I'm so freaked out... credit card fraud

[Lavender Brown]

I got a call from my credit card company about unusual activity on my account. I haven't used it for much lately but all of a sudden there were these huge charges. My card wasn't stolen or lost, but someone has been using it online and racking up big charges at various sites. The people I spoke to at the CC company were really helpful, but apparently it is going to take a few months to get all sorted out. :cry: :scared:

[shesemsmom]

1. It's good they caught it.

I'm sure the will cancel that account and not hold you responsable for the charges. But doesn't it pee you off!!!

[Mrs_Beastman]

2. so sorry to hear that

but look at the bright side...it wasn't your debit card that is linked to your checking account that you need to live on,right? You will get a credit back for the charges in a little over a week.

[Beaverhausen]

3. You should check all of your accounts for suspicious activity

that sucks. Here's a hug for what it's worth!

:hug:

[Technowitch]

4. Protecting yourself

Hi Lavender,

There -are- computer programs out there that generate usable/valid numbers, and by simple trial-and-error, it's even sometimes possible for someone to guess the appropriate expiration date.

However, now that this has happened, there are some things you need to do. One of the first and foremost is to contact the three major credit reporting agencies -- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Actually, if you go to one and report a problem, they'll propagate it to the other two. Personally, I find Experian easy to use. Anyway, what you want to do is find the phone number so you can call the agency and have a SECURITY BLOCK put on your credit records. Essentially, you are informing them, "Someone out there is misusing my information" -- this can help keep this criminal from opening up more accounts in your name.

Also ask for credit reports, which are your right when there's been fraud. Check EVERYTHING for potential fraud, and if you see anything untoward, report it.

Next, I would advise filing a police report, just in case this thief stole a replacement card from your mailbox. The fact you've reported the crime can help in the future, should there be additional charges in your name.

Good luck.

[Debi]

5. If you haven't already gotten your free credit report

now is the time! Make sure that the activities are limited to only that account and that the charges are removed and not damaging your credit score!

:hug:

Also, keep on the police/Fed. Authorities to see if they can find who used your #.

Good luck to you.

[liontamer]

6. I'm sorry

the same thing happened to me. :hug: it'll get sorted out eventually. Don't worry.

[Bunny]

7. Wow - that sucks.

I hope you can get it straightened out, without having to go to the 9th circle of hell over it!

[StopTheMorans]

8. I'm sorry Lavender

i don't have any advice, but I am glad that they caught it early, and I'm sure that it will all get sorted out in time :hug:

[elfin]

9. I check the website for my card every few days

to see "current charges" - I caught a whopper for over a thousand bucks the day after it was posted. Turned out to be a "mistake" by the company submitting the charge - but I was glad to have caught it so early. It was taken off my card imediately and there was alot of follow-up by the bank. (Juniper/MasterCard)

Hope your snafu turns out as well as mine did.

[miss_kitty]

10. Call the FTC and report it

write to the CC company as that is the only legal protection you have. After 60 days, with nothing in writing, they can just make you pay. They probably would not though. The affidavit of Fraud will do.

Report to all 3 the credit bureaus. They all CLAIM to report to the others, but don't. In a 180 from 15-20 years ago, Experian is the most responsive, Equifax the least. TU is still TU though.

[Lavender Brown]

11. Will do - thanks everyone

:banghead:

[amazona]

12. why would it take a few months to sort out?

My friend had similar experience. In a single day, they cancelled the old card and replaced it with a new card. They gave him the number right away on the phone, and he got the new card in the mail in a few days. They also reversed all the false charges. And this wasn't back in olden times, it was about 5 weeks ago.

My card was stolen back in olden times, and same thing -- we got a new card with a new number, the charges were reversed immediately.

Finding and prosecuting the thief is the credit card company's problem. Most times, they don't even bother to prosecute, this is why the crime is such a popular one, it carries very little risk. By law you are never responsible for more than $50 of the false charges. By most credit company advertising you are responsible for zero. Both Visa and Mastercard are "zero liability" cards.

Don't let 'em screw you around. No reason you should be crying or scared. It is a tiny hassle, not a huge one, if handled properly on their hand. If not handled properly, cancel the card, report the company to the proper federal authorities, and get a Visa, Master, or whatever-card from some other bank. There are zillions.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Lavender Brown]

I know, but that's what she said

The new card will be sent within a week, but she said I might still see this person's charges on my statements before they are credited. It's just a new experience for me, so I'm spooked.

[Mrs_Beastman]

15. It will take a few months to 'sort it out' on the credit card companies

end...YOU, by law, will get a credit for any charges you dispute in 10 business days.

[Lavender Brown]

16. Ok... that's good to know

[Mrs_Beastman]

17. at the end of the few months of research if they find that you

did not make the charges, you keep the credit...it will be OK :hug:

[MemphisTiger]

13. My credid card company tried this on me a couple of years

ago...If you didn't sign for it, you're not responsible. They will just try to sell you credit card protection for $15 per month. This seems to be the newest scam the credit card companies have come up with.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

14. This sort of thing is more prevelant than you know.

The hackers and crackers have cracked the secrets and eldritch ritual of the credit card companies and online repositories of your vital security information. This is a big, international and growing organized crime situation. Much of this has come from technological manipulation, but certainly not all of it. Some of it is the fruits of greed, laziness, more greed and social manipulation.

The CC companies and the credit reporting concerns have been sloppy as hell, and revisiting this business sector and coming down hard on them for their ineptitude is something Congress would do well to address.

As fucking if.

[JimmyJazz]

18. I'm sorry, sweetie!

That sounds horrible. I hope it gets straightened out for you quickly. :pals:

[barb162]

19. make sure you open all mail for several months including stores,

banks, etc., you never dealt with...often the criminals open new accounts in your name and the bills will be sent to your address. I know; it happened to me.

[sbj405]

20. File a fraud alert via the credit bureaus

This will prevent any additional accounts from being opened w/out your approval and will also entitle you to a free credit report. You can call or do it online. Easy and once covers all three credit agencies.