Internet Credit Card Fraud

[HiDHo]

I was wondering after the third time I've had this happen how prevalent it is ? See the poll.
The last two involved the thieves making and swiping a card, amazing that if they are that smart why they choose crime. I use a lot of internet marine supply sources for boat parts, etc. I'm forced to limit future purchases to retailers who offer PayPal.

 

[saltcod]

I was wondering after the third time I've had this happen how prevalent it is ? See the poll.
The last two involved the thieves making and swiping a card, amazing that if they are that smart why they choose crime. I use a lot of internet marine supply sources for boat parts, etc. I'm forced to limit future purchases to retailers who offer PayPal.

I've only had my personal card compromised once, after making a $4 purchase on Amazon. My business card has been compromised a few times. I do not make seemingly risky purchases. There are just so many ways a credit card can be compromised these days.

 

[john61ct]

Prepaid serve.com account by AMEX, you can have four different cards, same or different names, only $1 a month, waived if you're active.

Fund for free with cash at any CVS or online pull from a bank.

Can dedicate one card to risky merchants, another to recurring, any problem only risk what you put in, cancel they send another, the other three sub-accounts aren't affected.

Three years so far no problems

 

[Aft Deck Capt]

A few years back my wife's card was compromised and subsequently used at a Victoria's Secret over on the east coast to the tune of $1K. I knew it was fraud....because I never saw a single garment!

 

[Insequent]

I had a Mastercard compromised by a hotel employee in Tokyo a few years back. I did not know until next statement, which had sizeable purchases in two different countries that I have not ever visited, or purchased from online. The charges were reversed, so it did not cost me anything.

About a year later I was on a ski trip to Canada with my daughters. I was buying a ski jacket for one of my daughters in Calgary when my phone rang. It was Mastercard. I said yes, it was a legit purchase and in fact I was still in the shop! They have got some pretty good systems now. It must have been costing them heaps as they would not always have been able to reverse the transactions with merchants, and rightly would not sting their own customers.

These days I travel to foreign countries less than I used to, but try to remember to advise the credit card companies of my itinerary before I leave so they can put a 'note' to pop-up if my card has abnormal activity and is flagged in their monitoring facilities.

 

[dhays]

These days I travel to foreign countries less than I used to, but try to remember to advise the credit card companies of my itinerary before I leave so they can put a 'note' to pop-up if my card has abnormal activity and is flagged in their monitoring facilities.

I have been called by my bank a number of times to check charges that their algorithm flagged. It used to be a call from a person, and if I called ahead to tell them of unusual travel I talked to a person. Now when they call me it is an automated system and I can inform the bank of potential travel plans on their website. I like the new systems.

 

[Bay Pelican]

I have never been happy with the Citibank's anti-fraud system. Now you no longer have to inform them of your travels. However, they will text you repeatedly as to questionable charges when you travel and will shut you off if you don't reply that they are valid. Problem is they text with the US dollar amount not the original currency charge amount and frequently the name of the restaurant for charge purposes is different from the name on the menu. Thus I am often guessing as to whether a $37.43 charge to XYZ five days ago is valid or phony.

 

[BandB]

Curious why the thread title is "Internet Credit Card Fraud" when there is no evidence that the OP's fraud was internet at all. People are always quick to assume. In fact, if they made and swiped a card that is most likely not internet. It could be if you provided information to a company rather than a card processor but far more often it's by scanning your information when you're at a gas pump or an ATM or from a restaurant. Most theft of card information is not internet, although there is some on the internet. Someone mentioned an Amazon purchase and that's highly unlikely to have led to card fraud or theft. Just not something that I've known to happen although it could or could be from your bank having issues or a card processor. Now I don't know which internet suppliers the OP is using and they could be just having the information form submitted then printing and entering it but that's extremely rare and shouldn't ever be done. No one should ever be writing the security code down.

Did your card have a chip or was it a slide card?

For protection, all should set alerts and get texts from them plus check your account regularly, daily best. Many fraudulent charges are preceded by small authorization amounts of a dollar or less fishing to find out if the card is valid.

Be careful on all card use. If you diligently watch card charges you will never suffer a loss, even if a headache. The card providers have gotten very good with their fraud checks and do often notify you of a concern before you know. I did recently have a charge I didn't make and immediately told the credit card company, my account was credited, and a new card sent overnight.

I didn't answer the poll as the thread title says internet and the poll doesn't. I've never had fraud as a result of internet usage. I've had attempts at fraud as a result of other things.Also know of a lot of check fraud with the check numbers taken from a check and then used to create epayments online. However, the information has been taken from hard copies of checks. One I knew hit a lot of people in an apartment complex and was coming from the office. Another was from a post office employee. Check fraud is far easier than credit card as all you need is the routing and account number. At least on credit card you need a phone number or zip code or security number from the back, depending on how using.

