even if it's just 1 cent, you can include a message in the description or reference section. Perpetrators of financial abuse had been using this to send offensive or harmful messages to certain people and NAB's change was aimed at stamping out this behaviour. 'We're blocking around 15,000 abusive messages each month sent through payment channels and today's move further puts financial abusers on notice that we will do everything we can to protect innocent people,' NAB's head of customer vulnerability, Michael Chambers, said two years ago when the policy update was brought in. Many other banks have similar policies to protect people from financial furious over fake claims While the policy change had good intentions, people misconstrued how it could affect their accounts. Many started posting on social media that you could have your money frozen purely for just saying something nasty anywhere on the internet. "If the NAB are going to scrutinise your social media accounts it means they have too much time on their hands. I would close my account it they did that," wrote one person. "So NAB is now in charge or Facebook ??? If my bank does anything like that I'd just close my account," added another. There was even an article online promoting the conspiracy. While the theory has roots as far back as 2023, people have resurrected it in recent weeks for an unknown reason. These new posts have been liked hundreds of times and shared widely across the internet. What does NAB have to say about the misinformation? When approached by Yahoo Finance, NAB declined to elaborate further about the conspiracy. But it's worth mentioning that the changes made in 2023 only applied to activity on NAB's banking channels like internet banking and the mobile app. NAB doesn't have the power to close your account based on things you might say on the internet. 'Concerns about financial abuse remains one of the top reasons customers get in touch with our customer support team, NAB Assist,' Chambers said two years ago. 'If a NAB account holder is now found to be perpetrating financial abuse, we will be able to suspend or terminate their services. 'We're taking a firm stand against financial abuse, and we aren't resting there. We're working with other banks to help develop a consistent approach across the industry.'Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Independent Singapore
17-07-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
34 yo mum shares she's starting over with just S$2k after husband allegedly took most of her money
SINGAPORE: A woman took to social media to share that she is starting over at 34 after her soon-to-be ex-husband allegedly took most of her money during their marriage. Posting on the r/singaporefi forum on Wednesday (July 16), the woman revealed that she and her husband have two children, and she is now filing for divorce for 'many reasons,' including financial abuse. She explained that she had been trying to support his business financially, but her husband took the help for granted and kept demanding more money. Eventually, he began 'threatening' her when she hesitated to give in to his requests. 'I left the house with just S$2k in cash,' she shared. 'It was so devastating, but I guess it will be a good start again.' The woman, who now works as a freelance tutor earning between S$3.5k and S$4k a month, said she's trying to rebuild her life from scratch. She also asked others in the community if they had any advice for her, writing: 'Anyone with similar experience care to share what you've done to start over? I've been wondering if I need to upskill myself, too. I think I've been so isolated from the real world for so long during my marriage.' 'We need the fire to show our children that Mum is strong and we can survive.' After reading the woman's plea for help, many Singaporean Reddit users chimed in to offer words of comfort and advice. One user commented, 'Sorry to hear that. But increasing your income is your main priority right now. There is always a rainbow after the rain, and please do not despair. I know it is easy to say this, but you gotta stay strong for yourself and for your two children. They need you.' Another wrote, 'Sorry to hear that. I hope he's not abusive (physical violence) otherwise, do get court protection. Get support from family members if they can help to tide over this tough period. They continued, 'You have done the right thing. Things will only get better the moment you muster the courage to step out of a toxic relationship and environment. Continue doing what you are good at; switch out tutoring if it is no longer sustainable. Try group tuition at lower fees if parents are ok.' A third user, who coincidentally is the same age and going through the same situation as the woman, said: 'It's okay to start over. Single mothers are quite resilient, and age does not matter. We need the fire to show our children that Mummy is strong and we can survive.' She added, 'You can try to explore career conversion programmes too under WSG and see which one piques your interest. All the best.' In other news, a 25-year-old jobseeker was left unsettled after being repeatedly asked about her marital status during a virtual interview with a multinational corporation (MNC). On Tuesday (July 15), the woman took to the r/askSingapore Reddit forum to share her experience and seek advice. According to her post, the interview was conducted virtually and one-on-one with a middle-aged manager from the department she had applied to, rather than a representative from human resources. Read more: 'Are you single?': Female jobseeker disturbed by personal questions on marital status during job interview See also Identifying a Serial Cheater: Key Warning Signs in Relationships Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Former Disney Channel star that acted with Sabrina Carpenter claims mom was 'financially' abusive
