Stolen credit card number

[dznyfn1]

HI,
Just wanted to warn others that our trip in April was ruined by someone who took the credit strip from my credit card during the first day of our vacation and somehow made another card with it and began making large purchases in Georgia! I fortunately had a second card with me but spent the rest of my trip upset and spent time each night calling to check verify charges made on the other card to be safe that it had not been someone getting into the safe in our room.

If anyone knows who I can contact at Disney to discuss this with please send me the email or phone number. I did report it to Disney security (got only a "GEE I'm Sorry") and have since getting home completed the paperwork to press charges if the person is caught.

The police believe it was a disney employee at the BOMA restaraunt as that is the only place my credit card left my sight.

This had been an annual trip for my two sons and I but now I am looking for somewhere else to take them next year. I am so bummed as I always felt this was such a safe and secure vacation place.

 

[admiral nelson]

What did you want security to do about it? Is Disney the ONLY place you ever used it? (i.e. it was brand new card to you, never charged on before) Card numbers get out sometimes, and it's unfortunate. Recently I got a charge from something I didn't buy as well.

First thing I did was call the card issuer immediately, and put in a dispute. I also had them cancel the card, because I feared the number had gotten out. Why wouldn't you immediately call the card issuer, have them stop all charges to that card number, so as not to worry about more charges? They may have been able to overnight you a new card as well, if you informed them on the situation. This is a good reason to keep more than 1 card with you on vacation.

There is no way to make another card...they would have to have the exact blank of the card (nothing on it), then recreate it. Unless you put your mothers maiden name on the receipt too, they wouldn't be able to call for a new card. (plus that would be EXTREMELY risky, as the police could show up with the card)

 

[dznyfn1]

HI,
I guess I had hoped they would do more to take a report since the police and the credit card company could trace the use to a day that I was in Orlando, used the card and the card was supposedly also used in Georgia on the same day.
Whoever took the card had to physically have the card in their posession, swipe the card through a computer and somehow make a new magnetic strip and thereby a second card with my magnetic strip. Very elaborate system.
Apparantly, this occurs sometimes in a group type of theft. They believe a disney employee (that is why I am sad) swiped the strip and sold it or gave it to someone else who made the new card and used it or sold it again. They(police and investigators) state they know this because the report from where the card was used once in Atlanta shows that the transaction was a swiped transaction meaning they had to physically swipe a card not just provide the number. So your comment that there is NO Way they could make another card is not true!! I got this information directly from police and credit investigators. There are some very sharp criminals out there.
You misunderstood. My card issuer is great. They called me to question the charges. Changed my card immediately and issued new cards. I was not liable for the charges made in Georgia but I still felt victimized.

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by admiral nelson
What did you want security to do about it? Is Disney the ONLY place you ever used it? (i.e. it was brand new card to you, never charged on before) Card numbers get out sometimes, and it's unfortunate. Recently I got a charge from something I didn't buy as well.

First thing I did was call the card issuer immediately, and put in a dispute. I also had them cancel the card, because I feared the number had gotten out. Why wouldn't you immediately call the card issuer, have them stop all charges to that card number, so as not to worry about more charges? They may have been able to overnight you a new card as well, if you informed them on the situation. This is a good reason to keep more than 1 card with you on vacation.

There is no way to make another card...they would have to have the exact blank of the card (nothing on it), then recreate it. Unless you put your mothers maiden name on the receipt too, they wouldn't be able to call for a new card. (plus that would be EXTREMELY risky, as the police could show up with the card)

Actually considering I just read another thread about this, I think Disney Security should look into their employees stealing credit card numbers. Many thieves have those hand held scanning devices that they swipe your card into, it reads the number and puts it on another card. I always read that you should NEVER let your card leave your hands at a restaurant, as that is where most thieves get the numbers. That and gas stations.

 

[dznyfn1]

Thanks for the much more understanding reply. Can you tell me where you read the other post? I would be interested in reading that post.