 

[BruceK]

A few years back my wife's card was compromised and subsequently used at a Victoria's Secret over on the east coast to the tune of $1K. I knew it was fraud....because I never saw a single garment!

True story, a man was interviewed here by media after his wife`s handbag including credit card was stolen. He said he was less worried about their credit card than anything else, as he thought it was safer with the thief.
I did wonder about the next discussion between husband and wife.

 

[Wataworld]

My Amex card was compromised which they caught however they were not as cautious with my reward points and the thief got 247,000 points just yesterday!

 

[HiDHo]

One tip we received from a police official is to never sign the back of the card. instead write in the space " ask for I.D. ". It's a interesting way to see if the retailer checks the back of the card, about 90% ask for I.D.
But that still doesn't protect someone from stealing your card #'s. Our card issuer also has the algorithm theft protection so they some what protect losses. I guess they figure the losses are just part of business expenses instead of the legal cost to track down the theives.
I have noticed some internet retailers have started using a system where you enter your card #'s and verifying information non-verbally to limit exposing card information orally which might be a safer alternative.

 

[ranger58sb]

We've had cards compromised, approximately yearly. Mostly MasterCard, but most recently was a Visa. Last three times have been chip cards. Most all seem to have followed payment at a restaurant here in the U.S... where chip readers aren't brought to the table.

As far as I know, we've not been bitten because of an internet payment.

-Chris

 

[GFC]

My best protection against CC fraud is the local bank I've used for 30 years. I let my personal banker know when I'm going to be traveling out of state so they don't see a purchase from that state and call me.


I was compromised many years ago, they called me, reversed the purchases and sent out a new card immediately.

 

[twistedtree]

I didn't vote, and for the reason BandB brought up. My card has been compromised many times, but never related to an internet purchase. It has always been traceable back to a small number of possible local purchases. That's the biggest risk that I have experienced. Why the US hasn't adopted the same rules as other civilized countries is beyond me. In other places, it's illegal for any merchant to handle your card. They pass the machine to you, and your card never leaves your hands. It's so simple, but my guess is that merchants and banks belly ache over the cost of the machines, and who pays for them.

 

[Larry M]

...It's so simple, but my guess is that merchants and banks belly ache over the cost of the machines, and who pays for them.

Your right. My brother-in-law is a restaurant owner in Vermont. Last month I asked him why he doesn't have the personnel card readers. He said he can't justify the cost since he would need at least three at ~$600/machine.

 

[O C Diver]

I've had my credit card compromised numerous times (average about 1 every year or so). Never been a victim (cost me anything ). Have a number of cards for different purchases. One for monthly recurring charges (cable TV bill, EZ pass hiway tolls, etc). One for charges where the card doesn't leave my sight. One for places like restaurants and Internet purchases. Guess which one gets compromised. Chase credit card company keeps seamlessly taking care of the problems and sending me new cards. Guess they like my business.

Ted

 

[Bay Pelican]

Acknowledge that the mobile card readers are not frequently seen in the United States and thus I risk someone else handling my card. Outside of the US and Canada I do not let the card out of my sight. If necessary I will walk to the main cashier and watch them process the card.

Prior to the US cards having chips I twice had my card read by a waiter/waitress, duplicated and used to run up huge bills in 24 hours.The reading can be done by a small portable hand held machine.

 

[m-mm-55]

I print in big bold letters with a sharpie "SEE PHOTO ID". Pisses the mrs's off as she's asked to produce the horrible picture on her drivers license so there are two benefits...minimizes fraud and her willingness to use the card. I'm a genius.

 

[Puffin_NT32]

All my online credit card purchases are done with my Citibank Mastercard using their VIRTUAL ACCOUNT NUMBER option. Login, get a one-time use, unique number, with a 30-day expiration, and use that number for the purchase. With face-to-face card purchases, I never let the card out of my sight, and preferably, not out of my hand. Restaurants ? Unless they use a handheld swiping device at the table, I use cash. Most major bank credit cards offer Virtual Numbers. Before this policy, I had a card fraud event from an online purchase that took a couple of months to resolve.

 

[dhays]

Your right. My brother-in-law is a restaurant owner in Vermont. Last month I asked him why he doesn't have the personnel card readers. He said he can't justify the cost since he would need at least three at ~$600/machine.

Having just returned from BC, I really like the way the retailers there handle the credit cards. Big or small, all restaurants and bars are able to handle the expense of the wireless card readers.

