Credit Card fraud vent - Update pg 5 #61

[clutter]

Does anyone even have a debit card that isn't cobranded these days? I haven't seen one in YEARS that isn't a Visa/Mastercard.

Me!

I just got another one when I opened a new bank account at a national bank. I don't care to carry a co-branded card. I do use my credit cards, and wisely. And my credit limit is high enough that either the fraud dept or I, checking online, would notice abnormal use before they could get there.

I'm not saying one is better than the other. I happen to prefer using credit to debit so I don't have a need for both.

 

[WDWisOurHappyPlace]

Just last week, I got a call from the fraud department at VISA asking if I made a charge for $18.00 that morning to skype.com. I absolutely did not, so they closed my account at that moment and issued us new cards with new numbers. Could be total coincidence, but I ordered my son a new computer from Dell the day before and gave all of my credit card info to the person, probably from another country, taking my order.

A couple of years ago, I got a call from our bank's fraud department on a Sunday afternoon asking if we made charges to our debit cards to some internet excercise equipment company. We did not make these charges, so our account was closed. Now my husband and I have completely different numbers on our debit cards, and we each had 2 charges for $800 (total of $3200) made to our cards. The money was taken out of our checking account for the total of these charges. We had to go to the bank, fill out papers, and the money was eventually put back in. We RARELY use our debit cards, so it's a mystery how someone got our card numbers. Had to have hacked the bank computers. The bank lady told us this happens often, and the bank has to eat the charges.

In both situations, the bank and our credit card company noticed these charges as fishy the day they were made and called us about them. I'm impressed how well they are watching.

 

[Maridw]

After talking to my DH this afternoon, I found out the 3rd charge is still in the processed of being authorized. So our "available balance" and "balance" are off by that amount.

When my DH took the report into the bank this morning they would not take it with out a police report. I talked to the fraud department at the bank and the person there said no it should have been taken. They understand that it could take a couple days to get the hard copy of the report. So my DH took it back. The teller he talked to then told him that the original teller should have taken it this morning. The fraud department did take the case number that we had from the Sheriff's office.

What really bothers me is that at the last bank we had if there was a suspious charge they would contact me to verify it. This bank, has let two charges over $500 go through without even contacting us. Both charges were from places overseas, that should have been a redflag right there. I mean give me a break, DHL International GB and UPS UK and we live in FL. Also the smallest charge ($1.48) was from Societe D'Assurance in Quebec. Sometimes I wonder about the people that authorize charges. They should have given us a chance to verify the charges. If we had made them, fine, we would understand them calling to check, but since we didn't they could have denied the charges right then and there and we would not be out the money.

Note: Please stop the debate between co-branded and non-branded visa/mc cards. This was meant strictly as a vent for my frustration about this whole matter.

On a side note: DH & I will be able to relax a little tonight as we are going to a Foreigner concert at the local Civic Center. Should be a great concert. Saw REO Speedwagon a couple years ago and we ended up with Row 5 center seats. Had a friend who was in a wheelchair and we had purchased tickets for at the end of one row further back. Before REO started, someone from the civic center came over and moved us closer to another handicap spot. So it was great, plus my friend really enjoyed the concert too.

 

[Maridw]

Did go to the Foreigner concert and it was great. One of the charges is on hold, money still in the bank, but on hold even to us. Shows in our balance, but not our available balance.

We usually check our balance everyday and it just happened that we didn't check it on the Tuesday. If we had, we might have been able to stop it a little sooner. We are getting by, thankfully I had some money pulled to buy my self a little something. My DH had gotten a bonus and told me to take some out to use for me.

To get us out of the house today, we found out the replicas of the Nina & Pinta were at our local marina. So we went to see them. Sometimes it seems like the only luck we are having is bad luck. Just when things seem like they are going our way, everything comes crashing down around us again.

Its great to have someplace to vent. Thanks to all of you.

