Disney credit card fraud

[paults]

July 2014--A month I will remember.

2 weeks ago my Disney card was used in NY for $207 and declined. I got an e-mail from Chase about it. I shredded the card and got a new number.
Guess what!!! Just 2 days ago ( 12 days after I got my new card) I got another e-mail from Chase that my credit card was used again in (you guessed it) NY. I didn't even use the new number yet. HOWEVER it wasn't the new Disney card number I got it was our other Chase Freedom card What's going on!!!

2 cards in 14 + days used in NY . FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD Where did they get my card #'s from.

 

[disneynutz]

Somewhere, some place you shared your card info with a crook.

Think where and when you used the cards.

Where do you store your card/account info? Computer, phone? Check your devices for a Trojan horse or virus.

Bill

 

[wilkeliza]

They could have gotten your card numbers from anywhere.

Do you store your credit cards for online use? If so you could have a virus that is capturing them. Also if you went to any of the stores recently that had issues (Target, Michaels, PayPal) although you may have been safe before maybe they are just coming across your card number now.

The scarier part is perhaps someone has cracked into Chase's files and is getting card numbers that way.

 

[JimMIA]

Despite the high profile hacks and concerns about online ordering, the most risky thing you can do with a credit card is also one of the most common uses of the card -- paying a check at a restaurant or bar.

Many waitstaff (including at WDW) carry "skimmers" which are small electronic devices that read and store the information from the magnetic stripe on the back of your card. That data is compiled over a shift, or several shifts, and then sold to a credit card thief.

The thief then re-encodes stolen credit cards with your information. Unless the merchant compares the last 4 digits of the card physically being presented, or requires the security code on the back, the re-encoded card will work and the transaction will go through. Often, the thief will go to a gas pump and try to make a small purchase with little chance of getting caught to test the card -- so credit card companies have set up their systems to alert whenever a card is used for a small purchase at a gas station.

 

[patsal]

If it was a brand new, just out of the envelope, never been used card. it was a phishing scam and they just put the random numbers together and they worked.

 

[wendybeth75]

This is so scary! I hope that you get it all figured out! I agree with the others, be sure to check your computer!

 

[chirogrrl]

I feel some of your frustration! Our Disney Visa card was fraudulently used over the 4th of July weekend. I got an email fraud alert from Chase within minutes of the charge. It was an actual POS charge in MI and we were sitting in MN. I called Chase right away and verified that it was fraud. They were GREAT, and took care of everything. Luckily, they were really on top of things and only one charge was made with the "fake" card. I have been checking all of our accounts daily, to look for any other issues.

This is one reason I am diligent about never using our check card at restaurants or gas stations. It would be a huge PIA to deal with somebody getting into our checking account!

OP, I hope you don't have any more problems with these evil crooks!

 

[Dean]

Despite the high profile hacks and concerns about online ordering, the most risky thing you can do with a credit card is also one of the most common uses of the card -- paying a check at a restaurant or bar.

Many waitstaff (including at WDW) carry "skimmers" which are small electronic devices that read and store the information from the magnetic stripe on the back of your card. That data is compiled over a shift, or several shifts, and then sold to a credit card thief.

The thief then re-encodes stolen credit cards with your information. Unless the merchant compares the last 4 digits of the card physically being presented, or requires the security code on the back, the re-encoded card will work and the transaction will go through. Often, the thief will go to a gas pump and try to make a small purchase with little chance of getting caught to test the card -- so credit card companies have set up their systems to alert whenever a card is used for a small purchase at a gas station.

Which means the OP may have such a situation at a place the frequent regularly.

 

[rock_doctor]

.

 

[bom_noite]

Which means the OP may have such a situation at a place the frequent regularly.

Finally after years on the DisBoards I can actually speak to something I know. Have spent 30 years in the Credit Card Industry!

My thoughts to the OP:

• You should be completely covered by your Card provider.
• I work every day with Europeans and African nations which have totally switched to Chip Cards as fraud is so rampant.
• While CHIP Cards do reduce Fraude - it will not eliminate it.
• The US Market has been slow and stodgy on adapting to this standard for the obvious reason: COST! Every card and every POS Terminal would have to be replaced. And, that is going to cost some money. As a result the Card Issuers / Acquirers are not willing to take that plunge. In time - I think they will.
• 10 years ago this type of thing went on with little investigation - not now - trust me.

