Stolen Amex Card Number

[A10]

Just a heads up guys, I got called from American Express today on some fraudulent charges totalling 3400 bucks. The only place I've used it in the past few months was with Midwest Industries, and that order was placed on Tuesday. I'll be calling and talking to a manager there on Monday to give tgem a heads up. If you've ordered from them recently you might want to check with your card company.

Happy I used Amex, another card (especially a debit card) could have been real problematic.

 

[Culina]

These kind of things happen all the time. I have had fraudulent charges on cards that I have not used for years. Usually they attempt a small charge and if it goes through, then they go on a shopping spree. So far that have all been charges that originated out of the country. Due to these scammers, I never use my ATM card unless its at the bank. If they crooks get money out of your bank account then its kind of on you. If its a credit card then its on the bank to sort it out.

 

[AR-Getsome]

WOW! Its happened to me before years ago. I had a zero balance cc and got gift cards at Target and Dicks sporting goods. This was way before Target got hacked. It seems to be getting worse. I don't use a debit card anymore. I use my cc and pay it off at the end of the month.

 

[Squarebutt]

I landed in Albuquerque on a business trip a few years ago and my CC was declined at the car rental counter and the hotel. Apparently it had been hacked when I booked a flight on line the night before, used for a spree and the CC company shut it down. Fortunately I had a second card that I used to keep personal expenses separate or I would have been sleeping on the street.

 

[spad124]

I landed in Albuquerque on a business trip a few years ago and my CC was declined at the car rental counter and the hotel. Apparently it had been hacked when I booked a flight on line the night before, used for a spree and the CC company shut it down. Fortunately I had a second card that I used to keep personal expenses separate or I would have been sleeping on the street.

I also use one cc for business/online purchases and a separate one for face to face personal transactions. I never store cc info with online merchants.

I've found the hard way that if a clerk or waiter says their system is slow and it is taking a while to run your card, it is probably being hacked. Might be the clerk, or it might be their system has been hacked. The first time that happened to me I was on a business trip to NYC. Business was finished and took my niece who lives in NYC to dinner. I'm in my 50s, she's in her 30s. The restaurant had my card for a very long time. Someone probably figured I was an easy mark because of the age difference between my niece and me. Two days later my card had charges for flights in Europe

 

[skrazo]

I don't have any "debit" cards. Credit cards are much easier for handling fraudulent charges. Thanks A10 for info.

 

[LVSteve]

I landed in Albuquerque on a business trip a few years ago and my CC was declined at the car rental counter and the hotel. Apparently it had been hacked when I booked a flight on line the night before, used for a spree and the CC company shut it down. Fortunately I had a second card that I used to keep personal expenses separate or I would have been sleeping on the street.

Whose computer were you using? Was it hacked at your end or at the ticket vendor?

 

[Jim1392]

Thats why I only have two credit cards. First thing I do every morning is sign onto my checking account and then check the balances on both credit cards. It only takes seconds and gives me the peace of mind at least I'm on top of it. Other then taking money out of the bank I never use my debit card anywhere.

 

[Mcwsky09]

It is also possible for the criminals to use algorithms to generate properly formatted card numbers and try them until they hit one that is tied to a live account without your card or any vendor you have used being compromised.
Likely rare but I have seen a video showing a device that is attach to an ATM machine that scans your card as it goes into the machine and can even capture your key presses either with an overlay or via a hidden camera.
Not sure that there is a 100% secure way to do business - even if you carry cash you are still susceptible to a thug but at least you can limit your exposure that way to someone who is in your presence vs anywhere in the world.

 

[chief38]

A bit of advise from my personal experience..............

I was famous for using my Amex Card at the Gas Pumps and NOT pushing the YES for a receipt button. My Amex Card was compromised THREE (3) times in 18 months. My thinking is that people who don't request a receipt for gasoline don't keep track of their charges and are likely to have their card numbers ripped off by the guys in the office who can read the numbers at the time of purchase.

NOW I ALWAYS request a receipt and my Card has not been compromised since doing so. Even if you throw the receipt in the garbage before leaving the Station, always get a receipt!

I can not guarantee that will solve all the CC problems, but it certainly does help as far as I am concerned.

 

[Squarebutt]

Whose computer were you using? Was it hacked at your end or at the ticket vendor?

I was using my home computer,which at the time wasn't even on wi-fi. I tried to book a flight with one of the big brokers and it fell through, so I went direct to Southwest Airlines' site and bought a ticket. I believe what happened was that the first website was a scam site and I was never on Travelocity/Orbitz at all.

 

[Engine 21]

Just a heads up guys, I got called from American Express today on some fraudulent charges totalling 3400 bucks. The only place I've used it in the past few months was with Midwest Industries, and that order was placed on Tuesday. I'll be calling and talking to a manager there on Monday to give tgem a heads up. If you've ordered from them recently you might want to check with your card company.

Happy I used Amex, another card (especially a debit card) could have been real problematic.

Thanks for the heads up A-10.

 

[A10]

Whose computer were you using? Was it hacked at your end or at the ticket vendor?

I was at home. I have pretty good security on my system so I doubt it was here.

I called Midwest today and spoke with their sales manager. She was very concerned, took my name and the order information, and will be following up with me. They use a service for their online sales. I'd guess the service works with a lot of different vendors, and I'd guess this is not an isolated incident.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Many local merchants ask if you want a receipt. Probably to save paper. But you never know. I always say YES!

 

[LVSteve]

I believe what happened was that the first website was a scam site and I was never on Travelocity/Orbitz at all.

Cripes! That'll do it.

 

[Airpark]

Very interesting. About two years ago my wife atempted to use her AMEX card and it was refused....came back call AMEX.

I called AMEX and got asked, " Is your wife on an international vacation?" I said, "No, she is sitting next to me in the car." AMEX rep said, "Well right now her card is being used in Brazil, Saudi Arabia and India." Needless to say I was stunned. AMEX rep said, "Thank you, we will take care of it." Next bill I got was a WHOPPER!!, some sort of party in Rio De Janerio with a bar bill that would choke a horse. Took about three months but AMEX finally got it all straight and fortunately at no cost to me.

I enter each and every receipt for purchases every day and MUST balance with AMEX before I pay anything.

This was my second round of unauthorized fraudulent charges and it can and is a pain in the lower portion of my anatomy.

 

[old bear]

Getting hacked is a pain in the rear, I've had it happen several times with assorted cards. The LAST time it happened with B of A, they shut down my card and it took almost a week to get a new one. When my AMX card was hacked they had a new card to my before noon the next day.

As for debit cards I only use one to access the ATM at MY bank branch.

 

[medxam]

The last time my Amex card was hacked was very amusing, especially to my lady friend! At my age, someone used it at an adult escort service in NJ! Amex straightened it out, as they always do. They are the best for fraud protection!

medxam

 

[leswad]

I only have used a debit card for the last 15 years and have never had a problem... Kind of seems the Amex cards are the ones with the hacking issues