Watch your checking accounts.........

[Spartan]

   Well, what I thought was a crank e-mail this morning was the real thing.  I had an email from my bank's risk management saying that there were transactions from austrailia on my account.    I told my wife to call my local bank just to check it out and report it and come to find out, it was real , our account was overdrawn $600 or out of balance by $1200.   Sooo, I have spent the rest of my day cancelling any cards with links to our checking account and making sure no payments bounced etc........ Seems someone it Australia went shopping for eyeware, a new computer, software, KFC and some type of head-shop all on my nickle........merry frickin' christmas.......

The good news is, since the transactions happened in the last 12 hours, the bank caught it and we stopped it before any payment went thru so we are not out anything, the bad news is all the the paperwork has to be changed and redone, new cards issued, new numbers......  All this happened on my card, and I never use the damn thing (and my card is still in my wallet). 

We are pretty careful with this stuff but still there are jerks who can take someone's hard earned money (and I worry about buying car stuff so not to have everything covered for the family).  The banker said we were lucky, everything happened and was caught quickly, she said some don't find out for a month later and allot more damage is done.  (BTW, I have heard allot of people get victimized with ID theift from hospitals where your SS number is used, around here it is in the downtown hospitals). Anyway, a little freindly advice, watch your accounts closely and often.

[Charger Aficionado]

  Crappy...  Did the bank put the money back???

[Spartan]

Since all the transactions were "pending" they did not get any of it.  If they had, the bank said they would have some type of line of credit to cover it until the issue was resolved.  One charge was for Nike shoes down there too....  What really sucks is guys like me, or the store owners who have money in this product too are the ones who get screwed.  If they catch them, I'll press charges if I can.  Put their butts in jail...... 

[Ponch ®]

Something similar happened to me over the weekend. I went to the ATM on Monday and it wouldnt let me withdraw money because i had insufficient funds. I called my bank and they told me "we're showing a $500 withdrawal at the Treasure Island in Las Vegas". I was like "I wish I was having that much fun, but it wasnt me". They deactivated my ATM card right away and put me on the line with their fraud department. They asked what happened, and they credited my account for the $500 and told me they were gonna investigate.

So 2 days later I stop by the bank to get some cash (I still havent received my new ATM card). I walked in and asked the manager-guy if I could take money out without my card ...I was explaining the situation to him and before I could finish saying the word "fraud", he said said "in Vegas? We've had like 10 people over the last 2 days come in with the same problem." Apparently they spread the withdrawals over a bunch of casinos. I was a little relieved that it wasnt just me, then he said "Do you go to ARCO gas stations?" I told him yes, and he said that pretty much everyone who got ripped off over the weekend had been to an Arco within the last few days. He said that it could be an employee using some device that for some reason is illegal to use but legal to buy and possess. It can record all the information on the card being used (including PIN) and then they can make fake cards.

I suspect that these people went and had a real nice time in Vegas with my (and others') money. But...they obviously didnt think things through very well. Of all places to try to pull off such a scam, Vegas is the worst they could have picked. They got cameras up the wazoo, so if I were investigating this, I would just look at the time of the withdrawals and ask the casinos for the surveillance video of the ATM at that exact time. I'm sure theyll get caught.   

[69_500]

Seems there is a bunch of that going on especially around the holidays. Last year right before Christmas same scenario happened to my brother in law. Only thing is they didn't catch it until the transactions had already cleared. But the bank wound up giving them I think it was like 70% of the fund back some time later. The other chunk was never refunded or anything. Its a chance we take living in a technology based society.

[Spartan]

Well, the only time I used mine in the last 2 weeks was is at the local gas station.  Its bad enough they rob us at the pump, now they have to take the cards too.  One scenerio we were told is people sell the numbers to other people, maybe thats what happened here...

[Old Moparz]

A very similar thing happened on 2 different credit card accounts that neither my wife or I have used in a long time. On the first one, it was about a year ago & on an account we haven't used in 5 years. I came home to an answering machine message from that bank telling me to call them about my account info. I didn't rush to call them figuring it was a telemarketer with some useless crap for sale, like guaranteed payment coverage if I were to accidentally amputate my head in a lawn tractor accident.

When I did call back, they said one transaction was completed on line with Sears for $1200, & another was attempted at a sporting goods store I had never heard of, & denied for $600. The account was canceled as we spoke, & a new account number & card were issued with no responsibility on my part to pay anything. If I recall, it was either Citibank or Chase Visa/MC. The second problem was just a couple of months ago & for another bank card we didn't use. The purchases were all activation fees for about 8 or 9 AOL accounts over a two day period. Again, the account was taken care of & numbers & cards re-issued.

I asked how it could happen since neither account was used, & in turn, no receipts were issued. I was told by someone that there are computer programs that could possibly select numbers at random & eventually it will find one that works. How true that is, I have no idea, but it seems possible to me. ID theft is a good reason I like to leave as little information as possible on line with any website, emails or "profiles" in a forum. The term, "less is more"   can be applied in this case too. If there is less info available, there is more of a chance it won't be found by the wrong person so they can rip you off.

[Afflyer]

This is some scary stuff you guys are talking about! 
Makes me paranoid to even pull my plastic out of my wallet!

[Silver R/T]

thats good youre not out of money. Hows it possible someone got your card number. possibly you bought something online and someone hacked in or something

[Troy]

thats good youre not out of money. Hows it possible someone got your card number. possibly you bought something online and someone hacked in or something

Well, the only time I used mine in the last 2 weeks was is at the local gas station.  Its bad enough they rob us at the pump, now they have to take the cards too.  One scenerio we were told is people sell the numbers to other people, maybe thats what happened here...