Of course the security of that is only as good as the encryption used on the wireless I suppose.

I just wish that more US companies would adopt the new tech. I had thought that using chip readers was mandatory (we made the switch in our office a few years ago) yet I still see a few retailers who haven't yet made the change. Not sure why...?

 

[ddalme]

I received a call from my MasterCard Co. about a purchase that was being made online for merchandise to be shipped to an address in San Diego a few years ago. Of course I told them I didn't order the merchandise and didn't know anyone in San Diego. I never was charged and I've always wondered if the police showed up at the San Diego address. Hope they did

 

[O C Diver]

I received a call from my MasterCard Co. about a purchase that was being made online for merchandise to be shipped to an address in San Diego a few years ago. Of course I told them I didn't order the merchandise and didn't know anyone in San Diego. I never was charged and I've always wondered if the police showed up at the San Diego address. Hope they did

Credit card companies don't go after fraud perpetrators. It would cost them money in the form of employees wages. They're goal is to prevent it from happening, make sure they're not on the hook for the money, and keep their credit card holders happy, in that order. On two occasions I told Chase where the fraud originated from, and they weren't interested in persuing it as they weren't out any money and it would cost them man hours.

Ted

 

[BandB]

I received a call from my MasterCard Co. about a purchase that was being made online for merchandise to be shipped to an address in San Diego a few years ago. Of course I told them I didn't order the merchandise and didn't know anyone in San Diego. I never was charged and I've always wondered if the police showed up at the San Diego address. Hope they did

Doubt it seriously. As the attempted buyer didn't get away with it, the crime was very minor. Depending on the amount, some form of misdemeanor attempted theft.

I had a case in business years ago where someone placed an order through a major retail customer's account to a temporary warehouse location. They had all the information needed as they were assisted by an ex-buyer. Fortunately, we had one very alert customer service representative on our end. Well, FBI advised we must ship enough to make it a felony. So we shipped that amount and filled the boxes the rest of the way with old bricks and molds and various other things laying around. Our customer service representative was the star witness at their trial and this uncovered other thefts they'd gotten by with but no one noticed yet. They all got at least five years.

 

[Group9]

Never been the victim of credit card fraud? Go eat out in Miami Beach and pay for it with your credit card. You'll have at least a 50/50 chance of it happening.

 

[BandB]

I'm surprised at all the talk of person taking card in hand and looking on back and checking identity. Simply, outside restaurants I can't recall the last time anyone ever actually touched my card, much less looked at it.

As to giving the information by phone, I also can't recall the last time I did so for a purchase. I might call for information but then will make the purchase through their website. Far safer.

Now, all this pretty much renders the signature on the back a mute subject. I haven't signed the back of a card ever and haven't had that brought up by anyone in at least ten years.

One other signature now by the wayside in many cases too and that is the endorsement on the back of a check. Now that you can deposit checks from photographing them with your phone, from sliding them in ATM's, and businesses can through readers or many now slide them and then hand them back to you, endorsements are never looked at by any person.

I think we may start to see more two factor authentication but haven't seen it take hold yet.

 

[BandB]

Never been the victim of credit card fraud? Go eat out in Miami Beach and pay for it with your credit card. You'll have at least a 50/50 chance of it happening.

I don't know where you eat but I've eaten out dozens of times in Miami Beach and never had it happen and to my knowledge it's not much different than restaurants anywhere.

 

[jleonard]

Knock on teak, haven't been compromised as of yet.
I also have "CID" in my signature blocks, but only have been asked at 2 restaurants and a few liquor stores. That's over the course of many years.

 

[Group9]

I don't know where you eat but I've eaten out dozens of times in Miami Beach and never had it happen and to my knowledge it's not much different than restaurants anywhere.

I just say that from all of the credit card fraud arrests we made in Miami Beach when I was there. Maybe it's better, now. The Russians in Sunny Isles Beach were giving waiters skimmers and paying them $100 bucks a night to skim customers cards. That's why you used to see so many ATM machines in Miami Beach Restaurants and clubs.

I know it must still be some of it happening. When I was down for the Miami boat show a few years ago, I made one charge in Miami Beach and my credit card company froze my card and called me because they figured it had been stolen. The lady I talked to told me they took a beating down there.

 

[BandB]

I just say that from all of the credit card fraud arrests we made in Miami Beach when I was there. .

Just how many years ago was that?

 

[BandB]

The highest risk places, and their merchant fees reflect it, are any adult businesses from bars and clubs to strip clubs to toy stores to massage parlors to escort services. One past thing happening too was restaurants allowing those businesses to use their processor, so the restaurant paid a small fee and billed the other a large fee. That has been clamped down on now and greatly reduced.