Credit card ripoff again

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gman51

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I got a call today from credit card protection about a suspicious purchase. A purchase of $99 was made to a computer software company in Canada. Press one if you made this purchase....press two if you did not. Well I pressed two since I hadn't made any purchases today for anything.
So now my credit card has been cancelled and it will be a few days to a week till I get a new card.
How do these scammers/hackers get account information and why can't they be caught because the purchase went to some address or internet IP address which wasn't mine? The hacker probably bought some product to help him hack into accounts.
Strange I just bought a gun on Gunbroker from a seller in NY and the fraudulent purchase was from a company in Canada. This makes me believe this hack had something to do with the gun purchase. I just wonder if my card info was hacked from GB since the sale was completed through my GB account. The seller didn't even see my credit card info. GB just put the money in his account. I just wonder whose account did the hacker get into?
Well I am glad my credit card protectors caught it anyway. I just wonder when banks say account info is secure from hackers.
I guess future money transactions done by a chip within a persons body might have its good points.
 
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I have had this issue 3 times. The last time they called to verify that I had made a "purchase" at a ***** house in Nevada. I told them I had been in NY the whole time, and furthermore I had NEVER been to Nevada.

Of course I got a new card. But it just irks me that my CC has had more fun than me....
 
Muss Muggins said:
I would have hung up and called the number on the back of my credit card. But that's just me . . .
Click to expand...

Yeah, really. First thing I'd do is wonder whether or not it's really "credit card protection" calling. And who is "credit card protection" anyway? A specific company or agency or what?

Next thing I'd do is hang up on them, then do as you say...call the credit card issuer myself. Be certain you're getting the scoop right from the horse's mouth.

iu
 
I called a Sunday afternoon to my Costco/Citi card after I saw a notice re a $950 charge to a rental car agency. I spoke with someone who transferred me up line and I got a replacement card overnighted. It arrived Tuesday about 9 AM. I did not request an upgrade or a swift replacement. It took 8 days to fully remove the charge but I felt I was dealt with more than fairly.
 
It's unlikely anyone actually "hacked" your specific CC info.

With the speed of modern computers available to anyone, it takes little time for some algorithm developed by a half-way competent hacker to simply run random number combinations through the approval system until there is a hit indicating they have a usable combination of CC number and three-digit security code.

CC security departments are getting quite alert. When I use my Bank of America MC out of town, I have my cell out because likely as not, it'll be declined at first try and I get a text asking me to confirm that it's me making the non-typical purchase.
 
Absalom said:
With the speed of modern computers available to anyone, it takes little time for some algorithm developed by a half-way competent hacker to simply run random number combinations through the approval system until there is a hit indicating they have a usable combination of CC number and three-digit security code.
Click to expand...

We once had a group of idiots running around the Bootheel making fake credit cards. They would steal gift cards, deactivate the magnetic strip, and slap a fake debit card looking label on it. When they made a purchase, the card wouldn't scan, and they'd have the clerk punch in the numbers manually, and the purchase got made.

How'd they get the right numbers? Exactly as described above, except without an algorithm. The "brains" of the operation, who couldn't add two and two and get four every time, showed me how, with a valid card number, you could lay out a table on paper that would give you potentially valid new numbers from the card company. They did this for a couple months, "earning" just over six figures . . .
 
I ordered an item costing about thirty bucks from a company in eastern NY. Someone in Portsmouth NH tried to buy a $999.99 TV at Walmart, I think. It was refused and CC company called me to inquire if I had been in NH. It seems logical that someone in that company sent the info to NH or they lived there and worked at this NY company.
I got a new CC in a short time.
 
CC numbers aren't necessarily used shortly after a hack or even in the same area. Not sure if it is still going on but a few years ago "good CC numbers" were being sold on the eBay China site, I'm quite certain that numbers are also sold on the Dark Web.
 
When we travel, we always buy our airline tickets online and charge them with our main CC. A week before departure, my CC company always sends me an e-mail verifying that we'll be out of town, and giving me the opportunity to list all the possible locations. Without that on record, they will automatically refuse any out of town purchases unless I verified the location ahead of time. Of course, Amazon, EBay and online purchases are exempt.
 