 

[luvsJack]

I found out recently that my bank will cancel my debit card if there is any questionable charges on it. They did that very thing recently because I paid my cell phone bill It was almost exactly the same amount it has been for the past three months, not really sure why they thought that was questionable. Anyway I called, they asked if I made the charge, I said yes, they reactivated my card. Luckily I found out rather quickly because they also held the money until I called so my phone bill wasn't actually paid! (couldn't figure out why THEY didn't call ME??)

Good to know they are watching though.

 

[Bluestars]

That sounds like a great concert!

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this, or even if your bank does this, by with my online banking I can set it up where I will get an e-mail for certain things. I set it up to get an e-mail for any cash withdrawn from an ATM, for checks over $100 and for any purchases made online. I also have my balance e-mailed to me daily.

Since I check my e-mail several times a day, I will see right away if my card is being used by someone else. I bank with Bank of America.

A long time ago someone stole my credit card number and made many purchases online that were being delivered to a local address. I got all of the money back, but it was a pain. I'm glad I have the e-mail alerts set up with my current account.

 

[mhsjax]

Funny I notice everyone on this page saying and "the bank put my money back in x number of days". You can rant all you want about credit cards, but with a credit card, YOUR money is never gone, not even for "just 2 days". You simply call and let them know to take the charge of the bill. Its the difference between panicing and squirming, trying to transfer cash from another account, and not lifting a finger.

We actually had both credit and debit cards used 1 day apart for charges that were above $2000.00. Here is the thing, we were going on a cruise in 2 days, with our debit card, the money was put back before the cruise, with the credit card, we had to cancel that acct and get issued another card with a different number. They told us that they would not be able to get another card to su before we left. Good thing that we did have another credit card and that the cash was replaced, otherwise we would have been "panicing and squirming" over the credit card. Both from the same institution by the way. So in this case the debit card was better.

Credit cards will always have to issue you a different card number after a fraud. That takes time.

 

[goofyernmost]

While we are on the credit card fraud thing, let me ask you this. The other night I received a call from "Allstate Travel Club" or something like that. I know it had Allstate in it. The gentleman went through his spiel without stopping to catch a breath and then asked me if my address was correct and that he would send out the paperwork to enroll me for a two month trial basis, that I, of course, can cancel at any time. OK, nothing unusual about that really.

Then he tells me that I need to give him my credit card number because in order for him to send me the "paperwork" I must use the card to charge a $1.79 shipping charge.

I don't know, this may be legitimate but it will be a cold day in hell before I will pay them to send me something that they are trying to get me to do and use my card for $1.79...don't think so. I told him to send me the information and I will look it over and decide if I want to give it a try. He told me that unless they have my CC number they can't send it out. To which I replied, "well, in that case...good luck in your selling but I'm not interested" "Have a magical day".

Maybe I over reacted. Have some of you had a successful experience with this situation? I mean I didn't call them, they called me. I wasn't even interested in joining the travel club since I already belong to AAA. What kind of marketing strategy is that?

Am I just old???

 

[Carly_Roach]

Then he tells me that I need to give him my credit card number because in order for him to send me the "paperwork" I must use the card to charge a $1.79 shipping charge.

It's been a standard warning to people for years to not give their CC numbers out over the phone to someone who called you. But people must keep doing it because we still have telemarketers calling.

As for the debit card debate, I feel good knowing we have two checking accounts: one for internet only and one for everything else. I only deposit into the internet account when I intend to make a purchase (keeps that impulse tendancy under control), and the main cards rarely leave my or DH's hands.

We've never had any problems and don't expect to have any.

I'm glad the OP caught the fraud and is getting her money back!

 

[Maridw]

That sounds like a great concert!

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this, or even if your bank does this, by with my online banking I can set it up where I will get an e-mail for certain things. I set it up to get an e-mail for any cash withdrawn from an ATM, for checks over $100 and for any purchases made online. I also have my balance e-mailed to me daily.

Since I check my e-mail several times a day, I will see right away if my card is being used by someone else. I bank with Bank of America.

