UBB.threads Forums General Interest Community Center Online credit card fraud

Just had both my AMEx and my Visa cards somehow copied and used in fraud while I was in possession of both cards. All the charges happened within ten days or so. Fortunately i dont have to pay for any of those charges (airlines and hotels), but I was wandering if there are any experts here or if anyone has had this experience before and can advice.

My guess is it had to be some kind of spyware program on my PC, as both cards are taken. So they must have taken my billing address too. Scary. Any solid anti-spyware programs anyone can recommend? anything else to watch out for, beyond the obvious when doing e-commerce? AMEX tells me its rampant right now, in spite of ever increasing security budgets etc.

Hi Gustavo

Get "Spybot", it is free download is rated as one of the best anti-spy software packages. Jim

I agree on Spybot

Also you can request new cards with different numbers. I do.

Each time you use the card someone sees the info. If you "swipe" it through a card reader, they get the address, etc. Most places are honest. some are not. Best defense is checking your bill closely.

Dave

SpyBot is great, I agree but I don't think it's the spyware problem
More probable that someone has hijacked your PC if you don't have a strong enough firewall and got your credit cards info stored inside ... wait a second!
Do you keep your CC info on your PC???
Rule #1: NEVER store your CC info on the PC (even encrypted).
Rule #2: Arm yourself with good firewall (MS Windows firewall is a joke).
I suggest both hardware (router) and software (ESET, Kaspersky, Zone Alarm Pro or Agnitum Outpost Pro).

The same thing happened to me three years ago. I suspect it's a clerk at a cash register who took my information down and passed it on to fraudsters. Since then I don't use gold or platinum credit cards anymore. Their high margins make them a target for this kind of people IMHO.

Stephane

Mine was just used for Vontage charges and I don't have Vontage, so it is just the same old fraud. Sometimes I think it is a hacker to the Credit Card Company records via phone or site information theft.
Ron Weinand

Thanks everyone.

Walter, I dont have any documents or files on my PC with my cc numbers. However, it seems cc data is stored anyway somewhere, or the spy programs gather it all when i use amazon etc and send it back to the criminals ... i will install spybot and will encrypt our wifi

Gustavo, if you encrypt your wifi, if possible use 64bit encryption or better 128. Anything less is easier to decrypt. Jim

New member here but I was caught in the same scam with online buying. My bank traced and corrected all fraudulent charges to my account and set up an exclusive online account to resolve any other unauthorized charges.

Visa card was "skimmed" last week, only place we can figure is at a Sam's gas pump. Charges were at a German auction site and with Yahoo to register a German domain name.
The card was not used on the computer so it did not come from it.
If you don't know, a skimmmer is a card reader that fits over the card slot at a ATM or other card reader. It looks normal and reads the info on the card. The crook then comes by after a while and removes the card skimmer and retrives the info.

I got all my money back, about €1,200. I actually spoke to the "boutique hotel" in Dublin where the fraudsters went. He booked the room over the phone, saying he was booking for his cousin. The hotel asked him to leave after only one night, because he was too noisy! Unfortunately, hotels act irresponsibly, accepting bookings over the phone with a cc. and a name that doesnt match the cc!

I was recently working in Srilanka with a colleague. He used his card to pay for excess baggage at the international airport & within a week his card was toasted for £4000 in Kuwait.

These scum are everywhere. You can only make your best effort to protect yourself & if you do you should not be liable for the fraud & will in most casss be reimbursed. Check your statements thoroughly. When I have travelled I cancel the card & request a new one.