Paypal owned and pushed by eBay. I received a call from my carrier a while back to verify two purchases in California (I am in SC) amounting to around $700.00. I told her NO! As it happened, I was only 1/2 block from a branch office of my bank, so I kept her on the phone till I pulled into the bank, went to one of the Customer Service Representatives who I know very well, handed the C.S.R. the phone and ask that they straighten it out. They canceled my card, issued me a new card on the spot. Not sure if they were supposed to tell me, but, since the C.S.R. was a friend the C.S.R. relayed what the home office had indicated and that was, bank-wide, approximately 80% of all fraudulent charges traced back to cards having been recently used on Paypal. The bank is a large regional bank covering several states. That was my last time buying anything from eBay or anyone else using Paypal. Hope this helps someone else from being scammed.
 
greengiant said:
Paypal owned and pushed by eBay. I received a call from my carrier a while back to verify two purchases in California (I am in SC) amounting to around $700.00. I told her NO! As it happened, I was only 1/2 block from a branch office of my bank, so I kept her on the phone till I pulled into the bank, went to one of the Customer Service Representatives who I know very well, handed the C.S.R. the phone and ask that they straighten it out. They canceled my card, issued me a new card on the spot. Not sure if they were supposed to tell me, but, since the C.S.R. was a friend the C.S.R. relayed what the home office had indicated and that was, bank-wide, approximately 80% of all fraudulent charges traced back to cards having been recently used on Paypal. The bank is a large regional bank covering several states. That was my last time buying anything from eBay or anyone else using Paypal. Hope this helps someone else from being scammed.
Click to expand...

PayPal is NOT owned by eBay, since 2015.
 
pawngal said:
PayPal is NOT owned by eBay, since 2015.
Click to expand...
True but greengiant is not all wrong. eBay still pushes PissPal as hard as when they owned them. eBay likes their portion of PissPal's fee.

Changing the topic to something pleasant, I'm enjoying your late husband's old Case Folding Hunter. :)

By the way, greengiant, it took 6 years as a member for you to finally post something. We like to hear opinions and experiences with S&W, Colt, Ruger and all other brands. We even like politics if you can stay out of trouble posting on that subject. ;)
 
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Part of the problem is that the credit card companies rarely try to prosecute or even investigate unless the amount is very high. A couple of years ago I had a Walmart/Discover card hacked. Discover called asking if I had made 3 purchases maybe 50 miles from my usual stomping grounds. I After telling them no, they said that they would send a new card. I then told them that I knew where the card info was hacked and when. They said that it was not worth the trouble. I told tem that it was used at our Walmart gas pump #8 and that they had cameras on the pumps, again they said thanks but no thanks. No wonder that this continues, since the card company's allow it to continue.
 
GUNMIKE said:
Part of the problem is that the credit card companies rarely try to prosecute or even investigate unless the amount is very high. A couple of years ago I had a Walmart/Discover card hacked. Discover called asking if I had made 3 purchases maybe 50 miles from my usual stomping grounds. I After telling them no, they said that they would send a new card. I then told them that I knew where the card info was hacked and when. They said that it was not worth the trouble. I told tem that it was used at our Walmart gas pump #8 and that they had cameras on the pumps, again they said thanks but no thanks. No wonder that this continues, since the card company's allow it to continue.
Click to expand...

I an explain the mindset to some degree. Cut and paste from a post I made in another thread. Note the punchline.

My aunt worked in debt recovery for the credit card section of a major UK bank. In the 80s CC fraud was rife, usually done by folk who opened accounts with subtle changes to their name and obtaining multiple cards they had no intention of ever paying on. This was taken to bank management who said, "Well, that may be so, but we measure business success by the number of our cards in circulation compared to our competitors. It's all about market share. Besides, bad debt is on a different ledger so it doesn't count".
 
On our way to Maui we had a layover at LAX in Los Angeles and ate at the TGI Fridays in the air port and I paid with my credit card. A couple days later in Hawaii I get a call about several charges in Los Angeles were someone was buying weird things and paying their traffic tickets with my credit card so it was cancelled immediately. I only have one credit card and and left my debit card at home and luckily my wife had her credit card or I would have had no way to pay for things if I ran out of cash.
 
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That's a different issue altogether . . .

Farmer17 said:
On our way to Maui we had a layover at LAX in Los Angeles and ate the TGI Fridays in the air port and I paid with my credit card. A couple days later in Hawaii I get a call about several charges in Los Angeles were someone was buying weird things and paying their traffic tickets with my credit card so it was cancelled immediately. I only have one credit card and and left my debit card at home and luckily my wife had her credit card or I would have had no way to pay for things if I ran out of cash.
Click to expand...
 
