Victim of CC fraud

[Mercy]

Yesterday, I came home and there was a package in my door. It was addressed to me. I didn't remember ordering anything but opened it. It was a digital camera? So I took out the invoice. It was charged to one of my credit cards! Like I said, it had my address, but then it had a phone number (not mine) and an email address (again not mine).

I called my cc company and they put a stop on my card. My DH came home and called the place where the camera came from and explained the situation. The guy from the camera place said they had several similar complaints over the past week. He said apparently, hackers get your cc info, order merchandise, then try to pick it up at your house before someone gets home. I checked my cc account and that was the only charge, it wasn't a very large charge, under $300. But apparently, that's how this works, the criminals charge smaller amounts, amounts you might overlook on your bill, etc.

Anyway, please beware and go over your CC bills carefully to make sure all the charges belong to you!

 

[chell]

Glad you found the package and not the person who ordered it. Sorry that happened to you.

 

[Mimi Q]

I feel your pain. Someone went on a shopping spree with our cc this week. The Disney Visa folks were really nice and helpful.

 

[Pop Daddy]

talk about dumb thiefs, he steals your CC and has stuff delivered to your home

 

[Cindyluwho]

Can you hide behind the fence, hose in hand and wait for the thief to come looking for the package? Vigilante justice at it's best!!

 

[Missy1961]

I try to check my online statements every day, because I've heard of this scam. I get home late some evenings so it would be easy for the scammers to pick up their stuff.

I wish all online retailers would ask for the extra numbers that are on the back of the card. I can't remember what they are called. They are on the strip where you sign. It's another way to prove that the card is yours. Of course, I'm sure the scammers will find a way around that, too.

I'm glad it that you were able to stop them. And thanks for the warning!

 

[chell]

Can you hide behind the fence, hose in hand and wait for the thief to come looking for the package? Vigilante justice at it's best!!

I like that one!

 

[Disney Doll]

That happened to DH. A girl who worked at a local Staples stole his CC number, gave it to her boyfriend. He ordered a bunch of stuff and had it delivered to his house...DUH!!!!!!!! He was easy for the police to catch.

 

[cstraub]

CC fraud happened to our neighbors recently. What clued them off was when Victoria Secrets called and told them $1,000 had been charged on their credit card. They must have thought it seemed unusual. They ultimatley were able to find out who the theif was because she paid her insurance bill with the stolen credit card. Not real smart!

It could have been worse for you. I'm with the poster who said hide out and squirt him down.

 

[jfulcer]

talk about dumb thiefs, he steals your CC and has stuff delivered to your home

No - he's only dumb because he didn't get there before they did.

Scarier is the fact that it most likely was someone local because they had to be there to pick up that delivery. If I were the OP, I'd be thinking about the retailers that they have been at in the past month or so where the CC has been out of their sight. Restaurants are most likely. I'd revisit them and speak with managers to at least make them aware there's a chance the card number was lifted and if they had any other reports.

It's also possible they stole a bill out of the mailbox or from at the post office but that's less likely IMHO.

 

[dizneegirls]

SORRY THAT HAPPENED THAT'S KIND OF SCARY!

 

[Kitty 34]

Glad you discovered it before the thief really racked up your CC bill!

 

[Servants of Evan]

Gee, and if the cops were smart they'd put the box (now empty) out on the porch like you found it and wait for the crook to show up to grab it. It'd probably be fairly simple and following the arrest they could get a warrant and search their home/apartment. Something tells me they'd find stuff from quite a few people there...

 

[isyne4u]

I wish all online retailers would ask for the extra numbers that are on the back of the card.

I don't really think this works too well. I was ordering something one time with my own card but it was in my purse upstairs so I pulled one of my bills and entered the number from my bill. Then it came up and asked me for the three digit number on the back of my card. So I typed in what I thought was the right number and it went through. So later I checked to make sure I had done it right and it was the right number, just the right number for a different card. So that didn't stop me from being able to use the card.

maybe for some credit card companies it works but mine never seem to!
tara

 

[Aidensmom]

I have always been in the habit of checking my balance periodically online, and one day about 2 years ago I discovered charges for an online service, and a software company that I knew I had not made.

