Credit card fraud... a first for me...

15 years ago

Thank goodness I am in the habit of checking my statement against my receipts. Last week I discovered a purchase of about $400 I didn't recognize and neither did DH. I immediately called the c.c. company and they canceled the number and sent new cards. I often use this card for online purchases, and the unauthorized charge was also made online. I suppose there is a connection there, and now I am worried about using the card this way again, but I love the convenience of online shopping, so I will probably continue. They investigated and a few days later I got a refund. I need to call them to find out if they know where this originated so I at least can avoid that particular store or vendor.

How common is this?

Elisabeth

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Comments (16)

evatx
15 years ago
I've never had that happen, but I think it's fairly common. All it takes is one unscrupulous person getting hold of the account number. I'm glad you found the charge and got it taken care of quickly.
socks
15 years ago
I think we've had an incorrect charge or two over the years, but nothing on the internet. Good for you for watching your bill. If I were you, I would continue shopping on the internet. Just watch your vendors to make sure they seem legitimate. Anything through Amazon would be safe, of course.

I use e-bay and pay pal, but they do make me nervous. From time to time I get fraudulent e-mails from jerks posing as paypal and e-bay wanting me to "verify" my account information. I don't know how they get my e-mail address, how they know I use e-bay and paypal, and that bothers me a little. Also, e-bay and pay pal are not easy to reach on the phone if there is a problem.
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grittymitts
15 years ago
One of our CC companies called tii see if we'd made almost $2000. purchases @ 2 diff. businesses. NO. One was just under #1400. at a Gold Hallmark Store- of all places! (Lladro figurines I guess.) Other was Dell. CC security said they would deny credit...but refused to give me much info- did say they didn't report it to police nor would they prosecute. What?????

Later learned a part time night clerk at the motel where we stayed from Mon. to Fri. each week during DH's radiation treatments had stolen our number and several others.

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bunglogrl
15 years ago
The bank caught fraud on my debit card just a few minutes after I purchased something on Amazon. It was such a small amount (less than $20) that I likely wouldn't have noticed the unauthorized online purchase until the end of the month.

The bank was very nice about calling and emailing me right after it happened, but it is frustrating that they don't share very much info. They did tell me that fraudsters sometimes start with a small amount to 'test' the card number. I'm still wondering how someone got the number from Amazon. I also wonder if a CC is safer than a debit card for online purchases, or if I should look into getting one of those special online shopping CC numbers assigned to the card.

Waiting 7 business days for new cards was a pain since I use my ATM card for everything! When I called the bank to complain they said they would have overnighted the new cards ... for a small fee ... if I'd asked. Overnight mail should be automatic in that situation, imo.
tami_ohio
15 years ago
I'm sorry that happened, and glad that you caught it right away. I do use my regular cc online, usually only thru paypal. However, I do have a suggestion, if you are uncomfortable doing so now. Go to your bank, or somewhere that sells the credit card type gift cards. They should be reloadable. That way, you only have a specific amt. available to anyone who tries to steal the #.

Tami
JoanMN
15 years ago
In April, in FL, that happened to me. A $1,040 charge for a resort in Singapore.
While I was on the phone with Chase, they told me to cut the card up right the and sent me a new one.
I joined Lifelock that same day!
JoanMN
sheilajoyce_gw
15 years ago
I understand debit cards are even more dicey to have when it comes to fradulent use of your cards. Don't understand why, but have read warnings.
donna_loomis
15 years ago
A couple of months ago WAMU called me to ask about an unusual purchase. Thank goodness they caught it so quickly. I check balances and such online and checked after they called. None of the purchases had gone through yet, but there was a pending debit for just under $700 to a company that builds websites, and a $100 purchase of clothing for skateboarders. What tipped them off wasn't the fact that I'm 53 and don't skateboard, LOL, but there was also a charge for one penny and another for one dollar to a charity. They said that this was how it started. Don't know how they got my info, but they did the penny and dollar charges just to see if there was money in the account. Then they went shopping. I was practically hysterical, but sadly for the thieves, the bank paid a check I had written (which they normally wouldn't do if the debit was pending) and there wasn't enough money left to get the webpage and skater clothing. It all worked out, but left me feeling very vulnerable.
Indy_Anna
15 years ago
We have MBNA credit cards that have been stolen (online) two or three times. Each time, MBNA picked up on it first. They called me at work, cancelled the card, and overnighted us new ones. I didn't have to request anything nor pay for it. Once we were leaving on vacation the next day, and they made sure we had the new cards before we left. We've had accounts with them for eight years now and have no intent to change.

