Credit card fraud at WDW

[quirty30]

I've replied to threads in the past that addressed this and always thought it was a coincidence that cards were being compromised after WDW visits. I may no longer be a skeptic. I literally just got home from the airport about 2 hours ago after leaving WDW on Wednesday. Decided to check my emails before heading to bed. I had a fraud alert from Chase Disney Visa. This was the card I used for my room charges, and I also used it 3 times for on site store (World of Disney, Mouse Gears and Zawadi Marketplace) charges over $50 in order to get my 10% discount. Thank goodness Chase caught on after the 3rd charge to the online "Blizzard Entertainment Store." They only got away with about $125 in online purchases before the 3rd charge was declined.

Under the circumstances, I can't imagine the fraud occurred anywhere other than at WDW.

 

[disneynutz]

Happened to use twice at WDW, different years. Once at BCV and once at BWV, for room charges so we know that it happened at the resort.

Disney security didn't care and Orange County Sheriff wouldn't take a report telling us that there was little that could be done. Chase told us that it happens all of the time in Florida and that it is just part of doing business.

Bill

 

[cwdefouw]

Happened to us in 2009. I was getting calls from American Express about the fraudulent attempts to use my card while we were still at the World.

 

[CarolMN]

At WDW, I use online check-in so that I can enter my credit card number myself. Then I charge everything to the room. No CMs actually get to see my card. IMO, there is a lot less chance of Disney being hacked and my info being stolen than there is of encountering a dishonest employee somewhere.

I am especially nervous when a server takes my card away and comes back with the bill. Lots of opportunity there to use a skimmer. By charging to my room, that opportunity is gone.

 

[sharona]

We have several local restaurants where they bring a device to the table and you slide your card yourself so it's never out of your site.

 

[disneynutz]

At WDW, I use online check-in so that I can enter my credit card number myself. Then I charge everything to the room. No CMs actually get to see my card. IMO, there is a lot less chance of Disney being hacked and my info being stolen than there is of encountering a dishonest employee somewhere.

I am especially nervous when a server takes my card away and comes back with the bill. Lots of opportunity there to use a skimmer. By charging to my room, that opportunity is gone.

Never thought that we would be hacked at Home Depot or Target but we did! :-(

Bill

 

[keishashadow]

Happened to use twice at WDW, different years. Once at BCV and once at BWV, for room charges so we know that it happened at the resort.

Disney security didn't care and Orange County Sheriff wouldn't take a report telling us that there was little that could be done. Chase told us that it happens all of the time in Florida and that it is just part of doing business.

Bill

unfortunately, not limited to Florida or travel related charges. We've been 'dinged' more than a few times over the years. CC companies always have made it right for us.

always take a back up CC when traveling jik fraud is discovered as it usually takes at least a day to overnight you a replacement card.

we use a CC when traveling we typically don't use on a regular basis, same as for online shopping purchases.

 

[luckyman_apd]

A few things on this.....
1st, I'm not a fan of the room charge thing. Using the Magic Bands MAY help cut down fraud, or it may not. Only charges to the bands in your room should show up....but......we all know about Disney IT.

2nd. This is why I do NOT use Debit cards. If you are defrauded with a debit card....this is actual cash money that comes directly from your bank account. Getting it back is EXTREMELY difficult if the bank doesn't catch it first.

3rd. When using your CREDIT card....you are responsible only for charges you make. You can dispute any charge with the bank....but none of your money has been taken. If you dispute a charge....don't pay it. You technically have not had anything taken from you. The bank has. There is enough video surveillance around disney to investigate all purchases if the credit card wanted to pursue it. It's call credit card fraud because it's your credit that is used....not your actual money. It's always on the bank to investigate fraud, not you.

Southern California is the Credit card fraud capital of the world. At DLR they check Photo ID with EVERY credit card purchase. Whey they don't do this in Florida is beyond me.

Personally I only use credit cards because I hate debit....but also for the Reward points. They pay my DVC bill

 

[LisaS]

A few things on this.....
1st, I'm not a fan of the room charge thing. Using the Magic Bands MAY help cut down fraud, or it may not. Only charges to the bands in your room should show up....but......we all know about Disney IT.

