Debit Card fraud

[sls404]

Just want to give people a heads up:

Just got back last night. I noticed 5 pending charges three days into the trip on my checking account from Microsoft XBOX totaling to about $120... I don't even own an XBOX!

When I noticed the charges I immediately called and had my card canceled so luckily those were the only ones that went through. I went to the bank today and should be getting my money back in about a week.

My card was not stolen, so I'm guessing someone hacked into a system that had my info stored or they used one of those scanners- but the card never left my sight the entire trip so I can't be entirely sure that this happened in Orlando.

 

[networktek]

that really sucks good thing you caught it in time i have had that happen to us but did not noticed until i got home and the bank had to do a full investigation into the matter

 

[LSUfan4444]

Many "experts" in the field of identity theft will say this is one reason you shouldn't have debit cards.

if you identity is stolen and they hack into your checking or savings accuonts, your bank may replace the funds, BUT while you wait you are out of money.

If the same happens on your credit card, you keep your money while the case is being reviewed.

MOst identity theft isn't even done from you anymore. Your info is stolen from vendors and databases around the country. Just recently I think like 250,000 peoples info was stolen from a database with TJ Maxx or something.

 

[Technosavant]

Just want to give people a heads up:

Just got back last night. I noticed 5 pending charges three days into the trip on my checking account from Microsoft XBOX totaling to about $120... I don't even own an XBOX!

When I noticed the charges I immediately called and had my card canceled so luckily those were the only ones that went through. I went to the bank today and should be getting my money back in about a week.

My card was not stolen, so I'm guessing someone hacked into a system that had my info stored or they used one of those scanners- but the card never left my sight the entire trip so I can't be entirely sure that this happened in Orlando.

Sounds more like the card info was compromised somewhere in the payment chain... not so much in Orlando, but the payment processors (the ones the merchants use to reconcile charges from their store to the banks involved) tend to get hacked with disappointing regularity.

It's nothing you did or didn't do, but a failure at a level with which you have nothing to do. If the processors persist in having subpar security, MasterCard and Visa can and will kick them out of the network (effectively shutting them down), but as for the end consumer, you're out of that loop.

 

[deegack]

Did you use your card in the airport? Every time I use my credit card in an airport it gets compromised. Different airports too. My guess is people are heading out to vacation and don't notice charges for a few days or weeks. I now carry enough cash for the airport.

 

[bouncycat]

I had that happen not too long ago after a day at DHS, there was some charges in our account, on MY card, and I had my card in my possession. One of my friends told me that those Aluminum wallets can help prevent the scanners that people can carry, so I got one of those wallets. I go to WDW all the time, and that's the only time it has happened to me. No airports tho, I don't fly LOL

 

[chartle]

One of my friends told me that those Aluminum wallets can help prevent the scanners that people can carry, so I got one of those wallets. I go to WDW all the time, and that's the only time it has happened to me. No airports tho, I don't fly LOL

An aluminum wallet is only needed if your card has an RFID chip in it. Like if you can tap your card to the reader instead of swiping. Makes no difference if it doesn't.

 

[sls404]

Did you use your card in the airport? Every time I use my credit card in an airport it gets compromised. Different airports too. My guess is people are heading out to vacation and don't notice charges for a few days or weeks. I now carry enough cash for the airport.

Yep, I used it on the 26th at the airport. I check my account daily and saw the charges pending on the 29th.

I have a bad habit of I always using my debit. I'm going to make it a point to start carrying more cash now.

 

[matheke]

I had a debit/ATM card from my bank. I never wanted the debit card feature and never used it. One day 3 months ago I had three charges I never made show up. Now how did that happen???

Of course at the bank they asked where I last used my debit card to which I told them "I have never used my debit card". After much arguing and being told they weren't available, I finally got an ATM card with no debit card features. I had to threaten to close my accounts and go to a bank that would give me an ATM only card.


Dan

 

[needtoplan]

Really weird that this was posted- my DH and I just got back from an extended weekend away at my mom's to discover that his debit card had just been compromised and transactions made that he had not made. He keeps his card with him at all times and is uber-careful. The bank told us not to worry but like above mentioned we would have to wait a week for our money. It just stinks. He had just been paid.
This has me really freaked out now.

 

[stenmarks]

This is why we don't take our debit cards on vacation...I prefer the fraud policies with our credit card company.