I certainly will be much more cautious in using a credit card in the future when it has to leave my hand. Until this I was naive to think anything bad could happen at Disney.

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by dznyfn1
Thanks for the much more understanding reply. Can you tell me where you read the other post? I would be interested in reading that post.

I certainly will be much more cautious in using a credit card in the future when it has to leave my hand. Until this I was naive to think anything bad could happen at Disney.

The post was on one of these boards, but I don't remember which one. The person said they had only used their card at check in and charged back to their room. Maybe someone else can post a link.

 

[cpl100]

Quote: I always read that you should NEVER let your card leave your hands at a restaurant, as that is where most thieves get the numbers. That and gas stations.How do you charge your meal but prevent the card from leaving your table? I am stumped by that and would like to use your system after hearing this.

 

[admiral nelson]

You never answered if it was a brand new card or not. It may have been grabbed off the property.

I know about magnetic card readers/writers, you weren't very clear about this in your initial post. The thief must have used it at a "friendly place", because the front of the card wouldn't have matched, provided the cashier looked it over. Those devices can program without a swipe too. I.E. someone could have written down the information. (I had access to one of these devices when I was working for a video rental machine co.) I'd think someone would notice a co-working taking a customers card and running it through a card reader. In fact, most need to be connected to a PC. (Do a google search for 'magnetic card readers' and you'll see what I mean.)

It's EXTREMELY difficult to accuse people of theft if you are unsure. We had to let people walk out when we knew they stole stuff from a store I worked at because the manager didn't see them pocket it. Lawsuits are costly if you falsely accuse someone, most places would rather not.

I'm not at all defending people stealing, but life is such. There will always been people who steal, cheat, and are generally bad people. Condeming an entire resort / park because of 1 persons actions doesn't seem justified. But whatever works for you.

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by cpl100
Quote: I always read that you should NEVER let your card leave your hands at a restaurant, as that is where most thieves get the numbers. That and gas stations.How do you charge your meal but prevent the card from leaving your table? I am stumped by that and would like to use your system after hearing this.

Simple...pay cash. When charing with your room key, I don't think they have access to your number at WDW, but in general I would NEVER pay for a meal at a reastaurant with a CC.

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by admiral nelson
I'd think someone would notice a co-working taking a customers card and running it through a card reader.

Obviously not becuase it happens to millions of people each year.

 

[beattyfamily]

Why are some people reply so nasty or snide?

OP, thank you very much for the warning! It's quite sad, indeed.

I've had charges on my CC twice now and it feels TERRIBLE.

One time my DH woke me up after looking at our CC statement and asked if I joined a porn website recently! I, of course, said yes, I mean no and we got it taken off. Someone (maybe a waiter in a restaurant or a clerk in a store) kept my CC number and then used it online.

The second time was 2 months after our trip to Paris, there was a charge to our CC in a town about 2 hours away from Paris! I'm sure it was a waiter.

I am guilty of using my CC all the time in restaurants and stores...it's harder to always have the right amount of cash on hand and CC's are so convenient. I guess I have to rethink this.

How does it happen at gas stations? When you give it to an attendant at Full Service? Most of the time I do self service and I use the machine so my card doesn't leave me...

Good thing most CC companies are good about not holding you resposible and handling the situation well. It's also a good idea to call your CC company right before a trip to inform them of all the new charges they'll be...

 

[summerrluvv]

I think this happens at the gas stations where you get full service and the card leaves your hands and they take it in the store to swipe it. At the full service near me, they have the pay at the pump so I can see the clerk swiping it at the pump and I've never had any problems with that. However, I did see on a newsmagazine show that when customers would go inside and pay, the clerk would have a scanning machine under the counter, and swipe it through there without the customer even suspecting a thing.