Have you had a problem with fraudulent or mistaken charges on your room bill? Just curious because I can't recall any posts about this being a problem and wondered if I need to be concerned. I do review every item on my room bill before we leave WDW just in case. I figure it will be easier to deal with it at the front desk rather than over the phone after I'm back home but fortunately have not had any problems. I find it very convenient to charge everything to the room. I would rather use room charging than hand over my credit card.

 

[supersnoop]

Credit card fraud can happen so many different ways. Your card could have been "skimmed," or the fraudster could have just guessed a random credit card number. The number could have been compromised by another vendor years ago. I've heard of cards that the owner never used have also been stolen. It's really difficult to pinpoint where a card was compromised until you have enough volume to determine a correlation.

That said, the Target near Disney World is the only place my Amex has ever been declined with a follow-up call from the fraud protection department. And I've used that card while traveling internationally without any advanced notification. Orlando does seem to be a high-fraud area.

Southern California is the Credit card fraud capital of the world. At DLR they check Photo ID with EVERY credit card purchase. Whey they don't do this in Florida is beyond me.

If the credit card is signed, it's actually against the company's agreement with the card network to check ID.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

Actually just the other day my credit card number was stolen, luckily chase caught it after seven Netflix accounts and two spotify charges were made. This occurred two days after buying one time use points for a dvc reservation. I know it's silly to think it was that, but I do. I hadn't given any other real person my card info in months.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have had it happen in Ashville, NC; Irvine, CA; Paris France etc....(The France one was the best, they charged $20,000 worth of gold to the card! The police set up a sting to catch them!)

No place is immune

 

[drusba]

I've replied to threads in the past that addressed this and always thought it was a coincidence that cards were being compromised after WDW visits. I may no longer be a skeptic. I literally just got home from the airport about 2 hours ago after leaving WDW on Wednesday. Decided to check my emails before heading to bed. I had a fraud alert from Chase Disney Visa. This was the card I used for my room charges, and I also used it 3 times for on site store (World of Disney, Mouse Gears and Zawadi Marketplace) charges over $50 in order to get my 10% discount. Thank goodness Chase caught on after the 3rd charge to the online "Blizzard Entertainment Store." They only got away with about $125 in online purchases before the 3rd charge was declined.

Under the circumstances, I can't imagine the fraud occurred anywhere other than at WDW.

I have often used crdit card at WDW and thus far have not had an issue. My guess is it is likely due to some rogue employees, and I remember reading that they have even caught a few of those in the past.

You mention using the Chase Disney VISA to get the 10% discount when purchasing more than $50 of merchandise at WDW stores. In case you are unaware, you can get a 10% discount at the WDW stores by showing your DVC Member card and there is not a minmimum purchase rule.

 

[quirty30]

I can't figure out how to use the multi-quote anymore, but wanted to respond.

First of all, I almost always do online check in, but am still asked for my credit card when I go to the front desk and get my room assignment. Why is that?

Also, I thought the DVC discount was only good at the resort shops, not the stores at the parks. If this is the case, I won't be digging out my Disney Visa anymore. In hindsight, the last time the same card was hacked, was less than a month after our last visit to WDW. I know it can happen anywhere/anytime, but this is getting eerily suspicious.

Finally, I was talking to my boss today and he mentioned that he has one particular credit card with a low limit that he only uses when he's traveling. He does have others he carries as well for back-up, but feels a little better knowing that if his card his hacked, the thieves have a limit to the damage they can do. I know there is zero liability to the consumer, but this seems like a pretty good idea. I don't know about others of you who have had this happen, but it's still so unnerving when you see that email or get that phone call reporting the suspicious activity. The amount of fraud lately is just crazy. I know that before too long the cards with microchip technology will be the norm. The gentleman I spoke to at Chase last night, says they should reduce fraud by about 80%. But I wonder long it will be before someone figures out a way to hack them as well. Regardless, I'm not about to be scared into a cash only existence. The credit card companies essentially pay me to use them. Just annoyed at how often this happens.

