I sort of forgot about the incident till this morning, when I logged onto my account. Sure enough, in red letters, it said "Restricted Access" and gave an 800 number to call for more information.
I'm happy to report, I was not put on hold. I got right through and although the man did have an accent, he was perfectly understandable. I was informed that there were suspected charges on my account. He went through them, and no, I had not made three purchases over $500 each at Kmart.com. Nor had I ordered a Dominos pizza in Texas.
This is the third time we've gone through the fraudulent activity problem with this credit card company in the past six years. At least they never give us a hassle about taking off any charges that we say are not ours. The only hassle is having to wait while a new card number is issued and sent to us. This is just the first time that they didn't phone us to let us know and I had to have a purchase denied before I found out anything was wrong. I guess I really should log onto my account more than once a month to review the charges. Are others more religious about this than I am?
Anyhow, I did go back and look at my recent charges online, and lo and behold, guess when this fraudulent activity began?? Two days after my fiasco with Boost Mobile (see last post) where they canceled all our cell phone numbers from another carrier. I had to give them a credit card number to activate the new account.
Not that I have any proof, but it is indeed suspicious because it's a credit card I don't use that much, so giving out the number over the phone to someone who clearly didn't know what they were doing raises a lot of questions. I told the representative from my credit card company that I felt that Boost could be responsible and the guy told me he'd file a complaint. I feel like calling them myself and complaining, but it's not like I'd ever get through to someone who gives a damn.
It's good that they have been prompt about removing charges and giving you no trouble about it (other than the snail mail wait) but to have this already happen a few other times.. well, that's a little scary that it's so easy. We have had some issues before and it got straightened out but you hear horror stories of those who don't get things resolved.
ReplyDeleteHubby does most of our paperwork and I don't know that he checks everything... we have so many accounts!! I think we might have to go off the grid at some point and just stay home and read by candlelight. haha!
Haha...good luck with going off the grid! I love to charge things, just to get the cash back rewards, but I've been paying cash at restaurants because they say that's the most likely place to get your numbers stolen.
Delete"Two days after my fiasco with Boost Mobile (see last post) where they canceled all our cell phone numbers from another carrier. I had to give them a credit card number to activate the new account."
ReplyDeleteThis same thing happened to my brother when I was in Florida back in November. However, the most ironic thing about it was that his credit card company found out that the fraudulent charges came from the company he uses for FRAUDULENT CHARGES.
Can you BELIEVE that?!?!
Anyway, glad to hear you got that worked out.
I normally charge over the phone when I make a purchase, but it's getting to a point where even that can't be trusted.
X
What the heck? Your poor brother! That is a real kick in the ass.
DeleteI really think it's safer to charge using a secure website than over the phone. I like to use a separate card just for Internet purchases, or like the Boost thing, if it's over the phone.
Whoa. That kind of thing is unsettling. I have had my card physically stolen (when someone broke into our car), but never had other fraudulent charges that I know of. But I do scan my credit card purchases on-line every week or so.
ReplyDeleteWe had it happen after one of our trips out west, so I suspect a restaurant or hotel employee for that one. The other one was just last year and was caught immediately by my credit card company because it was a $1200 purchase for Burberry.
DeleteWanted to add.......because they probably realized a person who buys all their clothes at Kohls or TJMaxx isn't buying Burberry! Ha!
DeleteWell, I guess that's an instance where it's helpful that they collect data on you!
DeleteYep, these and many other things are why I never give out a card number over the phone. Usually ask for either a mailed bill or a secure online site to make such transactions as customer 'service' reps are often anything but.
ReplyDeleteAnd when I travel I put tape on the security code on the back (and check it after each use) to reduce the chances of trouble. At least it means they have to work for it OR have to use the card face-to-face.
And yeah, we (she) checks our charges every month.
We've only been compromised once and the card company detected it before any charges, it was on a balance check that they deemed suspicious so they called us and closed the card.
I never give out my number on the phone either. Unfortunately, since I wasn't able to port the phone number online, I didn't have a choice.
DeleteOK, so add case number two to our tally. I think it might have been your bad influence ... ;-)
DeleteWe're working on a significant remodel (strip and re-skin bathroom and bedroom) and were getting a loan for the materials. Wouldn't you know it, we almost failed because we also had a card with the loaner and they noted that it was reported lost/stolen a year ago, then was re-activated after they mailed new cards out. Only we didn't report 'em lost OR get new ones. Luckily whoever did it must have been doing multiple cards and just forgot to use 'ours' as there were no charges after it was re-activated.
