SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

The Age said Monday that two-thirds of the call center employees contacted helped the caller gain access to bank accounts and financial records even though they were aware the accounts didn't belong to the caller.

"They weren't trying to be fraudulent", said Peter Grist, managing partner of the research firm Global Reviews, which conducted the survey. "They knew the rules, but human beings like to help."

Global Reviews made 20 undercover calls to each of eight different bank help lines in November. The operators all explained that helping access someone else's account was against the rules, but they began bending those rules with a little coaxing.

"The callers would say things such as, 'My girlfriend needs to transfer money today, she's gone to work, I have to do it for her, she'll kill me when I come home tonight,'" said Grist.

Grist said the assistance was generally limited to walking callers through the steps needed to access an account. Those callers, however, had information such as dates of birth, which an estranged spouse or partner might easily have, to help move the process along.

 BREAKING STORIES

Women given wrong breast cancer results

Buffett doing well after tumble from stage

Accused people smugglers hear charges

Australian soldier receives Victoria Cross

Waves blamed for swimmer's death

Study: Sharks may be colorblind

Girl, 9, refused simple operation, dies

Floods most costly Aussie natural disaster

More steps daily wards off diabetes

Streakers arrested at windsurfing event

Racehorse trainer describes night in flood

Flood cleanup costs 'post-war proportion'

Aussie bank call centers too eager to help

Australian PM warns both whalers and foes

Queensland coal shipping despite floods

Australian floods bring out the snakes

Flooded Queensland gets more heavy rain

Flooded Queensland gets more heavy rain

Paul Hogan to sue Australian government

Shark attacks boat off Australia coast