 

[wench]

So weird, I use my Disney Visa for everything under the sun. If it can be charged, I charge it. Then I just make huge monthly payments. In addition I probably used my card at least 100 times in the last couple years while actually at WDW. I prefer not to charge to the room. And I've never had even 1 fraudulent occurrence. Sorry that so many of you got stuck with the bad luck in this regard.

 

[jerseygal]

This past August, I had a transaction stopped by Disney Visa by someone trying to use a point of sale transaction in Missouri by a store similar to WalMart.
WOW! My husband and I both had our cards in our possession at the time, not LOST! Call me NAIVE at the time, but didn't realize that these criminals steal your number then make up phony credit cards! We had used our Disney Visa at Home Depot and Staples over the summer. Both Staples and Home Depot had announced security compromises in their system. Immediately, Chase cancelled the card and overnighted us new ones. I believe in our case, the number was stolen through the Staples or Home Depot internal system. I understand HOW FRUSTRATING this is!

 

[kenly777]

Actually just the other day my credit card number was stolen, luckily chase caught it after seven Netflix accounts and two spotify charges were made. This occurred two days after buying one time use points for a dvc reservation. I know it's silly to think it was that, but I do. I hadn't given any other real person my card info in months.

Interesting because we just had a situation with Chase where someone was using our card for spotify. It was a card that rarely gets used so wondered how it got hacked. Chase handled it extremely well and rapidly!

 

[disneynutz]

I can't figure out how to use the multi-quote anymore, but wanted to respond.

First of all, I almost always do online check in, but am still asked for my credit card when I go to the front desk and get my room assignment. Why is that?

Also, I thought the DVC discount was only good at the resort shops, not the stores at the parks. If this is the case, I won't be digging out my Disney Visa anymore. In hindsight, the last time the same card was hacked, was less than a month after our last visit to WDW. I know it can happen anywhere/anytime, but this is getting eerily suspicious.

Finally, I was talking to my boss today and he mentioned that he has one particular credit card with a low limit that he only uses when he's traveling. He does have others he carries as well for back-up, but feels a little better knowing that if his card his hacked, the thieves have a limit to the damage they can do. I know there is zero liability to the consumer, but this seems like a pretty good idea. I don't know about others of you who have had this happen, but it's still so unnerving when you see that email or get that phone call reporting the suspicious activity. The amount of fraud lately is just crazy. I know that before too long the cards with microchip technology will be the norm. The gentleman I spoke to at Chase last night, says they should reduce fraud by about 80%. But I wonder long it will be before someone figures out a way to hack them as well. Regardless, I'm not about to be scared into a cash only existence. The credit card companies essentially pay me to use them. Just annoyed at how often this happens.

Credit Card fraud could really be reduced but the card companies and merchants choose to include the loss in the cost of doing business instead of taking the steps to stop fraud. Pin codes at the time of purchase and showing picture ID would really reduce the fraud rate but that doesn't happen.

Bill

 

[RAD]

Back to to OP, remember many times when your card number gets stolen the thrift posts it on the Internet for sale, along with a bunch of other stolen numbers. So it could have been hacked weeks or months ago and just now got sold. Of course if you hadn't used the card anywhere else besides WDW that blows that example out of the water.

 

[CarolMN]

....(snip).......
First of all, I almost always do online check in, but am still asked for my credit card when I go to the front desk and get my room assignment. Why is that?
................................

Interesting. I was only asked for mine once. When I said that I entered the card online and asked the CM to check the system again, it was discovered that it really wasn't needed. In that case, I prefer to believe it was either a training issue or a CM used to doing things by rote. Room charging and express check out worked just fine that trip, so I know the card was actually there.

Since then, I have always been met at the ME bus, given a packet and escorted to the check-in area. Check-in has gone quickly - usually the room is not ready yet. The CMs do not even give me the lengthy spoil anymore - they ask if I've visited before and when I say many times, they just ask if I have questions, I say no and off I go.