credit card fraud? have you been done recently?

James · 8 May 2007 at 10:33PM

An 80 year-old had his wallet stolen, went home immediately and cancelled his cards.

Too late, someone had used his PO Card to withdraw £30. The PO didn't want to know, insisting he had written down his PIN.

Then the press got involved and he had his £30 returned.

So much for the Banking Code!

Story click here. Scroll down to Post Office Gesture After Stolen Card Used.

harryhound · 10 May 2007 at 9:34PM

Interesting program on BBC Radio 4 tonight.

There has been a lot of publicity over the last couple of years about "Operation Ore": Pictures of the Police raiding homes and carrying off PC's for forensic examination.

It seems the USA police supplied the British police with records of a portal site they raided. This site acted as banker for a chain of pornography sites; it collected and cashed the credit card details and later distributed the takings to the pornography sites.

In a significant number of cases men in the UK were taken in for questioning because when they were at work in the UK, someone in (say) Brazil submitted their credit card details and paid for access to a site called (say) "Russian-Lolita-Video" and as far as the police were concerned, the best they could expect was an official caution and 2 years on the sex offenders register.
Fortunately their solicitors and the BBC were able to hire a computer expert able to show that the credit card was used in Brazil and much more to the point, after paying for the "Lolita" video, the customer did not bother to click through to the Russian site and collect his purchase.

The crooks were simply milking cash from stolen credit card details and laundering it through the portal site. Finding "Russian-Lolita-Video" on your credit card statement, would you storm down to the local cop shop demanding to report a fraud ?

Now try and tell me credit card fraud is a victim less crime and just tell the clerk to raise a charge-back.

Harry.

By the way here in the UK, "child pornography" is now defined as a sex act involving a "child" under the age of 18.

James · 11 May 2007 at 6:09AM

Story from the BBC click here.

Further proof that the greatest challenge to the card industry is to ensure that the person using the card details is the rightful owner. We've already seen PIN related disputes and how they effect inocent victims.

A point that is overlooked in the above crime is who allows these pedlars to take payment by Visa, MasterCard etc? Do their (peddlars) banks' really Know Their Customers? Why are they never tracked down?

It's easy to prevent someone applying for a card using your personal details and it's free.

Click here and/or here.

HLK · 11 May 2007 at 5:43PM

My husbands AMEX card , which isn't chip and pin, has been hijacked in some way. About a month ago he got a couple of transactions queried when we were on holiday in England. i.e at Tescos. He also got a call from them on his mobile later that day.. mmm anyway somehow Amex have allowed a total stranger to change the address on the account, the pin number etc .. but obviously not our bank details. So we have now a bill of 2500 already gone out of our account .. and heavens knows how much more on the way. sigh. he was told this evening that the fraud team have been investigating his card for over a week.. we're not quite sure what to do at this point We have stopped the cards.. but we have not received a statement or are able to see what transactions have been made. Any advice would be helpful

James · 11 May 2007 at 7:11PM

Sorry to hear of your husbands bad experience.

It sounds as if someone has used your husbands personal details, contacted AMEX possibly told them he's moved and ordered a new card and PIN. They can then use this without fear of being caught.

I'd advise your husband to check his credit files sonnest as there's a possibility that the crook may have applied for other cards or loans.

You can obtain your credit reports from:

Equifax

CallCredit

Experian. (You may have to call them to order your £2 report)

Then your husband taking proactive steps to protect hiself from further application fraud attempts.

see: www.freeidprotection.co.uk

PS (Edited): I meant to add - keep a close eye on ALL your statements too

HLK · 11 May 2007 at 11:51PM

Thanks James. We are on this straight away. As I am a joint card holder, we are following your advice for both of us.

Mozette · 12 May 2007 at 12:37AM

I'm not saying it can't happen to me, just that it hasn't happened to me (yet, if you like). If it does, I'll be sure to let you know, but I just think, from reading his various posts, that James is a bit OTT on the subject. I know a lot of people and only know one who has been unfortunate enough to have a card misused - bit of hassle, but sorted fairly quickly.

Still, if you want to go round shouting that the sky has fallen; enjoy!

HLK · 13 May 2007 at 12:22AM

Mozette wrote: »

I'm not saying it can't happen to me, just that it hasn't happened to me (yet, if you like). If it does, I'll be sure to let you know, but I just think, from reading his various posts, that James is a bit OTT on the subject. I know a lot of people and only know one who has been unfortunate enough to have a card misused - bit of hassle, but sorted fairly quickly.

Still, if you want to go round shouting that the sky has fallen; enjoy!

mmmm - wish I could be that laid back with a £2500 hole in our finances, and more to come. No it is not the end of the world but is is more than a 'bit of hassle'. I am so glad people like James are around to help out.

James · 15 May 2007 at 9:04AM

From Todays Telegraph:

The introduction of chip and pin cards was supposed to reduce fraud, but complaints involving disputed transactions have soared. The banks increasingly appear to doubt the word of the customer

This site gets a nice mention too: Click here.

Don't be a victim and let the Banks PIN the blame on you, continue to sign, get yourself Chip & Signature Credit Cards.

ontheup_3 · 15 May 2007 at 9:46AM

Mozette wrote: »

I'm not saying it can't happen to me, just that it hasn't happened to me (yet, if you like). If it does, I'll be sure to let you know, but I just think, from reading his various posts, that James is a bit OTT on the subject. I know a lot of people and only know one who has been unfortunate enough to have a card misused - bit of hassle, but sorted fairly quickly.

Still, if you want to go round shouting that the sky has fallen; enjoy!

Im very sorry but if you have that sort of attitude then why are you even bothering to post ???

As you state you havent been done YET !! So why do you feel you are qualified to say someone is OTT ??????

I had 2 cards cloned 3 days before i moved house and it created more than a "bit of hassle" i had over £2000 taken and took weeks to get sorted just as i needed every penny i had for the new house .

I hope you get it all sorted ASAP HLK

And James you have not gone OTT at all !!!

credit card fraud? have you been done recently?

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