A long time ago someone stole my credit card number and made many purchases online that were being delivered to a local address. I got all of the money back, but it was a pain. I'm glad I have the e-mail alerts set up with my current account.

The concert was great. They ended with Jukebox Hero, before they did an encore.

I checked online and we can set up email alerts. So I have put alerts on our account. Thank you for that information.

 

[Conkozan]

Interesting article on Yahoo

http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-bu...o-use-your-debit-card?mod=bb-checking_savings

 

[manning]

I gave out a cc number once. Of course it was as phoney as a $3.00 bill.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I gave out a cc number once. Of course it was as phoney as a $3.00 bill.

Fighting fraud with fraud is not a good way to handle a situation. If it was a reputable company, they could contact a police agency for fraud and you would be the one in trouble.

 

[merryweather20]

We actually had both credit and debit cards used 1 day apart for charges that were above $2000.00. Here is the thing, we were going on a cruise in 2 days, with our debit card, the money was put back before the cruise, with the credit card, we had to cancel that acct and get issued another card with a different number. They told us that they would not be able to get another card to su before we left. Good thing that we did have another credit card and that the cash was replaced, otherwise we would have been "panicing and squirming" over the credit card. Both from the same institution by the way. So in this case the debit card was better.

Credit cards will always have to issue you a different card number after a fraud. That takes time.

My debit and credit are made out of the same kind of plastic so...

It would also not occur to me to check if the cruise accepted debit. The last three I went on accepted cash and credit cards, except for BMO Mastercard. In this case I would simply use credit card number two, or traveller's cheques, or cash because a debit card would be no good for any cruise I've been on.

At any rate. The point is your credit card is one step removed from your cash. If you scroll through the post, or any one of these threads you'll see people having to chase the bank to refund overdraft fees, and contact various companies for cheques they bounced, and the fees those companies charged for bounced cheques. For credit cards, in the worst case, it got declined and the called the CC company to sort it out.

Lets say the bank didn't clear it up. Would you rather be out $2,000 that you don't have to pay back until 30 to 45 days, or $2,000 that you need for rent next week and food and gas and school trips now?

 

[manning]

Fighting fraud with fraud is not a good way to handle a situation. If it was a reputable company, they could contact a police agency for fraud and you would be the one in trouble.

It was a fraud call, he didn't even know how to pull it off. Any legit company doesn't ask for a social security number and date of birth when they are calling you.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

It was a fraud call, he didn't even know how to pull it off. Any legit company doesn't ask for a social security number and date of birth when they are calling you.

I am well aware, but you also committed fraud as well...just a FYI, not something anyone should do.

 

[manning]

I am well aware, but you also committed fraud as well...just a FYI, not something anyone should do.

I wasn't trying to buy anything, it was someone fishing or whatever you call it trying to get personal info out of me and this was early last year.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I wasn't trying to buy anything, it was someone fishing or whatever you call it trying to get personal info out of me and this was early last year.

Providing a credit card number that is not your own is still considered fraud. I understand where you are coming from and why you did it, but its not something that should be encouraged or taken lightly. If you believe it is a phishing scam or someone is trying to commit fraud on you, you should just hang-up/disconnect/delete the method of contact.

 

[Maridw]

Got some good news this evening. I checked our account online and found that the $503 that was on hold has been taken off and the money put back into our account.

Now we get to play the waiting game to see how long it takes to get the rest of the money back, plus get our new cards. It really sucks not having a card at all. Yesterday we took some money out to get us through the weekend, but I have had to keep reminding my DH that we don't have the card to go to the atm.

Could use lots of & right now that this won't take too long and that our new cards get here pretty quick..

 

[melisandes]

I feel for you. I woke up one morning at 5 AM to a call from the UK asking if I really wanted to send two pairs of identical shoes to Indonesia. I was horrified and scared. I never did get my money back on some of the other charges. Mostly small stupid stuff but it added up. Since I could not prove the fraud happened here in the states the police were not interested at all. Good luck with your situation and remember to be careful with your IDs. Mines got stolen through an online drugstore that had just gone bankrupt.