Troy

[Charger_Croatia]

We had several issues here with cash machines. Few different ways to hijack card PIN's and some serious problems for card owners. For that reason I'm not going to use that machines.
But I had a case with my AM-EX card. During paying in local shop my card didn't pass through and I was surprised since all Invoices were paid on time. Than I called their office and they asked me did I order something from internet lately. On my negative answer Am-ex agent explained to me that they were suspicious about mentioned transaction and they blocked my card to prevent any further attempts. I got new card the next day and I must say that I was pleased with their reaction, professional job done.

[Spartan]

Ya, I  only use credit cards on line and over the phone.  I am really leary about anything tied to my checking account just because someone can drain it. With a credit card, you have some recorse if you didn't buy it.   

[Dale The Bold]

A couple years ago, I got a call from my credit card company.  Seems that they were suspicious of a few purchases.  They asked me if I bought anything recently from Lane Bryant.  I said "WTF is Lane Bryant?"  Turns out, it's a women's clothing store.  I didn't remember buying any new dresses recently, so I said no.  They issued me a new card immediately.  It didn't cost me anything, but it did make me a bit worried.

[TK73]

and people think being broke with lousy credit is a bad thing...

[4402tuff4u]

Also is a good idea to rip apart or shred the junk mail such as credit card offers before you throw it in the garbage. Some of these shady characters call in the cards or use the information you throw out.

[69bananabeast]

I've got an ATM/Checkcard  and I've bought so many car parts online this past year to build the 440 , and I got caught up in it as well. About a month ago I discovered a payment of $40 to some company that I didnt recognize. Throughout my research I found out that two other payments to the same company had occured with the same amount. From there I ran a search on the net to see what it was. Turns out that the payments made were to some adult movie sight. I contacted my bank from there and had them stop payments to it, but was unable to get anything back since it was linked to my account.  All I've Got To Say is When Shopping Online It's safer To Use A Credit Card Than A Debit/Check card. I wish I had know that a year ago. I got shafted $120 because of it.     

[Charger_Fan]

and people think being broke with lousy credit is a bad thing...

Yeah, for once it's good to be broke!

I don't even have any credit cards. I have a check card, which I use at the pumps & grocery stores regularly & not for too much else. I know that's not foolproof though & I'm always watching out for something to happen that way.

When I buy stuff online, I try to use Paypal. If they don't accept that, then it's a check or money order, depending on the business. I've only put my check card number on the internet 4 times...and two of those were eGouge & Paypal.
Yep, I'm paranoid.

I'm glad that you didn't end up out all that money.

[Spartan]

and people think being broke with lousy credit is a bad thing...

Yeah, for once it's good to be broke!

I don't even have any credit cards. I have a check card, which I use at the pumps & grocery stores regularly & not for too much else. I know that's not foolproof though & I'm always watching out for something to happen that way.

When I buy stuff online, I try to use Paypal. If they don't accept that, then it's a check or money order, depending on the business. I've only put my check card number on the internet 4 times...and two of those were eGouge & Paypal.
Yep, I'm paranoid.

I'm glad that you didn't end up out all that money.

My check/debit card card number is what they used.  Not sure if it was just a random number they got or somehow snagged it from a local gas station.....  They confirmed today that they stopped payment to the retailers.  I had some overdraft charges the bank fixed today but no other damage, I got pretty luckly.

[Charger_Fan]

My check/debit card card number is what they used.  

Oh great!

[BigBlockSam]

stuff like this is scary. its hard enough to keep money in the bank without somebody steeling it.   

[Steelman]

I had an employee forge a check for $1000 once and my bank(Bank of America) said it would take at least 6 months to straighten out.
File report to local police,then thier investigating fraud unit would have to confirm the forgery,then they would reimburse my account,assuming i could prove it was a forgery.
The signature on the check was poor to say the least.
What a joke.
I keep a sepreate account to pay bills with now and an account that has no card attached with my REAL money,not counting the money in the mattress.
They are quick to take the money out, but slow to put it back.

[psykicpup]

A few months ago the papers here were all running with a story about how now that so many big banks are tranfering their call centres to 3rd world countries a lot of people are finding fruadulent transactions on thier accounts. It seems the employees in places like India are getting paid only slightly more than minium wage (execpt of course they dont have minimum wage as such) and are being tempted into selling peoples account details.
So that would be you name and address any & all card numbers & sensive personal info which other companies use to check you are who you say you are! Some people even had Credit cards set on thier details but were totally unaware until a tracing agency tracked them down to their real address as the crims obviously didnt have any mail sent there as it would have alerted the real people.

[Charger_Fan]

A few months ago the papers here were all running with a story about how now that so many big banks are tranfering their call centres to 3rd world countries a lot of people are finding fruadulent transactions on thier accounts. It seems the employees in places like India are getting paid only slightly more than minium wage (execpt of course they dont have minimum wage as such) and are being tempted into selling peoples account details.

Geez, I could have called that one!
Why is it the brainiacs at the helm, making all the big bux didn't see that one coming?

[Mopar440+6]

Ya, I only use credit cards on line and over the phone. I am really leary about anything tied to my checking account just because someone can drain it. With a credit card, you have some recorse if you didn't buy it.

I'm 18 and have a slight habit of spending too much so between my parents and myself the decision has been made that I shouldn't have a credit card. But I have two checking accts/debit cards. One is my primary account that I use for everything. The other is strictly for online and telephone purchases. Since the account is free and has no minimum balance I only keep $5 in it unless I am making a purchase or payment. Then I simply transfer the exact amount I need and pay. Plus the debit cards are through Visa and thus covered with the same "insurance" as a Visa credit card...

[charger490]

if you have a check-debit card and use it to pay for stuff at the stores do not let the card leave your hand or if they want the card keep your eye on it, if he takes the card under the counter they have a machine that will copy your card.charger490