Credit Card Fraud Prevented

[Dick Pacini]

Early this morning, I received an email from American Express advising that someone had attempted to make a $247 purchase overseas/on-line against my AMEX card.  They denied the payment and asked me to contact them immediately.  They provided a link to American Express in the email.

At first, that was a red flag for me since often times, bogus emails are sent out by scammers trying to access your information.  Instead, I went to the AMEX website I use every month to pay my bill.  I logged on and there was a banner in red across the screen advising that a fraudulent charge was believed to have been prevented.  It was legitimate.  I looked at the list of my charges for the last month and did not recognize the purchase.

I was given a list of my 3 phone number contacts and asked to choose one and click send, after which I would receive a call on that line to speak with a representative.  I clicked my choice and within a few seconds, my phone was ringing.  It was American Express.  I was asked a slew of security questions that only AMEX had a record of.  After giving my answers, I was told that a charge for $247 had been attempted against my account but was refused without confirmation from me.  I told them I did not make that purchase and never heard of that vendor.  They then said that the charge was not authorized, my card was canceled and to destroy it.  A new card would be arriving at my home tomorrow via UPS Next Day Air.  I was asked if there was anything else they could do for me.  They were extremely polite and thorough.

Yes, these things happen, but it is comforting to know that AMEX is right on the ball protecting my interests.   

[tom brightbill]

Similar experience last week with Master Card.  Someone used my number in Texas at a Walmart- I live in Oregon.  MC put a hold on the card until we talked, then issued a new one.  Good to know someone is paying attention. It seems to be that time of year, not that it doesn't happen all year around, but apparently the holidays are the worst so check your card/statements.

[John Stiles]

Well......did they catch the crook yet?

[John Cralley]

Well......did they catch the crook yet?

Of course not!! That would be hopeless task!! 

Too bad though.

[Brian Hampton]

I had a similar thing happen to me while I was on holidays about 1000 miles from home. All of a sudden my card stopped working. It turned out that someone in America had tried to use it to withdraw about $4.50, presumably as a test run before going whole hog. The bank thought it rather strange that one moment I was in Australia and the next I was in America. If nothing else, it made it clear to me why the bank strongly suggests you let them know if you're travelling overseas.

[Steve Helmick]

Yep, it's a good idea to notify your CC folks that you'll be travelling anywhere out of your usual circles. Sorry for the pun, I just couldn't resist.

I had my BECU card shut down after paying my hotel bill in Edmonton, AB, trying to leave town. Couldn't buy gas!
The weird thing is that almost everything I bought in Eddie was put on that same card...mostly food, some beer, etc. No fur coats, electronics, jewelry, or anything like that. Assuming you have a cell phone, put the CC Security Dept.'s number in there. I didn't have a cell phone at the time, but luckily had another card, which got me out of Canada. Once back across the border, the BECU card started working again, mysteriously. Otherwise, it's a heck of a lot easier to use the card, vs. changing US$ into CA$, and probably saves a bunch of money.

Man, it's COLD outside! Would I ever like to have the coin to go to Aussie about now!  Steve

[John Stiles]

Man, it's COLD outside! Would I ever like to have the coin to go to Aussie about now!  Steve

Swing by here and get me, I have a girlfriend in Brisbane and wouldn't mind seeing her again.

[Peter Grabenstein]

Many month ago, same thing happend to me.
One jack a.s monkey hacked my MC Card for 2 bookings for online gambling ,I never did and never will,
to a bank of the "Isle of Man" UK , I never was.
His/herīs first test booking was 500.00 Euros , second final booking minutes after, was 2500.00 Euros.
It allmost took six weeks to get the money back.
One shot....one kill, thats why I like guns.......but only sometimes.

Peter
 

[Vincent Judd]

My wife and I traveled to San Juan a few years ago to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary.  I used a couple of different cards for our expenses, but I put all of our meals on my Capital One card.  I always hate handing my credit card to a waiter or waitress, watching them walk off with it to some back room somewhere.

Anyway, shortly after returning home, I got a call from a very nice lady at Capital One.  At first I was suspicious, but she convinced me that she was legit.  She told me about a couple of recent attempts to use my card and asked me to confirm or deny the charges.  They were from somewhere in California, and were incidents where someone actually tried to use a card with my credit card numbers on it to try and purchase some very expensive items. I confirmed what she already knew, that I live in Pennsylvania.  I assured her that I had not traveled to California any time recently and could not have made those purchases.

These crooks are very intelligent and very resourceful.  In a matter of days, they had sent my information from PR to CA, created a new card and gone shopping with it.  Fortunately, something in Capital One's system raised a red flag and the purchases were denied.  One of the purchases did go through, she assured me that I was not liable for those charges.  Whether they caught the culprits or not, I don't know.  She told me to destroy my card and a new one arrived a few days later.

Kudos to Capital One for being on the ball.