 

[PatriciaH]

DH had his credit card number copied at the gift shop in Beaches Turks and Caicos. Nice upscale resort too. They took the number and ran up tons of long distance to Florida from the Caribbean. The card co. took care of it and said that scam had been going on for a while.

 

[qrtrms]

I am sorry this happened to you. My mom had this happen to her as well last year while she was as WDW. Who ever it was bought big screen televisions, & other items such as that online & through catalogs they believe. The only reason they ever new anyone was using it was when the person tried to buy another big screen tv it alerted them some how. So the CC company called my mom to ask if she was trying to buy this of course she said no.

My mom has been trying for several months now to find out who it was. The CC company has traced it back to someone if Florida.
I don't see how they can not find out since this person was having items shipped to some were.

 

[admiral nelson]

Originally posted by summerrluvv
Obviously not becuase it happens to millions of people each year.

I was speaking about a controlled enviornment like Disney's kitchen. I'm sorry I ever bothered with this thread, you obviously know it all already.

 

[eeyorefanatic]

The other thing that happens all the time at Disney is people throw at their receipts without checking to see if the entire card# is on there.

Most places have updated their CC machines not to print out the entire # but only the last 4 digits. MANY places at WDW print out the entire #. I made the mistake of dropping a receipt and someone rang up several hundred $$ in just a day. THe bank straightened it al lout but I now keep all of my wdw receipts close at hand.

 

[undertheradar]

I agree that the question of the card being new or not is a factor in this. I ALWAYS get a receipt from the gas pump when I pay and NEVER use a debit card to do so. Many times I pull up to the pump and find a receipt still there with all of the info on it. We use cash as much as possible write down our purchases as we go while on vacation. This allows us to stay within budget and to track our spending.
The theory that the Boma employee swiped your card and sold the number is a viable one. I would then question why the police didn't take action if they and WDW security deduced that that is where the number came from. While no transaction is safe, there has to have been a signature used. What did they use for your signature?

 

[dznyfn1]

OK, me again. Here are the facts as I know and/or have deduced from the police and the credit investigators I and my husband spoke with after the theft. (Most comments are for the admiral)
1. - the card was not new. The reason the investigators believe it was stolen from the Disney restaraunt was due to these facts.
- I used the card in Illinois(home) and then Orlando and then it was used in Georgia for just under $200 at a truck stop and then for a couple thousand dollars at a Home Depot. The Home Depot supposedly had to swipe the card twice through their register for it to work and whoever signed my name. Because of the $ amount and the three states in one day it was flagged by my credit card company who called my husband right away. Someone then tried to use the card again somewhere else in the Atlanta area and it was denied.
- It is the investigators who are telling me they believe it was a disney employee and someone who had time to swipe the magnetic strip - that is how the restaraunt BOMA was identified.
- Disney security at no time suggested or deduced anything. They took the information that day from me, said sorry ma'am and I never heard from them again.
- Apparantly this happens many places. I never said it would only happen at Disney. I just was naive enough to think(HOPE) they had methods in place to prevent this problem.
- I am just hoping this gives others the heads up to be careful!
- I don't think the admiral needed to take it so personal. ) But hey I know some people just like to play that game.
- I am not looking for anything from Disney. I just wanted to give the full details and want to know if they have done any investigating on their end.

 

[dg39]

WHile I love disney just as much as everyone else, I wouldn't doubt that it was taken there.Unfortunately disney is not exempt from any wrong doings. Yes it may be considered one of the "safer" places to visit & I do feel extremely safe while visiting, but bad things happen ALL OVER. For some reason disney has the ability to keep things alittle more quieter than other places. I am sorry the op had a bad experience, but I can understand it putting a damper on their vacation. Hopefully everything will work out for the best for her.

 

[harleyquinn]

I just want to thank you for starting the thread. It's very eye opening to me at least.

I'm glad sumerluuv knows so much about and could help us understand, but the wording used in their replies is kind of snotty.

Anyway, I'll be sure not to use my CC!
Sarah