On the website for my card, I was able to pull up the detail for the transactions, which included the phone numbers of the vendors. I first called my credit card company and asked for my card to be cancelled and replaced. Then I called the software company, who did not hestitate to credit the charge. Then I called the online company who gave me the email address of the charger. I sent my thief an email, which was not real friendly . I waited till they had time to read it, then cancelled their email account.

I now check both my and DH's credit cards online almost daily. I want to make sure I head off anything before too much damage can be caused.

 

[Planogirl]

You might want to check your credit reports too. Sometimes these crooks get ahold of enough info to open other accounts.

 

[kbkids]

I don't really think this works too well. I was ordering something one time with my own card but it was in my purse upstairs so I pulled one of my bills and entered the number from my bill. Then it came up and asked me for the three digit number on the back of my card. So I typed in what I thought was the right number and it went through. So later I checked to make sure I had done it right and it was the right number, just the right number for a different card. So that didn't stop me from being able to use the card.

maybe for some credit card companies it works but mine never seem to!
tara

Same thing happened to me. Keyed mine in incorrectly, and it took it with no problem.

 

[PixieDust32]

Yesterday, I came home and there was a package in my door. It was addressed to me. I didn't remember ordering anything but opened it. It was a digital camera? So I took out the invoice. It was charged to one of my credit cards! Like I said, it had my address, but then it had a phone number (not mine) and an email address (again not mine).

I called my cc company and they put a stop on my card. My DH came home and called the place where the camera came from and explained the situation. The guy from the camera place said they had several similar complaints over the past week. He said apparently, hackers get your cc info, order merchandise, then try to pick it up at your house before someone gets home. I checked my cc account and that was the only charge, it wasn't a very large charge, under $300. But apparently, that's how this works, the criminals charge smaller amounts, amounts you might overlook on your bill, etc.

Anyway, please beware and go over your CC bills carefully to make sure all the charges belong to you!

OMG! How do they know your address?

I got scam too with my child support debit card, I don't ever used it online, so they might got it from some store or who know's but when I called they told me that it showed like a debit withdrawl (Sp?) from an ATM, and I never used ATM either, I asked them for the address of the ATM and it didn't show one, there were 2 transactiones one after the other. Well, after a couple weeks of investigations they send me a letter and my Money back, but they never told me how the thiefs got my card number.

 

[PrincessMommyof2]

Gee, and if the cops were smart they'd put the box (now empty) out on the porch like you found it and wait for the crook to show up to grab it. It'd probably be fairly simple and following the arrest they could get a warrant and search their home/apartment. Something tells me they'd find stuff from quite a few people there...

That remark about the police is completely derogatory. First off, most police departments are critically understaffed, there aren't enough officers to "wait for the crook." Those are T.V. shows. It isn't "fairly simple" to get a warrant and search people's homes; all people, even criminals, have rights that can't be violated. I don't mean to but "cops" for the most part are extremely smart. Check with your local department and I'll wager that they are understaffed.

Regarding the OP, I'm happy that you got home before the thief and not while he/she was there. on the hose patrol!

 

[Mercy]

No - he's only dumb because he didn't get there before they did.

Scarier is the fact that it most likely was someone local because they had to be there to pick up that delivery. If I were the OP, I'd be thinking about the retailers that they have been at in the past month or so where the CC has been out of their sight. Restaurants are most likely. I'd revisit them and speak with managers to at least make them aware there's a chance the card number was lifted and if they had any other reports.

It's also possible they stole a bill out of the mailbox or from at the post office but that's less likely IMHO.

OP here... My DH and I talked about it having to be someone local so they can pick up the merchandise... yes that is scarey, and I like your idea about the restaurants, we do eat out a lot!

However, let's say it was someone did lift my number from my cc at a restaurant... how would they know my address??