Fortunately we were able to talk the loan jockeys into re-issuing the card AND footing us a loan. Only took about 30 extra minutes .....
Ugh, and double-ugh. We've been really lucky so far, the only time we ever had a problem was with a card that had been swiped (we think) by a clerk on an extra-reader, on an in-person transaction (back in the days before swipe-your-own became common).
ReplyDeleteThe company caught it almost immediately & called me, as they found it intriguing that so many purchases could be made *at the same time* (to the minute), in various physical locations AND online... and there wasn't an instants pause in cancelling any that I stated weren't legitimate, either.
Otherwise, I keep a specific card for online or over the phone purchases, that I have setup for alerts on activity- so hopefully, I'll know it immediately if it should be used for something shady.
It is amazing that the credit card companies are so allert. We've even had this one call us about suspicious activity that was actually ours.
DeleteI've never had any trouble with phone credit-card purchases, but I usually only call big, reputable companies. Our bank have called us a couple of times about issuing new cards because of suspicious activity. Otherwise, no serious problems with credit cards. For me they're a lot more useful than they are hazardous.
ReplyDeleteNot sure why the 'Reply' button isn't working now, but I do agree that credit cards are more useful than hazardous. I certainly don't want to be carrying around tons of cash. Plus, it's nice to have a record of purchases.
ReplyDeleteOh man, that sucks.
ReplyDeleteAnd the timing is definitely suspicious.
I am probably not as fastidious about card numbers as I could be but we are both pretty careful about it. It is just too easy for people to screw you over that way.
My one account (debit) was compromised twice in one year but the bank was really vigilant and contacted me. It's been a while since that happened though.
A cashier once told me to always hold your card turned over when you use it because there are people who use their phone cameras to take a picture of the card of the person in front of them in line. I keep this in mind now.
DeleteThat sucks, Bijoux. Just the thought of someone abusing your credit card, pretending to be you--it's so creepy. I had some minor charges on my card once, but my bank jumped on it immediately.
ReplyDeleteLast time, we had a few $1 charges and the credit card company said that's what the thieves do to test your card before making their mega-purchase.
DeleteHi Bij,
ReplyDeleteThat is just awful. Not only is it hard to umpossible to figure out how it happened, you have the feeling of being violated.
One already has to practically have eyes behind our heads in some places at the ATMS( I have had a man talk to me once during a transcation; my head remained on GLUED to the screen)... but even at home, we are anxious.
Be well, my friend.
Yes, the ATMs make me nervous. I try to use the drive up ones and keep my doors locked.
DeleteThat is CRAZY! I would be so angry. I think you are right to surmise it might be from your phone call a while back. What madness.
ReplyDeleteBAH!!!
It does make me angry, but I've moved on to new issues....LOL
DeleteUgh. That's one bit of modern-day joy that we've so far managed to avoid. Altho my Mom got scammed by some guy who convinced her that he was 4M in a Spanish jail. . .
ReplyDeleteOh dear....my parents got one of those calls last year about our son. Something about being without money on a trip in Europe. Fortunately, they didn't believe it. My mom swears the voice sounded just like our son. Crazy!
DeleteI dealt with fraud like this a few years back. I had moved from Florida back home and I forgot to have the bank change my billing address (since I NEVER look at the paper statements). Whoever was living at my old address got my information, even made a fake license and started buying things as me. It was crazy! Even worse? My old address was in Disney world and the employee apartments so whoever did this was a Disney employee!
ReplyDeletePeople are crazy you can never be to careful with your information.
Well, it's cool that you worked at Disney, but what a crappy employee who moved into your old place!
DeleteI went with my son's marching band to Disney and blogged about it a few yrs back....March or April 2010. You might enjoy his impression of backstage Disney.
wow wee! i use my debit card, hardly a credit card, for most everything and have been fortunate not to have had anything fraudulent happen. weird though the CC company didn't contact you, but good thing they did put a hold on your account. i don't know how people get other people's CC information and use it successfully when i have a hard enough time getting to my own money and logging into my accounts to check them. legitimate people have to prove who we are with ID, yet thieves just shop with reckless abandon. anyhoo, glad you were not responsible, i wouldn't pay it if they tried to hold me responsible. i'm tempted to close my credit card accounts. i know i shouldn't because what it can do to my fico score, but i don't plan on borrowing money for anything, so i could not care.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it is frustrating to be legit and have to jump hoops! I think most of the fraud happens on the Internet just bec ause they don't physically need your card.
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