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Comment by arp242 | Hacker News Reader

I don't think that jut payment info on its own is harmful to send; that's just your name + bank account number, no? Maybe it's different in other parts of the world, but I don't really see how anyone can really do anything with that.

The "you're starting next week but first need to pay X monetary units to cover $bullshit_cost" on the other hand is an old scam.

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Someone's name and bank account number are enough to write a bad check. The system was designed with a certain amount of trust in mind, and the expectation that the customers will behave in a way that makes scammers obvious.

We don’t even use checks where I live, so still seems like a geographical thing. I can print out my bank account number and put it on a billboard and all anyone can do is deposit money.

Are you sure about that? In Europe Iban is half the info (the other is your identity) needed to create a SDD on an online shop. Granted, you have a year to contest charges and get the money back, but still.

Pretty sure. Every company I interact with puts their IBAN on their invoices, as do I. I have IBANs for several friends and they have mine. I know the names of all these people. HSBC at https://www.business.hsbc.uk/en-gb/solutions/iban-and-bic says you're supposed to give it away to anyone who you want to make a payment to you - presumably they wouldn't do that if it was also the golden ticket to take money out of your account knowing only their name. Or at least they'd be very careful to say that you absolutely should make sure that anyone who pays you doesn't know your name (although, that sounds ridiculous).

I have to assume you're using "the other is your identity" in a way different from the thread here where they said all they need to know your name and account number? I have a digital identity which includes a password and multi-factor authentication, but again that's pretty far removed from something like anyone who knows your name and account number can withdraw whatever money they like.

I see. checked around some provider apparently sepa direct debit is only in selected european countries, it's scary because you just need iban + email to get started, albeit it will likely ask 2fa from the mobile app if one has it set up.

We have sepa direct debit here where I gave you the examples, and nobody is able to withdraw from each others accounts using the payment info we are all giving to each other. It’s not possible to set up a bank account without a password or 2fa.

What? Who would accept a cheque for anything in 2024? Sure, here's a piece of paper that says if you go to the bank I pinky promise there's some money in my account you can have. I'm nearly 40 and have never used a cheque in my entire life. They were outdated 30 years ago.

> I'm nearly 40 and have never used a cheque in my entire life.

I could say exactly the same a year and a half ago. And then I happened to move to Israel. And I was just as shocked as you would be to learn that most apartment postings say "payment: 12 checks". That means that they want checks for a year in advance. Often the landlord even prefers cash or (in my case) a scheduled transfer in bank app, and returns the checks when they get the money in their preferred way — but "pinky promise there's some money in my account you can have", I like how you put it, is still an important artifact to show your commitment to pay rent.

I still think in most of the world checks are considered quite antiquated.

Last year my father in law passed away. While dealing with the estate I had to write perhaps 20 paper checks and received a similar number from various sales. Many of the vendors we dealt with only accepted paper checks or cash.

I did, however, pay one tow truck driver with chairs.

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