Keep an eye on your credit card statements, folks

[beachmouse]

So my parents are in town for their annual October visit. This morning, Dad got a call on his cell from his credit card company's fraud alert saying that his card had been used at a Walmart and a small bank in the Atlanta suburbs today, and was he actually anywhere near Atlanta?

The current hypothesis from the fraud investigator is that someone got a credit card number from Dad while we were at a Destin/SoWal restaurant in the past couple of days, and sold the number to someone else who made a new card with that number and a card blank. They did a test run at the Walmart to make sure it worked, then went to the bank and got a $2000 cash advance against the card. All that effort onthe part of the crooks, and I'm sure Dad wasn't the only one this happened to.

 

[Allifunn]

card theft is such a horrible thing...so sorry it happend to your dad...
There for the grace of god go I....:shock: It can happen to any one....scary as HECK

 

[tistheseason]

The current hypothesis from the fraud investigator is that someone got a credit card number from Dad while we were at a Destin/SoWal restaurant in the past couple of days, and sold the number to someone else who made a new card with that number and a card blank. .

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[rapunzel]

Have you contacted the restaurants you visited?

 

[audie]

that's why i never use my credit card at restaurants - i am so paranoid this will happen. it does not ever leave my site.

 

[Beach Runner]

I've heard of this happening with debit cards, but not credit cards. I guess we're supposed to use cash?

 

[hoover_rc]

New Credit Card Scam ... Snopes.Com says this is true. See this site -
http://[URL="http://WWW.snopes.Com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp"]WWW.snopes.Com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp[/URL]
>
>
> This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information,
except the one piece they want.
>
> Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it.
This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA &MasterCard
Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect
yourself.
>
> One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called
on Thursday from "Master Card".
>
> The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm
calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is
12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm
calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name
of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a
Marketing company based in Arizona?" When you say "No", the caller continues
with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company
we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under
the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement,
the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?"
>
> You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a Fraud
investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number
listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security.
>
> You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a
6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"
>
> Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, "I
need to verify you are in possession of your card". He'll ask you to "turn
your card over and look for some numbers". There are 7 numbers; the first 4
are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers' that
verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you
sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The
caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller
the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the
card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you
have any other questions?" After you say No, the caller then thanks you and
states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and ha! ngs up! .
>
> You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card
number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20
minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security
Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase
of $497.99 was charged to our card.
>
> Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA
account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the
3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead,
tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their
conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on
the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If
you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a
credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for
purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more
difficult to actually file a fraud report.
>
> What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a
"Jason Richardson of Master Card" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA
scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police
report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of
these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this
scam is happening. >
>
> Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each
other, we protect each other

 

[Smiling JOe]

From ClarkHoward.com

Jan 30, 2004 -- Scams to watch out for
Clark wants to make sure you know about some scams taking place right now that could hurt your pocketbook. With the first one, you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the security or fraud department of your credit card company. They even know your card number and what bank issued your card. How that information is being obtained is unknown. But they will claim that there has been an unusual purchase on your account, and they?ll tell you what the supposed charge is. When you say you didn?t make that charge, they will then offer you a credit and give you a number to call to get it. Then the scam takes place. After all of that, they will verify that you are in possession of your card so they ask for your three- or four-digit secret code. This is the only information they don?t have, so once you say it you?ve given them full access. Unless you?re initiating the order, you never give that number over the phone. And no one should ask for it. Clark read about another scam in the Orlando Sentinel involving ?skimmers? that steal the information from your credit card or ATM card. It started out at ATM machines, and now the criminals have tapped into pay-at-the-pump gas stations. They put hardware into the credit card scanners that captures your information in a second. It?s especially dangerous if you?re using a debit card to buy gas because you basically have no chargeback rights if a fraudulent claim is placed on your car. Gas station owners don?t even know this is going on, but it?s been reported in Florida and California. Clark tells you things so you are careful out there. It doesn?t mean everyone is a criminal. But you need to check your statements and be cautious.


************************

For those of you who don't know, continue to use your credit card, only if it is a real CREDIT card, not a debit card. With a credit card, if there are fraudulent charges, you don't have to pay the charges in question when you make the credit card company aware of the fraud.

However, if you used your debit card, the money is automatically deducted and it can screw up your bank account, causing many bounced checks, until two months pass and you get it all worked out.

FYI- Most credit cards and debit cards have a maximum cash withdrawal amount of $500 per day to help prevent someone from wiping out your checking account.

 

[sunspotbaby]

Beachmouse, this happened to my mother on her very first visit here. She only used her card at a restaurant and figured that's when her number was stolen. She got a call from the card company because the charges were very unusual for her -- they were all at liquor stores! My Mom doesn't drink and certainly doesn't travel all over Florida liquored up:funn: The charges were from Ft. Walton Beach to Hollywood Fl. I was kind of embarassed that it happened to her in Destin-What a shame that this sort of thing may actually keep people from eating, drinking, or just vacationing in our area.

 

[bsmart]

In June I went for takeout at Shades on the Loop for the whole fam which totaled $120 including tip. Well that charge did not show up on my Visa statement until like August I remember--I just thought that was weird, not saying Shades did anything wrong, God knows I love my Shrimp Po' Boys.