Electronic CC Fraud this morning

[pete_c]

Got an early morning call this morning about my CC # being utilized in Europe while I was sleeping. I typically only use one online and have it registered in only about 3-4 online stores.

Starting at midnight with small charges then continuing thru the morning with larger and larger charges until about 30 minutes ago. Not sure how this happened yet.

This is the third time in about 10 years that my CC# was taken. Once while on vacation in the carribean and another time while working in the UK.

 

[Neurorad]

Sorry to hear that, Pete.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Note that stores/vendors keep your cc info, so if they are compromised, your cc card can become unsecured.

I always use Discover Deskshop and have a cc number generated for EACH purchase. That cc number is matched to the vendor's code, so even if the cc number they have on file is stolen, no other vendor can use it. This software/service is free for Discover Card holders.

 

[Rupp]

I'm used to this. My CC has been hijacked 6 times in the last year and a half. The CC company says it's all overseas usage so what ever company I use that is over seas must sell these numbers. I do app 95% of all my shopping on line so it's really no surprise. They say the local restaurant workers sell numbers as well when they take your card. The only inconvenience is the wait for the new card.

 

[pete_c]

Yes have to wait for new CC. Not an issue.

Yes in the UK it must have been from restaurants. In the Carribean same but in addition got scammed by an ATM machine inside of a bank.

 

[BLH]

Thanks for the heads up.
I normally keep a sharp eye on mine but will be extra watchful now.
I had one of my card companies put a hold on mine. Seems a whole bunch of their cards where being used for ITunes purchases and I have never used ITunes. Yup I too know the wait for replacement card routine.

 

[Dave X10]

..... They say the local restaurant workers sell numbers as well when they take your card. The only inconvenience is the wait for the new card.

Restaurants and bars are certainly the most likely to hijack the card numbers. Your server then sells (or trades for drugs) your CC number to organized crime. Don't expect your server to be anymore than on the edge... with a drug or money problem. Getting the numbers overseas where using the card is much less risky is as simple as an email (or text message) . The CC scams are a global market.

I managed a bank CC dept some years ago. And we liked to remind customers... that the cards actually belong to the bank. These inconveniences make the CCs much more expensive to market. It can actually be hard to make profit on credit cards... at times. Recent "global" credit changes make CCs an expensive product for customers to use. Annual and "billing" fees may be in our future.

Corruption costs everyone.

 

[tmbrown97]

Ya - was doin' my monthly allocations on my corporate credit card last week, and there was $150 to playstationnetwork - I don't game, and don't own a playstation. It happens. Keep multiple cards so they don't get your only one (and leave you cardless), and pay attention to the charges that come through. Most cards are zero-liability. I've actually never really had to catch the transactions either - when it's happened, usually the banks call me before I notice.

 

[abbeyhetford]

Sorry to hear that.

It's not just restaurants and bars. Maybe you should also get the online stores you visit checked. And sweep your computer for any spywares.

 

[pete_c]

Been doing that. Thanks Abbey.

One thing I noticed is the the CC vendor was pleasant to deal with.

I mentioned the same thing happening a couple of years ago after a trip to the UK. At that time the CC vendor said something like "its only two charges" and questioned my reasoning for getting another CC.

This is related to Amex. Funny; typically good customer service with overseas folks and two bad customer service dealings with in country call centers in the last couple of years.

 

[opie]

When I was in France this February, every restaurant we ate at used portable wireless CC machines and ran our card right at the table. I didn't really think much of it at the time but I wonder if this was an anti-fraud measure? The server was never out of sight with our card.

 

[apostolakisl]

My wife's amex just got hijacked a couple of days ago. Someone in China tried to charge $2700 to some software vendor. Amex thought it looked funny, called us, and the charge never went through and the card was cancelled.

This is the third time either my card or my wife's Amex have been compromised in the past 3 years. Between the thefts there was probably $600 worth of stuff that actually got away. Amex didn't make us responsible.

The Amex rep said some people have random number generators and stumble across good numbers that way. I find that hard to believe as there are enoug digits on my Amex for 1 quadrillion combinations, and that does not include the 4 digit cvv or expiration date. With those added on, there would be a number whose name is bigger than I know what to call it. Somethin like 10 to 22nd or higher power.

 

[Dean Roddey]

My BofA debit card got the same thing a few months ago. I did a quick search and found others complaining of the same type of charge, so it wasn't too hard to figure out it was a scam. It's pretty ridiculous. I use PayPal where possible, which keeps them from getting ahold of it. As long as you are the buyer PayPal doesn't generally cost you any extra. Of course the banks do everything they can to not advertise this. I doubt that they even go to law enforcement unless it's something really big, and maybe not even then, because they don't want it known how often it happens. I explicitly mentioned to the BofA folks I talked to about doing something about it and they just pretended like they didn't hear me.

 

[sic0048]

When I was in France this February, every restaurant we ate at used portable wireless CC machines and ran our card right at the table. I didn't really think much of it at the time but I wonder if this was an anti-fraud measure? The server was never out of sight with our card.

But was the wireless communication secure? I'm sure it was, but eventually that could be cracked too.

The Amex rep said some people have random number generators and stumble across good numbers that way. I find that hard to believe as there are enoug digits on my Amex for 1 quadrillion combinations, and that does not include the 4 digit cvv or expiration date. With those added on, there would be a number whose name is bigger than I know what to call it. Somethin like 10 to 22nd or higher power.

But not every number in the card is randomly generated. The first 4-8 digits are generally similar and basically identify the issuer. Think of it like a bank's routing and transit number. So that cuts down on the number of possible combinations greatly.

For example (and I am totally making this up), perhaps every Bank of America Visa card starts with 4118-3740-XXXX-XXXX.

 

[pete_c]

I noticed that in France the use of wireless CC transactions in the late 90's and into the 2000's during my visits there. I didn't see said said use of wireless CC transactions though in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands or Italy at the time- but maybe not paying attention. I never had a CC theft problem. In South America used my Amex card in Brazil, Peru and Argentina and never had a problem over the last few years.

Only most recently a visit to the UK seemed to illicit a problem with my Amex card and have had recent problems with illicit use of my Amex card number after visits to Mexico and the Carribean. (in the last 10 years). Before that (90's) never had a problem in latin america, south america, europe or the carribean. I would just guess because of the times it just being a bit more vigilent with CC use.