Credit Card Fraud!!!

PhoenixAzul · #1 08-12-2005, 11:14 PM

So Visa called my house today about suspicious activity on my card. My dad called me at work and then I called Visa services...the lady says to me, "Ok, well, the last charge we have is 635 dollars to a cellular instalment company (LOUD GASP and Curse word from me)...ok, guess that's not you...and then we have 259 dollars at a liquor store in miami (i'm not old enough to buy alcohol)." So once I calmed down, she told me that they had denied a 550 dollar purchase at some sort of boutique in Vegas

Apparently, someone that I have had physical contact with with my credit card, swiped it through some sort of machine that COPIES your magnetic strip info..and made copies of my card, one that's working in Vegas and one that's working in Miami. I am SO incredibly mad right now, you have NO IDEA. I only have a 1000 limit..they couldn't buy much..but it's the fact that someone stole my credit card that really really irks me. And she said there's really no way to catch them or prevent it from happening. She said that it's usually an employee at a store or restaurant that doesn't do background checks..they work for a few weeks and then just quit because they have your card info. So what I'm planning on doing is going back to every place I've charged in person and asking them about employees that fit this profile. They fu**ed with the WRONG chick this time...I'm going to find whoever did this and sue them, and sue them good for whatever I can nail them for.

PhoenixAzul · #2 08-12-2005, 11:18 PM

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20020524a.asp
This is basically what has happened to me.

Dvyne Evolushun · #3 08-13-2005, 12:38 AM

Ewww. So sorry that happened to you. I used to see horror stories all the time in customer service. Sounds like Visa is working with you. If it turns out that you know the person that did it, some companies will tell you "it's a domestic dispute" & still hold you responsible - forcing you to take the person to court.

BetteDavisEyes · #4 08-13-2005, 01:07 AM

I'm sorry you have to go through this.

When I went to go buy a car a few years ago, my credit report wasn't good & didn't know why. When I requested a copy, there was an unpaid phone bill for over $1000 that was under my social security #. The account was opened in 1997 when I was still in high school & not old enough to have a credit card or a phone under my name. I was supremely pissed & have been trying to fight it w/the phone company b/c they still want their money. This truly sucks to be a person who's been screwed this way.

kddani · #5 08-13-2005, 08:39 AM

I've had my credit card number stolen and used online several times. Police won't do jack, btw, in case you were curious.

The first time was to buy a money order through bidpay (which is actually quite a smart thing to do).

The second time was just recently, it was used at puma.com to buy like 700 bucks work of something. I believe the second time my number was taken from when DSW had a lot of their info broken into.

It sucks, it's a pain replacing your card, but you shouldn't have to pay it. You'll be entitled to get a free credit report now, check that carefully, and call one of the 3 credit services to have your account flagged. Which is nice, because they'll call you after any semi big purchase to verify- even it was a purchase you really made. It'll take a bit longer if you apply for another credit card, a loan (including school loans-private ones that is). If you have other credit cards, also alert them and they will flag your account.

Good luck. Maybe it just seems old hat to me after i've had it used twice and then another time thought my wallet was stolen after I got broken into (he had really just thrown it behind my desk and I didn't find it for months).

mmcat · #6 08-13-2005, 09:11 AM

i found two charges on my master card bill that weren't mine. i appaarently was one of the ids on the cd that turned up missing. i canceled the card. got a new number and am holding my breath. i just work with my visa card and it's clean thank god.

aephi alum · #7 08-13-2005, 12:48 PM

I'm sorry to hear this happened to you.

There's a restaurant in my town where, for a period of several weeks, credit card information was routinely stolen. Several employees were in on it. If you paid by credit card, they swiped your card twice - once to pay the check, and again to copy the information off the magnetic stripe. Fortunately I didn't have a problem, but I know a few people who did. Those employees have been fired and brought up on charges, and now, if you want to pay by credit card at that restaurant, you have to bring it to the counter.

Anyway... go through your last few credit card statements with a fine-tooth comb, and get copies of your credit report from all 3 agencies (you're entitled to get them free once a year regardless of whether you've seen fraudulent activity or been turned down for a loan).

Hope everything is straightened out soon.