I have been a victim of CC fraud at WDW Twice in 10 years. It go's with the territory.

Two years ago I was driving with my Aunt and she told me how much she loved that Gas stations asked your Zip Code after the swipe - she felt safer! I argued to her: Are they protecting you - or themselves? They can give a crap about you - they are protecting themselves. Simple concept: Big companies loathe losing money.

 

[dlp35727]

I've purchased RFID sleeves for my credit cards and hope that they really work to prevent this from happening.

 

[Moniqu17]

Both my husband's and my card were stolen earlier this year. I think ours was due to target because the thief had my name and address which also was part of the target hack (we never use mine at restaurants either). They tried opening some accounts and such. I was really freaked out! In 2 days they tried to put 15k of insurance on my card! Luckily the cc company was great about everything and I guess for that amount it had to go to the FBI they said. What a headache! I always try to check our balance every few days now. Strangely they gave me extra reward pts for being on the phone so long dealing with this with them??

 

[keishashadow]

We've had it happen several times over the years, imo it seems to be triggered by travel. I run my online purchases either thru paypal or a specific CC.

It's a good idea to have a back up CC or other forms of payment when away from home. Our first go around was in a port of call on a DCL cruise a decade ago. The issuer (Barclays offered to have a new card waiting for us at a bank in the next port of call if necessary).

Found out last 'black friday' we had most recent issue. a little over a month after an Orlando trip but the 1st time I had utilized the CC in question afterwards. Resorted to putting a do not open notation in credit files, no problem since...knock on wood. At this point any purchase on our 'problem' CCs (Chase & Citi) over $200 triggers either receiving a phone call or we have to call them to verify our identity from the point of purchase. I am fine with it, as we haven't had an issue since.

 

[AmyB2006]

CC thieves are everywhere. They skim your number anywhere and everywhere. Like mentioned above restaurant workers can skim your number and then either use it themselves or more than likely sell it to a thief.

Our Disney Chase Visa was just attempted in June as well. Foreign currency in a foreign country. I'm glad that Chase catches these and denies the charge. We were able to shut down our card and have new ones issued overnight.

Always protect your financial information.

NEVER under any circumstance give your SSN out to anyone. Only if absolutely necessary. Doctors offices do NOT need your social, although they ask for it every time. Tell them no. Memorize your number and never carry the card with you.

Do not ever give your information to anyone on the phone unless you know who they are. People do this all the time. I work at a police department in dispatch and I take several calls daily of people who were scammed on the phone. Just myself alone, not to mention other calls that other dispatchers are taking.

Don't leave wallets in your vehicle overnight, especially with the door unlocked. Talk about dumb!! I won't even tell you the amount of these types of calls I take!! Burglars walk through neighborhoods looking for unlocked doors and visible items left in vehicles. Every night this week we have had at least one neighborhood, if not more, "hit" by this type of burglary. We'll end up with about 10 - 20 calls in the morning of people whose items were taken from their cars overnight. Every time... unlocked doors or visible items and they smashed the window.

Anyway, it's all credit cards, not just Disney. Do the best you can to protect yourself.

 

[paults]

I'm OPer, what I don't understand is if by chance the store has a camera pointed at the register why can't they go after some of these people. If they know not to accept the charge why not do a follow up.

 

[disneynutz]

I'm OPer, what I don't understand is if by chance the store has a camera pointed at the register why can't they go after some of these people. If they know not to accept the charge why not do a follow up.

Money! It costs more to investigate and prosecute than just covering the loss to the card holder. All merchants factor in loses to their pricing model for credit card reverses and other thefts.

Bill

 

[AmyB2006]

I'm OPer, what I don't understand is if by chance the store has a camera pointed at the register why can't they go after some of these people. If they know not to accept the charge why not do a follow up.

Because there's too many cases. Literally too many cases. And they're not going to waste their time, as bad as that sounds, for a couple hundred dollars. Our county sheriff's department won't even touch a case of fraud unless it's over $100,000. And that's the sheriff's department. They'll take a report for you, but they won't investigate it.

