Stolen Credit Card

[Stretch]

So, someone ganked my credit card and ran up $1500 of charges.

While I'm dealing with this shit, I'm trying to figure out how someone could possibly have gotten ahold of my info. I've kept the card in my wallet 24/7, so I didn't lose it or anything. The only time I've ever used my card online was for verification purposes for internet access.

SpySweeper turned up nothing. I'm trying SpyBot next. Any other suggestions?

-- Severely pissed off

[Bobmuhthol]

I couldn't tell you what did cause your info to be leaked, but I can pretty much guarantee that a file on your hard drive didn't.

[Stanley Burrell]

Seek revenge upon the Earth like the false Messiah.

Also, it is very possible for physical human beings that have been located somewhere around the vicinity of a cash register to do extremely evil things out of desperately-needing-to-jerk-off boredom.

And for fuck's sake, intertwine yourself like a madman with the fraud department of whatever bank it is that your card was registered under.

[HarmNone]

Your garbage is a likely source, actually. There are people who go through garbage for the specific purpose of ferreting out credit card information, social security numbers, et al. I can't imagine mucking about in garbage to get such information but, apparently, there are those who aren't all that choosy.

[Electrawn]

Besides the internet verification....possible breach there. Hackers? Possibly.

Most likely, it is a double swipe. Have you ever used the card in a way where the card left your sight? Restaurant? It's real easy to set up a double swipe in a restaurant. Much better detail: http://www.efc.ca/pages/media/convergence.18oct97.html

Card readers, photo imagers are a dime a dozen. Its way too easy.

Fast food places are allowing credit cards now. NEVER EVER GIVE YOUR CARD FOR DRIVE THRU! NEVER EVER GIVE YOUR CARD TO THE $5.50 WANK BEHIND THE COUNTER. DON'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE CARD FOR ANY REASON!

-Electrawn

I am a business owner, I handle credit cards. I take my own advice.

[Bobmuhthol]

<<Fast food places are allowing credit cards now.>>

McDonald's accepts credit/debit cards, a service which I had to utilize once in my life.

You swipe the card yourself.

[Warriorbird]

When mine got nabbed it was a double swipe at a BP in Kentucky.

[Sylvan Dreams]

Many businessess still post the entire credit card number on the receipt - including on the copy they keep.

[Daniel]

<<Fast food places are allowing credit cards now.>>

McDonald's accepts credit/debit cards, a service which I had to utilize once in my life.

You swipe the card yourself.

At the Drive Through?

[Bobmuhthol]

If you're willing to hand a credit card to someone in a building while you are in a car, you're an idiot anyway.

[AestheticDeath]

Dont use a card at the drive through..

[Alfster]

You sure your boyfriend didn't get a hold of it while you were passed out at his house?

[Buckwheet]

My solution?

Get a better bank/credit card company.

My credit union offers 100% fraud protection, as does my Discover for all online purchases, and my Visa does the same for all online purchases, and I can dispute any charge on my account. I don't have to worry that if someone does do a double swipe that I will be liable for it.

{edited to add}

The visa dispute on any charges needs to be done in a timely manner, which basically means one statement period or 30 days.

[Daniel]

Same here. My bank is le awesome. I even get re-imbursed for ATM charges.

[Buckwheet]

Same here. My bank is le awesome. I even get re-imbursed for ATM charges.


You mean fraudulent charges or just regular atm fees?

I hear Wamu was doing the free atm fees thing recently.

[Daniel]

Both.

I have zero liability if my card is jacked. Sometimes I have to fight down the urge to just buy some expensive shit and being like omgwtf!!

and yes, I don't have to pay ATM fees. My bank pays them.

[DeV]

I hear Wamu was doing the free atm fees thing recently.They were, which was awesome even if you were not a Wamu customer. They recently stopped, at least in the Chicagoland area. Business has definitely picked up and I know more than few people that use Wamu as a secondary banking source because it has such a good rep.

[Jazuela]

I didn't do the buy-in for fraud coverage but my card protects everything after the first $50 anyway. So if someone stole my card and maxed it out, I'd only be responsible for the first $50. I figure it's a lot cheaper than paying for the extra coverage; I've already saved over $100 by not having it.

[Leetahkin]

My brother, one time, handed his credit card to the waitress at a restaurant. She had a scanner in her pocket, scanned his card, and racked up a bunch of charges.

I myself have never had that happen, luckily. And I pay for nearly everything with my debit card.

[Tsa`ah]

Sometimes it's just not so sophisticated or high tech as a scanner or double swipe.

If you've ordered anything over the phone or made hotel reservations ... it can be as simple as that.

In the age of technology ... a pen and paper work just as well.

[Buckwheet]

The latest scam is in webhosting, not that anyone would need to do this mind you.