Former Nickelodeon child star Ashley Argota claims she was the victim of financial abuse at the hands of her own mother. The 32-year-old actress, best known for her roles on the Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, alongside, Keke Palmer, made the shocking claim in a new TikTok over the weekend. 'In addition to my mom being a narcissist, she was also emotionally, physically and mentally [abusive]. All of the things you can think of, plus [she was] financially abusive,' Argota alleged. 'Like I said in my last video, I was not in charge of my finances — even though I was old enough to be in charge of my finances.' The actress continued: 'She basically would do things like get on the phone with financial institutions, and she would just hand me the phone and say, "Hey, they just need authorization for you to talk to me." Because she was my mom and I trusted her with my money, I would do it. Then I don't know [what] she did.' Later, she discovered the money she made performing on shows like True Jackson, VP and Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures was gone. 'Part of me — of course — is like, 'That is on me. I should have known better about my finances.' But also, she was my mom and I trusted her with that,' Argota explained. 'She would also do things like with my dad — who was working full time as a truck driver at the time.' Argota recalled how her mom would allegedly wait for his 'paycheck to be deposited into the joint account' then 'give him $100 for the week to live off.' 'It was basically an allowance off of his own paycheck, and then she would just take the rest of the money,' she claimed. 'In case you are not aware, $100 is not enough for a truck driver who's driving cross country for hours and hours and hours and weeks at a time to live off of. That's just not a possibility.' The actress claimed her mom 'gambled' a lot of her money and bought 'really unnecessary things' for their family while she was at school. 'I haven't talked to my mom in a really long time. That's OK, and that's by design. That's my choice. It's safer, it's better and it's healthier for me. I know I'm not alone in this. It happens to a lot of people,' Argota said. Despite explaining that there are 'protections in place' for child stars, Argota said her mom found ways to get around the system. 'She still managed to spend all the money from that. … It was really crazy trying to get out of that relationship, but I made it out. And I feel like being a mom now, I have a chance to give [my son] the childhood that I never had,' she told her followers. Argota has chosen not to publicly reveal her mother's identity. After becoming a mom last year, Argota told her Instagram followers she was committed to breaking the cycle of generational trauma. 'For as long as i can remember, my mom told me that my nose was too big and made me pinch it constantly to make it smaller. I think of this every time I do my makeup or see a picture of myself,' she wrote on Instagram. 'Well, I have a kid now and he has my nose and I LOVE his cute lil baby nose. motherhood is healing.' Argota, who was born was born in Redlands, California, rose to fame as Lulu on the Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson. She began her career in entertainment as contestant on CBS' Star Search in 2003. Her first role was in the 2007 independent film Schooled. A year later, she scored her part in True Jackson, playing one of Palmer's best friends. The child star was also cast in Nickelodeon's Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures as well as an episode network's show BrainSurge. In 2014, she appeared in the Disney Channel Original movie, How to Build a Better Boy. That same year, she appeared on ABC Family's drama, The Fosters. Two years later, she appeared in two episodes of Sabrina Carpenter's show, Girl Meets World. Additionally, she starred in the show Aladdin and His Winter Wish at the Pasadena Playhouse. As for her musical pursuits, she released two independent albums Dreams Come True (2006) and Ashley (2007). In 2021, she married actor Mick Torres and the couple welcomed their first child in June 2024.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- CTV News
Hamilton support worker charged after allegedly stealing $277K from clients with developmental disabilities
A support worker who is employed by a Hamilton agency that provides support to people with developmental disabilities is facing charges after she allegedly stole $277,00 from clients under the guise of helping them with their finances, police say. The alleged fraud took place over a two-year period that spanned from Dec. 15, 2022 to Jan. 16, 2025. Police say that the accused was providing care for multiple vulnerable residents of Community Living Hamilton and was able to access the bank accounts of those individuals 'for the purposes of assisting them with their finances.' Police, however, allege that the accused ultimately diverted $277,000 from those accounts for her own personal use. Pamela Ellis, 44, was arrested following what Hamilton police are calling a 'lengthy' investigation. Police say that Ellis is charged with fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. Police continue to investigate the matter and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
