MSDW (Mastercard) blocked?

StanleyMorgan

Just had a call from Morgan Stanley fraud dept. who took me through the usual security routine then said that they were blocking my card because of a "security issue with Mastercard". They said they would send out a replacement card ASAP (new number) and offered to run through recent transactions if I was concerned. It was stressed that it was not due to anything I had done.
Anyone know of any recent mass security breaches with Mastercard or its services? I know there was a big security issue last year .
Just curious because a colleague in same office said "oh yes, that happened to me last week"...

Cheers,

grumbler

Are you sure it was a genuine call? Are there transactions that you cannot recognise indeed?

StanleyMorgan

Yes, it appears to have been genuine, they could quote recent transactions that were not on the statement yet. Nothing appears wrong with the balance quoted either, sounded like they were fishing to see if accounts had been compromised.
I agree with you here - always treat such enquiries with suspicion!

The_Boss

Morgan Stanley fraud department call me at least every other week, but never had a call like that from them!

losjaeger

I was unable to use my MSDW card today (Tues 25th April 2006).
It was being declined when I went to pay for my weekly shopping.
Came home and called MSDW.
And yes, they confirmed that apparently the Mastercard system may have been compromised and as a result they had to cancel my current card and issue a new one immediately.
Apparently someone from their department tried to call me on 22nd April 2006 to inform me but I got no such phone call.

This is the 3rd time in 3 years I have had to change my MSDW card because of fraud problems.

Chip and Pin is b@ll@cks if the actual proprietor of the card i.e. Mastercard can have their security compromised..

This is one of the problems of out-sourcing your data processing to places like India.
You cannot guarantee the security of your systems when you pay the staff such low wages for such hi-tech jobs.

eagle

Hmm... an interesting thread.

I wasn't bothered to mention it at the time, but earlier this month I was out doing some late-night shopping. I made a purchase for £250, even though my first MS bill hadn't even cleared from my bank account. They called me straight away, at home and at work (the droids didn't think that I wouldn't be at my office at 9pm whilst I'm spending money at John Lewis!!!) - they wanted to check I still had the card and so on.

I was a bit mad at the thought of this intrusion, but later thought it was probably for my own protection. In any case, if as people have said here, this is a regular occurrence, I won't be too pleased!!!

The_Boss

eagle wrote:

Hmm... an interesting thread.

I wasn't bothered to mention it at the time, but earlier this month I was out doing some late-night shopping. I made a purchase for £250, even though my first MS bill hadn't even cleared from my bank account. They called me straight away, at home and at work (the droids didn't think that I wouldn't be at my office at 9pm whilst I'm spending money at John Lewis!!!) - they wanted to check I still had the card and so on.

I was a bit mad at the thought of this intrusion, but later thought it was probably for my own protection. In any case, if as people have said here, this is a regular occurrence, I won't be too pleased!!!

Yep, and whats worse is that they put notes on my file at my request to ensure this doesnt happen, and then it still does. I buy a lot of stuff every month at all sorts of times of day. Sometimes I even get letters saying they have tried to call me when they in fact havent. And the idiots call my home number first, when if they used their sense, they would contact me on my mobile first since its hard to be shopping and at home at the same time!

eagle

The_Boss wrote:

Yep, and whats worse is that they put notes on my file at my request to ensure this doesnt happen, and then it still does. I buy a lot of stuff every month at all sorts of times of day. Sometimes I even get letters saying they have tried to call me when they in fact havent. And the idiots call my home number first, when if they used their sense, they would contact me on my mobile first since its hard to be shopping and at home at the same time!

Blimey, how incompetent can a company get!!

If they continue like this with me, I may just tell them to shove their card, and I'll get a Conran Visa as my back-up (non Amex) cashback card. I had a Morgan Stanley platinum before, but as I wasn't using it I just stuck with my Nationwide Visa. Now I've got it back again, I'm beginning to think they are not the brightest sparks in the box.

StanleyMorgan

Must say I've been less than impressed with MS over the years,
Early on they sent mail with the card number visible through the window
in the envelope. I've had a couple of contested transactions (<£10) that they
simply removed - didn't even send out forms to sign for them.
The Web security is poor - username and password only.
Oh, and the credit card cheques fiasco (no thanks!)
If it wasn't for the cashback I'd have cancelled ages ago.

I guess you get what you "pay" for.

Grahamo_3

I'm really not trying to have a go here but.....

its kind of well known that Morgan stanley tend to be a bit more protective over credit.... surely that is 100% better than someone being allowed to run up spends on your card. When ms do a security call they have identified an unusual spend.... you answer a few security questions and then the puchase can be approved, i fail to see how this is a bad thing?? i can see why it's mildly annoying but surely you people would rather know about any sort of security risk.. if morgan stanley was less stict and you became the victim of card fraud; you would probably post on here how awful they were!

Graham

currentmember

Could it be because of the recent hacking of TK MAXX computers and theft of details?- have you shopped there? Maybe MSDW have looked at all their records and stopped all cards that have used them there.