ping-a-ling for comment?
I’d have to agree. My card’s been hit twice in the past year. Everybody I work with has been hit in the past month too. I can’t believe it hasn’t reached the level that the credit card companies haven’t totally revamped how cards work.
An article in the Austin-Mexican Statesman today is about a couple in NJ woh are victims of credit card fraud, committed by illegals in Texas. The illegals were on a big shopping spree at the Cabelas store, just south of Austin.
As Dave Ramsey would tell you... Cut them UP and cancel them. We did and without them there is no risk.
I just got a call from my bank yesterday. Someone tried to use my debit card to make a $500 purchase at a Publix in Florida. They declined the charge as it was obviously suspicious (I am in Oklahoma) but I still am wondering how they got my card #. I was holding it in my hand while talking to my bank, so they didn’t have my actual card, but I was wondering if maybe they tried to buy a bunch of stuff online. There isn’t a Publix where I live so I don’t know anything about them.
LifeLock has been advertising pretty heavily of late.
I also just read in Readers Digest to be careful of people behind you in checkout lines. They look like they are messing with their cell phones, but they are snapping a picture of your card and possibly you as you enter your pin number.
I’ve had problems twice in the last year. In March someone used my visa to buy tires in Spain. I cancelled the card and had a new one reissued. Last month someone charged magazines and games on my card. I cancelled it again. This month they got my wife’s card.
Gee, you’re the LEO...and you’re asking us what to do about a criminal matter?
Same thing just happened to me. My American Express card, which I had in my possession in Oregon, was physically swiped in Illinois.
AMEX is out the money, and perps got away with about $200 before AMEX caught on and started denying the charges.
My credit card company denies any charges that are made outside my usual spending loop, then calls me to confirm. (American Express.)
Why don’t stores require proof of identity when using a CC? I know. They don’t really care as long as they get paid...but...
Two cases for me. One a couple of years ago someone was buying stuff on the internet so they didn't need a real card. The buyer did have my name and address because I was mailed the first copies of a CD subscription. He bought through one of these ads which said "sign up for XXXXX and get some free electronic equipment". The bank's fraud department called me and canceled the card without me having to act. Other than the CDs, most of the stuff purchased were services that were never actually provided so the merchants weren't out any real money other than the transaction troubles. I have no idea how the card number and my name were stolen.
The second time someone bought some stuff at three Wal-Marts and a grocery store in Maryland. I caught it on the credit card's site before the bank's fraud department figured anything out, so I called them and cancelled the card. That time the thief got about $500 total of real merchandise, but I don't know what it was. That time it was either stolen at a restaurant or their credit card processing company because everyone at the table who used a card was hit.
What are we going to do about this?
I think that we'll have to go to a PIN system on all credit, debit and ATM cards. The credit card companies hate that because it makes it more inconvenient to use the card so we're less likely to use them instead of cash.
This is getting easier for crooks to do. Everyone has a camera phone. Crooks standing in line behind you take a picture of your card while you do the transaction. With that info they can use your number or make a bogus card.
Keep your card covered when you bring it out for payment.
Yes, an unauthorized purchase was made from a computer on my business card. The card company noticed that it was not a purchase that was usually made with the card and suspended it. Someone made a Western Union money transfer to Canada during the time of the Olympics. My card is used only for U.S Postal purchases, supplies at office stores and Internet business purchases. Apparently, someone at one of those places took advantage of my card number. We try to keep computer security up to date. The money transfer was not finalized and the funds returned to my account.
1. Pay cash whenever possible.
2. If you use a card, never allow it out of your sights. In other words, always find a way to pay cash in restaurants.
3. Always use your card as a credit card in retail stores. Use your PIN as infrequently as possible. Just press “credit” instead of ATM/Debit & follow the directions on the keypad screen.
4. Keep your hand over the numbers on the front while waiting to pay and don’t hesitate to take control of your card from a sales person who lays it face up on the counter.
5. Read and monitor your statement.
6. Bank locally. Being able to speak face-to-face to a representative of your bank/credit union if there is a problem is a plus.
7. Never give your CC number over the phone. Never.
8. Pay cash. I know that this was #1, but it can’t be stressed enough.
where are they getting the cc numbers for the fake cc transaction..
I’m going thru the same issues as we speak. It sucks!!!!!!!
You’re fortunate. wells Fargo called my husband to ask about some purchases which he did not make. After an “investigation”, WF decided that we are responsible for all charges. Fortunately, they were small and we returned what was purchased and sent to us; we got the charges canceled by the vendors. We’re puzzled by the whole thing. But we are going to find another bank. We loathe Wells Fargo!
When it happened to us, we discovered that an employee of the bank had sold a credit card list. The employee had been “laid off” from a previous bank for doing the same thing but never prosecuted.