Been a Victim of Card Fraud...

[maycontainthunder]

On the 3rd of October some scammer got hold of my card details. Luckily the bank blocked it but didn't tell me that they were also blocking my card as a protection. 50 minutes on the phone to sort that out and a new card is on the way.

For some reason I find it really funny.

Spoiler

This is because the fraudulent transaction was to a BEAUTY PARLOUR!!!! There are far worse things they could have used my card for but... a beauty parlour.

Be careful buying online guys!

 

[Rodafina]

Well that’s a shame, and so annoying to set things right with almost an hour on the phone.

My credit card got stolen recently and I didn’t notice right away. My bank was tipped off when someone spent $535 at a dollar store. (For those who may not be familiar with these, they are shops in the United States where everything costs one dollar.)

 

[maycontainthunder]

Sorry to hear that Rodafina. Here in the UK we have pin numbers. In the case of my card it was manually keyed in circumventing the need for a pin number.

Earlier in the year Mum had her card cloned. The fool who did it used her card to pay their electric bill. What a great way of getting caught!

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

Once somebody used my card details to buy an airline ticket. Before I let my bank know, I contacted Homeland Security and they had somebody at the airport waiting for the scammer.

 

[maycontainthunder]

Once somebody used my card details to buy an airline ticket. Before I let my bank know, I contacted Homeland Security and they had somebody at the airport waiting for the scammer.

Now that is funny. Revenge is dish best served in jail.

 

[Forest Cat]

I have a quick tip, I have a credit card that I use for most online transactions. Because it's easier to deal with that if someone steals the card details and use it than it is to deal with problems with my regular bank card. There's a limit for how much you can withdraw on the credit card but the regular bank card is a door into my bank account so that can be drained completely. There is also insurance and scam protection for the credit card. And there's no interest or extra cost if I just pay the entire credit card bill when it arrives.

 

[Judge]

I have a quick tip, I have a credit card that I use for most online transactions. Because it's easier to deal with that if someone steals the card details and use it than it is to deal with problems with my regular bank card. There's a limit for how much you can withdraw on the credit card but the regular bank card is a door into my bank account so that can be drained completely. There is also insurance and scam protection for the credit card. And there's no interest or extra cost if I just pay the entire credit card bill when it arrives.

Yep. Use only a single card for online purchases and let it be the one with the most perks, particularly in terms of security and safety. Isolate your greatest exposure, but also always consider the online vendor you choose, whatever the manner of payment involved.

Though even in this day and age human error is still a potential aspect of the equation. Where I recently saw a credit applied to one of my accounts for around $2500. A check based on a bank and state I haven't had any contact with in decades. Turned out their check was physically "stuck" on top of mine. Once they figured it out both checks were properly re-routed. Go figure....

 

[Forest Cat]

Well that’s a shame, and so annoying to set things right with almost an hour on the phone.

My credit card got stolen recently and I didn’t notice right away. My bank was tipped off when someone spent $535 at a dollar store. (For those who may not be familiar with these, they are shops in the United States where everything costs one dollar.)

Did the bank cover the $535 loss or did you have problems with it? Sounds unusual that someone would steal a credit card and then spend 500 bucks at a dollar store.

 

[Forest Cat]

Earlier in the year Mum had her card cloned. The fool who did it used her card to pay their electric bill. What a great way of getting caught!

I'm sorry to hear about your moms problems but at the same time I have to laugh a little. Someone actually paid their own electric bill with a stolen card? I'm guessing it wasn't a criminal mastermind.

 

[Judge]

I'm guessing it wasn't a criminal mastermind.

A classic oxymoron.

Something for levity, but suddenly I recall watching a tv special about online romance fraud, and how organized- and lucrative it is in places like West Africa, where they prey primarily on American males. Not so funny...

Yet another case of classic fraud driven by payments in gift cards or bitcoin transactions. A dead giveaway for criminal intent. So many different types of criminal fraud all with the advent of the Internet.

 

[Rodafina]

Did the bank cover the $535 loss or did you have problems with it? Sounds unusual that someone would steal a credit card and then spend 500 bucks at a dollar store.

Thankfully, they covered it. I was very grateful. Just had to get some new cards.

 

[Judge]

Sounds unusual that someone would steal a credit card and then spend 500 bucks at a dollar store.

On the surface, I'd agree. It makes no sense.

However...

There might just be "a method to the madness" in that instance. Especially if there's some understanding of internal policies relative to that particular business entity or store and employees.

 

[Forest Cat]

Something for levity, but suddenly I recall watching a tv special about online romance fraud, and how organized- and lucrative it is in places like West Africa, where they prey primarily on American males. Not so funny...

I saw something about that, they had call centers where people worked full-time with romance fraud... It wasn't romantic at all.

 

[Judge]

I saw something about that, they had call centers where people worked full-time with romance fraud... It wasn't romantic at all.

Amazing how journalist Mariana Van Zeller (tv show "Scams") is able to get criminals to be so talkative of their fraud enterprises. Though often admittedly at great risk on her part. At least credit card scams are usually far less "personal" in comparison.

Yeah, if any of you out there are attempting online dating, you better see this:

 

[Aspychata]

I just walk around worried about scammers, and now l worry about banks shutting down. Or we switch to no cash and 100 year mortgages like Japan.

 

[mysterionz]

My credit card got stolen recently and I didn’t notice right away. My bank was tipped off when someone spent $535 at a dollar store. (For those who may not be familiar with these, they are shops in the United States where everything costs one dollar.)

My dad’s card got compromised a couple months ago and he had to get a new one.

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

You could probably go down to the bank and get a temporary debit card that you can use until your new one comes in. You can use it to make basic card-swipe transactions, as well as withdraw or deposit cash at ATMs. Your checkbook should work just fine in the interim.

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

Well that’s a shame, and so annoying to set things right with almost an hour on the phone.

My credit card got stolen recently and I didn’t notice right away. My bank was tipped off when someone spent $535 at a dollar store. (For those who may not be familiar with these, they are shops in the United States where everything costs one dollar.)

I was temporarily staying in a house with a bunch of people, about fifteen or so years ago. I left my purse out, in the bedroom, while I was eating lunch, and during that time someone stole my wallet. I had 200 dollars cash in it. It showed up on the floor the next day. Nearly everything was retrieved in the big, messy stack of cards, but the cash was gone.

I relearned really quick that regardless of how nice everyone seems, to never, ever let my purse depart from my physical body, when amongst strangers.

I also zip it up when I'm on mass transit, in case my wallet or some other valuable is sticking out, and a passerby or the person next to me finds the urge to reach in for a free sample. I buckle the strap into my wheelchair seatbelt so it can't be stolen.