 

[jking6]

In August on a return trip from King's Dominion in Virginia I had 2 charges from XBOX. I had to do the same thing, I called and canceled my card and it was definitely found to be fraudulant. I got the final notice last month from my bank.
This is wierd that it was Xbox too. How is this happening. I did not fly so my card was not used at an airport.
The good thing is my bank had the money back in my account the next business day. I just had to wait for a new card.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We just got back in town from the east coast a couple of weeks ago and DH started getting fraudulent charges on his debit card over the weekend. We're in AZ but the charges were in TX. The bank caught it before he did, so they shut down his card, but mine still works because we have different numbers on our cards, even tho it's a joint checking account.

 

[Technosavant]

In August on a return trip from King's Dominion in Virginia I had 2 charges from XBOX. I had to do the same thing, I called and canceled my card and it was definitely found to be fraudulant. I got the final notice last month from my bank.
This is wierd that it was Xbox too. How is this happening. I did not fly so my card was not used at an airport.
The good thing is my bank had the money back in my account the next business day. I just had to wait for a new card.

I think there's a lot of card fraud people who are using these purloined cards for Xbox Live credits. I had a fake email not long ago that was purportedly from Microsoft declaring a huge purchase on my XBL account... when I checked the actual XBL site, so such thing had been done. I think it was a phishing scam... had I clicked a link in that email it would have triggered something (and on top of that, the card I have linked to my account no longer exists, so they were doubly unable to do anything).

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We do not have a debit card.
2) Exactly for the reasons listed in above posts.
3) We only have a an ATM card.
4) You have to ask special for these.

5) With a credit card, the fund never leave your account.
6) You do not have to worry about overdrafts.
7) The bank might not charge you, but merchants can.

 

[flortlebap]

Just want to give people a heads up:

Just got back last night. I noticed 5 pending charges three days into the trip on my checking account from Microsoft XBOX totaling to about $120... I don't even own an XBOX!

When I noticed the charges I immediately called and had my card canceled so luckily those were the only ones that went through. I went to the bank today and should be getting my money back in about a week.

My card was not stolen, so I'm guessing someone hacked into a system that had my info stored or they used one of those scanners- but the card never left my sight the entire trip so I can't be entirely sure that this happened in Orlando.

Hey

The same thing just happened to me on Sunday! I'm in the UK and they managed to buy £90 worth of stuff - I guess that's around the same amount in USD?

I only found out because my email password and security question had both been reset... managed to get that back through Microsoft and then found a bunch of confirmation emails for stuff I hadn't purchased

Still, it got refunded, so no harm done I guess. Makes me paranoid that people can get into your money so easily, though.

 

[mazzarafe]

We had this happen to us back in 2007 just days before Christmas. We had been at the world around Thanksgiving for over a week and we decided on our way home from Universal to stop at a package store to get some stuff to drink around the pool at night because our bar tab was adding up, the store was literaly 10 seconds around the corner from a "Walt Disney World" overhead sign. They not only cleaned out my account but went into my line of credit and had fun spending over $3000. They did it all in the matter of 2 days. The shopping started on Friday and when I went to spend $15 at a shoe store my card was denied, this was Saturday afternoon. They didn't just have the account number but had made a card to use in person. They enjoyed a $375 dinner at a Mexican restaurant and went to do their holiday liquor shopping twice spending well over $500, even went to buy a new lawn mower. Someone had a really nice Christmas.
We reported it but never heard if they caught anyone. But the police told us that they keep a separate reader next to the regular credit card machine and act like the first swipe didn't go through. Which it can really happen so it is not even a red flag. This was the only off property purchase we made and were told that was probably the place that it happened. DH remembered that they had to swipe the card a second time but like I said, it is not something that you would normally question.
The bank did clear us from their investigation but the worse thing was the check that I wrote out for a school fundraiser going bouncy bounce.
Good luck getting everything straightened out. Since this happened we have changed the maximum daily amounts of using our debit card so that they can't shop as freely as they did.

 

[Oglet]

Sometimes it can be from something innocent.

Someone could be trying to pay for xbox live with their own card and simply making a mistake with a number or something. If they tried to put it through several times and it was rejected and only after a few times did they realize they were putting a 8 where a 9 should be or something similar. It is not uncommon for a pending charge to show up for a failed transaction, It's happened to me several times when I have put in a wrong date etc.

 

[pbrim]

I use credit, not debit, for much this same reason, plus I like having the float. (Although I am always careful to pay the bill in full every month.) I download all my charges to Quicken every day and check them, even when on vacation. This helps me keep track of how much I am spending, and also lets me check for fraud.

That's how I have caught 3 times over the last couple of years that my credit card has been used without my permission. I never lost control of my card, it just got siphoned off somewhere. The first time it was used to purchase holistic fertility meds in my physical area -- I kept saying "Not mine, not mine! Do Not Want!". The other two times it was used across the country.

This can happen to anyone anywhere, you just need to keep an eye out.