On the other side of the coin, DH had a card stolen from 5/3 bank. We didn't even have an account there, so I don't know how someone got a card in his name. The card was opened in 2000, was never used and then stolen in 2006. Someone took it to Brazil and took out $2k of money from an ATM $200 at a time. It took us months to finalize that one - HOURS on the phone with them. They claimed that since we never used the card, they didn't know our spending patterns. DUH! Our spending pattern was that WE DIDN'T USE THE CARD! It was the most frustrating ordeal we've had in a long time. Then, they got all but one transaction erased. Why ONE remained, I don't know. But they charged us late fees on that one, and we had to fight about that too. What a mess.

But, MBNA is THE BEST when dealing with card fraud.
rosebudms
15 years ago
Socks, they don't have to know if you use PayPal or not.... we get e-mails about our PayPal account frequently, and we have never had such an account. They're probably just phishing.

I have had fradulent charges on one card twice... the first time was for something purchased in Saudi Arabia or somewhere...they called me to see if it was legitimate. Changed card number, sent new card. Recently, new charges in New york state on the new card. Same thing, new card, new number. I have not used it yet. Am wondering who stole the number. Will be very selective in choosing to use it again.
jannie
15 years ago
When my daughter started college, I gave her my credit card and said "Get a good computer". Several hours later, I got a call about someone buying a $2000 Mac Book. It was legit but I'm sure glad someone was out there watching!
kayjones
15 years ago
I went to lunch with a girlfriend a few years back - close friend, too. I checked my cc bill when I received it later in the month, and saw an airline ticket had been purchased - I didn't buy one - called the cc company, they investigated, found out my 'friend', Alice, had purchased the ticket. They didn't prosecute her, but did give me the credit for it. She had to reimburse the cc company.

She finally admitted that when I went to the rr to wash my hands, she got the number from my wallet - amazing friend, huh? From then on, I keep my card in my wallet and close to me, and a close eye on my cc statements. If I am just out and about, I don't carry my cc.
foggyj
15 years ago
I just got a cc to use for internet purchases only. I forgot to ask the bank to keep the available amount,low. I haven't received it yet. I'm always afraid to make purchases online. It seems to be getting easier to steal numbers.
gardenspice
15 years ago
Just because the fraudulent charge came from online, does not mean that the number was stolen during an online transaction. The number could have been stolen anywhere and simply used online.
Regardless: what a pain!
Thanks for the reminder to check statements with an eagle eye.
joyfulguy
15 years ago
Hi socks ... with 1,2,3,4 or 5 holes,

As someone said, they send to many email addresses: they have hundreds/thousands of email addresses, send out requests for bank/account info to all of them.

I have never used PayPal or eBay, but have received several requests for account information, purportedly from them.

Also from a variety of banks that I've never heard of.

Also from some that I have, including, supposedly, one where I have accounts.

I've replied to several asking whether they want me to forward the messages, including the option that I have at the bottom of the Yahoo page containing the offending message to click on "Full headers", to get full history of the trail that the message followed to get from them to me.

Some ask that I send them, many do not.

ole joyful
joyfulguy
15 years ago
Hi again socks 12345,

When I said that I've replied to some, I do not mean that I clicked on the link that they provided (which usually goes through at least one redirect to a different address than the one that they gave).

I did not click on the "Reply" at the top of the page where their message is, either.

I either do a search for the company that they claim to represent, or ask for website, e.g. www.fifththirdbank.com, or whatever the name is of the famous financial agency involved, then go to "Contact us" to send my message.

That way, I know that I'm going to the horse's mouth (not the other end).

Good luck with evading capture!

ole joyful

Credit card fraud... a first for me...

Comments (16)

evatx

socks

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