You order up a dedicated server or something similar, and the company wants you to fax fronts/backs of your drives liscense and credit card you are going to use to protect them against you using the account for Warez/Spam.

While I know people who have done this and nothing bad has happened, but these faxes get spooled into a computer, where they can just be printed out.

One of the other scams going around comes from very legal looking letters that say you are qualified for X dollars in a mortage, when you call they ask you to verify your SSN, and your DOB. Then they tell you that due to your credit or whatever you are not eligible for their offer.

But they now have all your information for the cost of a mailing.

[Wezas]

My last job dealt with finding counterfeit Debit & Credit cards. Hardest hit was almost always Washington Mutual (moreso than Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo) Not necessarily because of their market share (though they have a decent chunk) but because they were very slow to respond to our warnings and they didn't have a very good in-house fraud team to catch such things.

[DeV]

Sometimes it's just not so sophisticated or high tech as a scanner or double swipe.

If you've ordered anything over the phone or made hotel reservations ... it can be as simple as that.

In the age of technology ... a pen and paper work just as well.Agreed.

It always used to amuse me at one of my old jobs how people would be more protective of their phone numbers than of their credit card number, expiration date, and 3 or 4 digit security code on the back. I would be like, wtf, ok psycho, don't give me your phone number but then I'd proceed to take down all their credit card info.

[Augie]

Agreed.

It always used to amuse me at one of my old jobs how people would be more protective of their phone numbers than of their credit card number, expiration date, and 3 or 4 digit security code on the back. I would be like, wtf, ok psycho, don't give me your phone number but then I'd proceed to take down all their credit card info.

LOL exactly. It was like that when I worked for a hotel in Fort Lauderdale. We'd as for their phone number in case they leave something at the hotel and they're like OMG! No way! You can't have my number.

Then I'd take an imprint of the credit card they handed me, review their driver's license, and note their plate number.

Yeah I'm sure with that phone number I could do WAY more damage than any of that other stuff.

[Landrion]

LOL exactly. It was like that when I worked for a hotel in Fort Lauderdale. We'd as for their phone number in case they leave something at the hotel and they're like OMG! No way! You can't have my number.

Then I'd take an imprint of the credit card they handed me, review their driver's license, and note their plate number.

Yeah I'm sure with that phone number I could do WAY more damage than any of that other stuff.

Maybe they think theyll get more telemarketing calls.

[Tsa`ah]

When it comes to hotels, you would be amazed at the amount of paranoia. Some of it is justified, some of it is just insane.

One of the nightly news magazines ran a segment about credit cards and hotels, specifically how some employees were making duplicate cards using the magnetic door keys. Since that segment ran I have a 10% hike in card attrition. It'll die down and I'm not too worried a 2 cent key card, but these people just don't use their heads.

A. I already have their card information on the computer. If I had the equipment, I could encode the cards no matter what.

B. What fucking ass backwards business is going to let you swipe a HOTEL FUCKING KEY CARD in place of a major CC?

Some of the guests wish to make a statement upon checkout by breaking their cards in half before they hand them over to the clerk. The funny thing is that the registration cards they sign has a $5 per card charge if the card is damaged or not accounted for. It's a hold over the one of the previous managers put in that I haven't taken out yet, but shit these idiots are asking me to charge them.

Recently CNN had a bit on their morning program about hidden fees and taxes hotels will hit you with. All of a sudden my clerks are bombarded with "in the know" customers. No, we don't have hidden charged. If you order a PPV, an acceptance screen with the charges appears and you have to accept the charge. A list of charged is plastered on every phone. If you don't like the fees, don't use the phone. Aside from that it's local and state tax ... I'm sorry, there's nothing hidden about that. When you made the reservation, and when you checked in ... you were given a rate and then you were given an estimated cost for the duration of your stay which included taxes.

I can't waive state and local tax, it's not hidden, everyone pays it. Even Mr. Babtist minister who is adamant that he doesn't have to pay taxes when he stays at a hotel. I'm sorry, you pay taxes at the grocery store as a minister ... a hotel is no different.

A bit off topic, but I'm convinced that the more "informed" the average consumer is ... the lower their IQ gets.

[Back]

Use cash as often as possible in less reputed places.

Stretch, I’m wondering if someone you know didn’t jack you up. Did you give out your info to anyone?

[Stanley Burrell]

Keep us updated, Ed.

[Stanley Burrell]

Did you wind up getting things moderately resolved?

If so, how'd it go down?

[Sean of the Thread]

Since you're the only one who seems concerned why don't you send him a U2U instead of bumping a dead thread every 2 weeks.

[Stanley Burrell]

Since you're the only one who seems concerned why don't you send him a U2U instead of bumping a dead thread every 2 weeks.

O.K.