Credit card fraud at WDW

[supersuperwendy]

In 1994 I used travelers checks at Disney... still usable? I'd like to avoid the credit card fraud..happened to us at a gas station in NJ.

 

[drusba]

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.

Since September 2013, there has been a 10% discount on merchandise for DVC members at all the park and resort stores and the Disney stores in Downtown Disney.

 

[drusba]

In 1994 I used travelers checks at Disney... still usable? I'd like to avoid the credit card fraud..happened to us at a gas station in NJ.

Travelers checks are still usable anywhere including WDW. They mostly disappeared from use a number of years ago because credit cards became acceptable everywhere including in foreign countries, but you can still purchase them.

 

[BUDDYBEAR]

thanks for all the info

 

[corpcomp]

I only do online checkin using my credit card. When we get to BCV it goes in the safe and I use the magic band for purchases and my reward points to cover purchases when we check out

 

[Magic Band Defender]

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.

First, debit cards and credit cards have identical protections. The network (Visa/MasterCard) stipulates how long an issuer has to investigate the potential fraud and within how many days the cardholder has to be made whole, amongst other things. Unbranded ATM-only cards fall under Reg E protections. The process is no less difficult or expensive if the card issuer notices the fraud or the cardholder. The process is no less difficult or expensive of the card issued is a debit card or credit card.

Second, banks/credit unions cannot get surveillance footage from Disney or anywhere else. Only law enforcement can do that, and sometimes they do, but often they take our report and nothing happens for a long time, if ever.

Lastly, it is against Visa/MasterCard regulations to require ID. Not to say no one ever asks for it anyway, but they certainly aren't supposed to.

 

[Magic Band Defender]

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

The card companies very, very much want it to be reduced. The card issuers are the primary party that takes the financial hit when card fraud occurs. Card issuers have chargeback rights in very few fraud cases, and almost never in card present situations (even if the card present is a fake, and not the cardholders actual card). CUNA, amongst other groups, is lobbying for retailers to be forced to protect card data at the same high level card issuers have to. And PIN numbers do get stolen, it's not just card numbers, as well as expiration dates, security codes, etc. I do not give my PIN out unless there is no choice in completing the transaction.

 

[MsMagical]

First, debit cards and credit cards have identical protections. The network (Visa/MasterCard) stipulates how long an issuer has to investigate the potential fraud and within how many days the cardholder has to be made whole, amongst other things. Unbranded ATM-only cards fall under Reg E protections. The process is no less difficult or expensive if the card issuer notices the fraud or the cardholder. The process is no less difficult or expensive of the card issued is a debit card or credit card.

It sounds like you are very knowledgeable about the industry. The protections for getting your money back may be the same (not questioning that here) but the transaction from a debit card pulls money directly from your bank account and reduces the balance of the account at the bank. If the balance changes, you have less cash available to you because your money has been used by that transaction. You may be able to get your money back but, in the meantime, you have to make due with the loss of that money and it is often expensive and time consuming to deal with. When a credit card is stolen and used, the balance in your account grows but your cash (in the bank) is not affected so you do not have to worry about being able to cover your other expenses and that is less difficult to manage because it is mostly handled by the credit card company. They may have equal protections as far as what Visa, Mastercard, or any other credit/debit card company will investigate and when but the effect on your personal finances is completely different when your debit vs. credit card information is stolen and used. Fraud sucks for everyone involved but debit card fraud is more difficult for the victim to deal with.

 

[maxiesmom]

I was debating not getting my usually Disney Gift Card before my trip next month, but you all have changed my mind. I'm definitely getting a gift card to pay off my room charges.

 

[Brian Noble]

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

I understand your skepticism, and it is certainly possible (maybe even likely) that WDW was the source of the skim, the compromise really could have come from anyone who has had access to your credit card (online or in person) over the past several months.

Until the US moves to chip-and-pin (*not* chip-and-signature) this sort of thing is going to continue.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We don't put a CC on file at check in. None linked to our MB. Only use one CC while there so can track all the charges.

 

[florep1]

We don't put a CC on file at check in. None linked to our MB. Only use one CC while there so can track all the charges.

We do the same thing. This year, however, I placed a CC on file online and attempt charging with our MB. I already bought a Disney GC though to pay our charges before checkout I'll stick carry a backup CC for emergencies, but I wanna try and see how well this works.

 

[quirty30]

I understand your skepticism, and it is certainly possible (maybe even likely) that WDW was the source of the skim, the compromise really could have come from anyone who has had access to your credit card (online or in person) over the past several months.

Until the US moves to chip-and-pin (*not* chip-and-signature) this sort of thing is going to continue.

It just seems really suspicious given that the last 2 times my card was hacked were both less that 1 month after a WDW visit. Next visit I will refuse to show them the card at check-in, and I'll only use the Magic Band to charge, using my DVC member card for discounts. And I look forward to more of my cards using the new technology (for now, just one has it.)

 

[pavicich]

We were victims of credit fraud also while at Disney! Last spring break Chase sent an alert to my phone (while we were on the monorail no less) that a charge was attempted in Another city in Florida. We had been at the parks for 3 days and my card left my sight once at a restaurant instead of using my band the first day of the trip because it wasn't working at the time. Your post just reminded me. We had to use our backup card to pay our magic band charges at checkout.

 

[Coach81]

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.

We will do the same thing in a few weeks!!

 

[Gracie09]

I ALWAYS get dinged when I use a credit card at area airports. It doesn't matter which one (there are 3 right near me). So now I just use cash at the airport and magic band at WDW

 

[Just Peachy]

Seems very coincidental but my Chase-Disney card was hacked 1 week ago, about the same time as a couple of posters have stated their Chase cards had fraudulent activity. I have not even gone to the park yet, I was buying on-line Park passes and airline tickets for July and I don't use this card for anything but Disney related purchases. I wonder if there is a hack at Chase that is making the Disney Visa's visible?

 

[AriesAriel]

I noticed the same thing. Everyone is mentioning their Chase card!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I think the online CC added with online check in seams safe. I think the hack goes deeper than skimmers however. I just have not warmed up to the MB and security. Right now I know I can control when and how I use the CC when it's in my possession and not in cyberspace.

 

[dbramer]

Remember, there is really nothing from keeping an employee at the issuing bank from using your information either. Years ago, I worked in a call center for a major credit card company. We had access to all the information on the card, including name, address and cc number. Today, most that is needed is credit card number and zip code. Thieves can imprint a blank card or erased card with your information and voila, they have your credit card. Many retailers do not look at the cards anymore due to self-swiping. If the cashier looks, the last four digits of the card will not match the last four digits printed on the receipt. The cashier does not have to see an id, just double check the last four on card/receipt to make sure they match. And the agreement with the credit card companies only applies to signed cards. If the card is unsigned, the merchant has the right to ask for verification.