Desperate Times - Desperate Criminals

[BarbC]

When I was in Detroit Metro Airport last week, I used my Visa card twice, once at a sushi restaurant and once at a newstand. These two times were the only times in weeks that my Visa card was handed over to be processed, rather than running it through a machine myself.

Lo and behold, when I checked my online bank statement, there were three unauthorized transactions for Match.com, totalling over $200. Apparently, my credit card number had been skimmed by the clerk, who also read the three-digit security code on the back and used those numbers to make online transactions.

At first, it struck me as ridiculous that someone would use a stolen credit card number for a matchmaking site. But then I recalled a local case where an older man had been scammed out of almost all his money by a girl he "met" on an online dating service.

My bank reversed the charges and instituted a fraud investigation. I also filed a police report with the Detroit Metro Airport police.

Guard your card.

 

[BarbC]

When I was in Detroit Metro Airport last week, I used my Visa card twice, once at a sushi restaurant and once at a newstand. These two times were the only times in weeks that my Visa card was handed over to be processed, rather than running it through a machine myself.

Lo and behold, when I checked my online bank statement, there were three unauthorized transactions for Match.com, totalling over $200. Apparently, my credit card number had been skimmed by the clerk, who also read the three-digit security code on the back and used those numbers to make online transactions.

At first, it struck me as ridiculous that someone would use a stolen credit card number for a matchmaking site. But then I recalled a local case where an older man had been scammed out of almost all his money by a girl he "met" on an online dating service.

My bank reversed the charges and instituted a fraud investigation. I also filed a police report with the Detroit Metro Airport police.

Guard your card.

 

[pred]

Barb, Being single can be tough when you're poor...
LOL, I am sorry that this happened to you,,, When it happened to me it was for over 800 in perfume,,, It would have been a bit funnier if it were for match.com.
Thank you for sharing!
Peter

 

[Gov't Cheese]

Things like this are getting more common every day. Spreading the wealth, I guess.

 

[imjin138]

Happens quite often, alot of the women locked up by me have done it both by credit card and check.

Usually they scam an older man who they get on their visiting list and drainhis cards and checking account.

We always talk to the men, but they believe thay are either in love or really good friends.

A buddy of mine had this happen once at a military show, but his card company called and asked if he was in Rio, because his card was just used there.

 

[Jack Flash]

My bank reversed the charges and instituted a fraud investigation. I also filed a police report with the Detroit Metro Airport police.

Good luck with getting anybody to put in any effort on tracking down the thief.

I had my identity stolen several years ago. I figured out that they got my ssn etc from my medical insurance company. Someone in Detroit opened a Radio Shack credit card in my name and ran up a small bill. Actually, the late charges soon overwhelmed the original amount charged. Since I live on the other side of the state, I had to make a police report over the phone. The cop on the other end sounded like he just wanted to get rid of me as fast as he could. I greatly doubt anyone ever followed up. I did go on line and fill out a report for the FBI, which was pretty simple, for whatever that was worth.

 

[Bassamatic]

Hey barb, you sure it wasn't your husband that racked up those charges?

Kidding of course. $200? I didn't know those guys charged that much.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

Barb, thank you for stimulating the economy.

 

[Black69]

The exact same thing happened to me. I have a credit card that I use to get parts for my 69 Camaro. I had to use it to reserve a bed and breakfast room. I always pay cash and have stayed there several times. A few days after I reserved the room I checked my account and found several charges to American Singles and Match.com. I called the bank and of course they said that they would do everything they can. I think it was the girl that took the reservation. I'm also a retired criminal investigator and asked if the bank would do anything since I had caught the transaction and the bank was not out any money. They told me they would followup and keep me advised. Never heard anything from them. I also called the B $ B and talked with the owner and let him know what happened and who I thought was responsible.