I have worked for a major CC company for 28 years. I don't know how things work in the UK but I can tell you that we absolutely do prosecute fraudsters. We generally know that the account has been compromised before the customer and we have field investigators that follow up with law enforcement. One thing to remember, the CC companies have agreements with merchants that require them to verify the customer. The fraudulent charges are often charged back to the merchant who then file the police reports it just depends on the situation. On another note, any major CC company will overnight you a new card if you need it. I won't bore all of you with the details of loan losses, charge offs and loan loss reserves etc., but you better believe our company cares about losses.
 
I discovered who the company is. I had made a one time donation to them probably over a year ago. Their computer evidently charged me a renewal using my credit card info on file. I made a one time contribution but they ran with it without so much as sending me an email they were about to take a renewal charge from my card. I would have told them forget that which could be why no email from them about a renewal about to happen.
I once had a dental discount company that I had cancelled and bought a plan from another company. About a year later the first company started charging me again. Unreal what can happen once computers have your information filed away.
 
Before getting my current credit card I researched the net to find out which was best and several different sources said that a Chase Visa Blue Saphire card was the best one out there. I got one and have a had a few fraudulent charges and all I have to do is pull up my account on my computer or phone and click on a charge and hit the "dispute" button. I usually get a call quickly and they tell me they will inform the merchant and he has 10 days to fight it and then the charge is permanently dropped. Recently I got a charge from an "Uber" and I don't use Uber or have an account and I disputed the charge and they emailed a day later and told me that they deleted the charge from my account. What I found out later was my wife had used an Uber to go to the airport in OKC and somehow she used my card number. I was embarrassed and called Chase Visa and told them I had made a mistake and to recharge my credit card and give that poor Uber driver his money back.
 
On another note, any major CC company will overnight you a new card if you need it

That is a joke! New Cabelas card, called, supposedly mailed a new card, never received, multiple calls, told me they couldn't overnight a card, finally got a new card. Total time 2 WEEKS!
In the meantime I had to change 3 autopays to another card.
The total time I wasted on it was probably 6 hours.
 
Absalom said:
It's unlikely anyone actually "hacked" your specific CC info.

With the speed of modern computers available to anyone, it takes little time for some algorithm developed by a half-way competent hacker to simply run random number combinations through the approval system until there is a hit indicating they have a usable combination of CC number and three-digit security code.

CC security departments are getting quite alert. When I use my Bank of America MC out of town, I have my cell out because likely as not, it'll be declined at first try and I get a text asking me to confirm that it's me making the non-typical purchase.
Click to expand...

BoA did that to me as well when the wife and I made a trip out West. Since my financial guy is with Merrill Lynch, I just tell him when we do things like that and he alerts them to that fact.
 
What happenend is what is known as a Robocall. If you are interested, here is an eighteen minute news story about what a Robocall is, how they work, and what to do about them. Warning, strong language as this is an HBO news show called Last Week Tonight.

YouTube
 
Farmer17 said:
On our way to Maui we had a layover at LAX in Los Angeles and ate at the TGI Fridays in the air port and I paid with my credit card. A couple days later in Hawaii I get a call about several charges in Los Angeles were someone was buying weird things and paying their traffic tickets with my credit card so it was cancelled immediately. I only have one credit card and and left my debit card at home and luckily my wife had her credit card or I would have had no way to pay for things if I ran out of cash.
Click to expand...
Good reason to have at least two cc cards.

I don't like having more than one, and tend to concentrate payments on one card, but there have been several times over the years where it has been handy to have a back up.

On the other hand, recently, with all these upfront point giveaways, I've been considering acquiring a couple of additionals just to grab the sign up points. (Did that a coupla years ago with an AMEX card. Canceled it after a year.)
 
pawngal said:
On another note, any major CC company will overnight you a new card if you need it

That is a joke! New Cabelas card, called, supposedly mailed a new card, never received, multiple calls, told me they couldn't overnight a card, finally got a new card. Total time 2 WEEKS!
In the meantime I had to change 3 autopays to another card.
The total time I wasted on it was probably 6 hours.
Click to expand...

It depends on the volume you use it. Cabelas delivered a replacement card from theft to a friend who has a black Cabelas card. At the time that meant $25,000 + annual usage. His was delivered on a Sunday afternoon.
 
FWIW - My credit cards automatically text me after a purchase - period! When I pay for something using a credit card - I immediately get a text message saying the amount and store. Most credit card companies now offer this service. It doesn't prevent your card from being stolen but at least you know the minute it was hit and time enough to call your credit card company.
 
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