What Happened To The Debit Card

[FC]

Here's what happened with my debit card number that was stolen. Nothing got delivered to the goon:

 

I left you a message about this case on your Home phone.

The subject in Louisville was a reshipper only. He has been dealt with but he was not the person who used your card. It is part of a Nigerian Scam.

 

Sounds similar to the below email my wife sent me (beware!):

 

SCENE 1.

This is a new one.

People sure stay busy trying to cheat us, don't they?

A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in the locker.

After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and thought to himself, 'Funny, I thought I locked the locker.

Hmm, 'He dressed and just flipped the wallet to make sure all was in order.

Everything looked okay - all cards were in place.

A few weeks later his credit card bill came - a whooping bill of $14,000!

 

He called the credit card company and started yelling at them, saying that he did not make the transactions.

Customer care personnel verified that there was no Mistake in the system

and asked if his card had been stolen.

'No,' he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled out the credit card, and yep - you guessed it - a switch had been made.

An expired similar credit card from the same bank was in the wallet.

The thief broke into his locker at the gym and switched cards.

Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not report the card missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them.

 

How much did he have to pay for items he did not buy?

$9,000! Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped?

Small amounts rarely trigger a 'warning bell' with some credit card companies.

It just so happens that all the small amounts added up to big one!

SCENE 2.

A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card.

The bill for the meal came, he signed it, and the waitress folded the receipt

and passed the credit card along.

 

Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket. Funny enough, though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and

behold, it was the expired card of another person.

He called the waitress and she looked perplexed.

 

She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the counter under the watchful eye of the man.

All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave the wrong expired card to the counter cashier, and the counter cashier immediately looked down and took out the real card.

No exchange of words --- nothing! She

 

took it and came back to the man with an apology.

Verdict:

Make sure the credit cards in your wallet are yours.

Check the name on the card every time you sign for something and/or the card is taken away for even a short period of time.

Many people just take back the credit card without even looking at it, 'assuming' that it has to be theirs.

FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH TIME IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!

 

SCENE 3:

Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I had called in.

 

I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is linked directly

to my checking account.

The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it, then laid it on

the counter as he waited for the approval, which is pretty standard procedure.

While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialing..

I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then I heard a click that

 

sounded like my phone sounds when I take a

picture.

He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he was still pressing buttons.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking: I wonder what he is taking a picture of, oblivious to what was really going on.

It then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so now I'm paying close attention to what he is doing.

He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open.

About five seconds later, I heard the chime that tells you that the picture has been saved.

Now I'm standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just took a picture of my credit card.

 

Yes, he played it off well, because had we not had the same kind of phone, I probably would never have known what happened.

Needless to say, I immediately canceled that card as I was walking out of the pizza parlor.

All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Whenever you are using your credit card take caution and don't be

careless.

Notice who is standing near you and what they are doing when you use your card.

 

Be aware of phones, because many have a camera phone these days..

When you are in a restaurant and the waiter/waitress brings your card and receipt for you to sign, make sure you scratch the number off.

Some restaurants are using only the last four digits, but a lot of them are still putting the whole thing on there.

I have already been a victim of credit card fraud and, believe me, it is not fun. The truth is that they can get you even when you are careful, but don't make it easy for them.

 

[karlunity]

Thanks for the heads up on the cards FC.

 

I put the large cards away and now only carry the card with a small limit.

So that if one is taken, the hit will not be too bad.

 

karl

[AzRednek]

Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not report the card missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them.

 

I went through the same thing with VISA and basically told them to stick it. My card number was used to call phone sex numbers and I didn't have any idea until the statement showed up. Woman on the phone from VISA gave me some song and dance about me being responsible. Instead of her taking my dispute seriously she asked questions like how was I was I sure a family member didn't use it or have you ever used the card before for phone sex. I lost my temper after she asked if I was just afraid to admit it to my wife.

 

I wrote a letter and added it along with my payment for the next three months and they eventually erased it from my account. I invited them in the letter to turn it over to their legal department for collection and advised them that I would counter sue for legal fees.

 

I used the particular card on a vacation to Orlando. The same day the calls were made I also had to dispute a charge from an Orlando restaurant I had used a few times while I was there 6 months prior. I suspected an employee of the restaurant got the number but I don't know if VISA ever followed up on it.

 

[montea6b]

I have heard of these types of stories before. What disturbs me in scene two and three is that no mention is made of raising a ruckus at the time of the incident. Valuable evidence could have been obtained at the time that could be used to put an end to that particular little scam.

 

In scenario 2 I would have walked over, grabbed the expired card that was tried to pass to me, and called in a manager. If that card did not happen to belong to a diner that was in the restaurant at the time, (proving that it could have been an innocent mistake) I'd have the police there to arrest somebody.

 

In scenario 3, I would seize the cell phone, and if there was an image of my card on it I'd have management and the police immediately involved. Police might even have to make two arrests... one of them being me, for assaulting the punk.

 

Anytime we as the general population fail to take action to prevent these sorts of things we just pass this crime along to the next victim. I always go out of my way to thank any clerk who asks me for my ID. We should encourage this, and never disparage anybody who attempts to prevent fraud.

[FC]

You are right. You know the waitress would have claimed it was an honest mistake, but I wouldn't have accepted it.

The cops took care of my issue as far as the "re-seller" is concerned, but there's no justice for the Nigerians who did this. I lost no money, because I acted fast to cancel orders.