 

[keith44spl]

Barb,

Tis Spring, Luv is in the air,
crooks need luvin' too...in the jailhouse now

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[feralmerril]

Six years ago I was buying something at penneys. They wanted me to sign up for a credit card to get a extra 15% off. So I did although I never use them. It came and I left it in my truck. The truck got stolen out of my driveway the next day. I remembered the card and checked penneys. It was run up over $4,000s!
I got the security woman at the store and we went through the reciepts. We found where she had forged my name, but in her excitement had signed her own name twice on a two. I got her arrested. I had a S&W model 60 hid in the truck. It must have tipped them off I was a gun nut, and a few days later they broke in the house and stold many more as I had just got home from wisconsin as my dad was on his death bed, and I had brought many family guns back and didnt have room in the safe for them.
When she was picked up and questioned she wouldnt roll and just said some stranger had given her a ride in my truck and admitted to just stealing and useing the credit card. She earlier got rapped on a identical caper, only got probation for that one, broke probation, did a few months for that, just got out and I got hit. The judge was giveing her a very light sentence, I stood up and started to protest and got the bums rush. I love the court system in california!

 

[red14]

It wasn't her fault. She wasn't given enough self esteem as a child, She's just acting out because her parents and the school system failed her.

 

[T. McIntyre]

I have been nailed a couple of times. One time a crook broke into my wifes car and stole a brand new box of checks. Yes my wife actually left a box of checks in the car. We had a "heated domestic moment" over that. Anyways the thieves wrote over $10,000 in bad checks in the next 24 hours.

I tracked them down and got video surviellance from various store cameras of the BGs. The local Police (Boise PD) did absolutely nothing about it other than file a report.

I ended up settling the score with the bad guy by other means. It took us about three years to fix our credit after that one. And the credit agencies basically extort you in the process.

 

[beemerrider]

OK Techno-Geeks; I've got a solution to all this stolen card grief. I've go the idea, but I'm delegating the simple implementation to you.

Now pay attention as I paint you the big picture. Henceforth you have the option of having your credit card made of a stiff, non-pliable C-4 substance. A cellphone circuit is built into the card and you activate the "suprise card" by calling it's number. Now why didn't I think of that? Quick, effective this saves both police and court time, thus cost justification should be a snap. Let me know when the first models are ready, and I'll put them to use.

Now Barb; doesn't this seem more to the point, simple and staightforward and economical as soon as the masses catch on.

Send 5 bucks to beemerrider and be the first in your hood to contribute to the R&D phase of this fine product. Not sold in any stores.

 

[JoeR]

Here's something I use. Scrape off the three digit code on the back. I write it down on a rolodex card at home. Hard to use it online without that number.

Joe

 

[BarbC]

Scrape off the three digit code on the back.

Smart idea!

Less messy than activating a C-4 card, but admittedly not as exciting.

 

[Broker57]

Barb, sorry to hear that you got stung during your visit to <STRIKE>the cesspool known as Detroit</STRIKE> the city of "brutha-ly love". Seeing as how you ate at a sushi restaurant I guess you wouldn't have taken me up my invitation to go to the Wheat and Rye (1/2 lb. curling-stone cheeseburgers and the bottomless seasoned fry basket)

.

My business partner has been burned on two different credit cards during the last year. Both were probably due to internet purchases, since the subsequent charges were all for various web hosting services. Fortunately neither card were the ones that I have access to on his behalf.

A few years ago when I was still paying child support, Michigan changed from letting you pay locally to having you mail your payment to an office in Lansing. The payment coupons had my s.s. number prominently displayed in the corner. They provided a window envelope to mail it in, and I remember getting ready to mail one and holding it up to the light and seeing my number through the envelope. I thought to myself that I should do something to cover it up, but still went ahead and mailed the payment.

Within a week I was contacted by Dell regarding the two computers I had ordered on the charge account I wanted to establish with them. Of course I put the kibosh on it right away and they cancelled the order. The perps were nice enough to provide a delivery address in Lansing (imagine that!) and when I called the local PD they seemed to be familiar with the place. They were unhappy that I had cancelled the order since they couldn't do anything without actual delivery. The detective said he would have carried the box himself. After that I was shuffled between Lansing PD and my local PD because both said that the other department had jurisdiction.

JoeR, great idea! I'll pass that one along.

 

[K-Mart85]

I once had my debit card stolen during a Brewers game I was attending and a recieved a call from my bank a few days later thanks to my identity protection plan I signed up for (Best 11.99 a month I spend) asking me if I charged $800 at Victoria secret. Now I may love my Fiance but really. Got that cleared up nicely though.

My fiances cousin who has problems stole her daughters kindergarden teachers identity and went on a shopping spree, result, 1.5 years in jail.

 

[em-man]

" Things like this are getting more common every day. Spreading the wealth, I guess."

You gots to pronounce it right. It's "Spreadin' da welf aroun"...