And if there's a camera pointed at the register, then the register contains cash most likely, the employees will know it. Otherwise why would the owner have a camera on the register? And they're not going to skim the card at the register with a customer standing right there either.

It's usually restaurants where they have to walk away with your card where you can't see them. And then chances are those registers don't contain cash, it's just a computer terminal. Businesses have caught employees they suspect doing things like this, but they usually have to suspect them first, then set up the surveillance cameras.

Even if they do catch the kid behind the register, he's just the middle man, usually. It's like drugs. There's the manufacturer, the supplier, the dealer, and the buyer. Usually they sell your cc information to someone else. And it could be a year or more before it even gets used.

 

[Luvscrappin]

I had this happen to me about 4 years ago. We were out in California and someone got a hold of my debit card number. They purchased over $2000.00 from Sephora! Luckily, my bank noticed and put a hold on my card. It was a pain filling out all the paperwork. I filed a police report and they told me the person would never be charged because it was too difficult due to the fact it crossed state lines. ( they even knew who it was because they ordered online and had it delivered!) It disgusts me that people get away with this stuff!

 

[quirty30]

I've had credit card info stolen on a couple occasions over the last several years. Once with Discover and once with Chase (also on my Disney Visa, though I don't think there is/was any correlation between the breach and a trip to WDW.) The most recent breach was on the Disney Visa and the purchases were last Black Friday weekend. The thieves charged close to $3k before Chase alerted me and put a stop to it. Here's a couple of random thoughts/observations about this type of crime:

1) Even though you know your card issuer will ultimately not hold you responsible, it's still quite unnerving. I mean, gives you a pit in your stomach and make you feel violated. But it's temporary and you will get over it.

2) Both Chase and Discover did a great job handling these situations. They cancelled the card right away, overnighted a new one and removed the fraudulent charges very quickly. Followed up by one letter right away and another a few months later to confirm their "investigation" was complete. Any good bank will handle in this manner and if they don't, cancel your card altogether.

3) I wish all restaurants would allow you to pay at a cashier rather than having you give your card to a server and allowing them to take it out of your sight. Or have some sort of universally recognizable scanning device that can be brought right to the table. We dine out a lot and I wouldn't be surprised it that's how my cards got breached. However, I will not be consumed by fear and lose out on the valuable cash-back bonuses I earn. (I pay off my cards every month and it's like the banks pay me to use them. I never pay interest.)

4) Another common ploy for stealing card info is when thieves remove a scanning device from a gas pump or ATM and replace it with their own "skimmer." If you use your cards at gas stations or ATM's, try to frequent the same ones close to home so you are familiar with their appearance. If you are travelling, try to visit large, corporate, well maintained gas stations and use the pump closest and most visible to the cashier. They are least likely to be tampered with. Don't use ATM's that aren't "branded."

5) Make sure you only shop online on secure websites - where the website address starts with "https." Don't shop online at all when using any kind of public wifi such as Starbucks or a hotel.

6) A friend who works in retail told me that ultimately the merchants pay for fraudulent charges, not the banks themselves. Not sure if this is true, but it makes you wonder why retailers aren't more diligent about checking signatures, etc. I can't remember the last time someone actually checked mine.

As others have said, this kind of crime is absolutely rampant, and there obviously needs to be some serious reform to protect consumers and businesses. I believe you should take precautions and use common sense, but I don't think you need to live in fear and stop using credit cards altogether - just my two cents on the issue. (Sorry for rambling!)

 

[J and R's mom]

OMGosh! Our Disney Visa card number (we both had our cards so they weren't technically stolen from us) was first used fraudulently on 6/30/14 on-line, but the next day (7/1/14) was used fraudulently at a a grocery store, Walgreens, Goodwill (of all places...twice at that), and a gas station.

All fraud was done in Arizona.

We live in Texas.

Chase texted me about the grocery store and I was immediately able to freeze the account. The thieves had somehow captured our number and used a dummy card (downloaded with our data) to swipe at the stores. The total they charged was around $350.

Chase was AWESOME! They closed the account immediately, sent new cards overnight and were so nice to work with. I'm just glad Chase had a system in place that identified the potential fraud so quickly and texted me for approval/verification of charges....or this might have gone on for several more days.