MSE News: Bogus mobile top-ups could spell greater fraud danger

fatdeeman

I would like to add that apart from paypal and play.com, the only things I have used my card for recently are mrvets.co.uk, misco.co.uk and terratag.com which are all reputable and secure sites that I have dealed with in the past with no issues.

I suppose that means nothing if they have a temp working who just takes your details but what I find weird is that so many people are suffering the same thing but there seems to be no commonality, if a specific site is to blame then why are other people who have never used that site getting the exact same transactions of the exact same amounts?

It's almost as if these people are getting the details directly from the bank, if it's down to people using their card on-line then why is it always the same amount and always orange and o2, that sounds like the same party and unless they have 000's of associates across the land gleaming details then I would say either the banks or one of the online payments companies has become compromised, these fraudsters seem to be getting the details from a central source.

before_hollywood

HamiltonL wrote: »

They could well have got it from the machines at the pumps, or even skimmed your card at a cash machine. Petrol pump card machines seem to be cited as a source for fraud so be careful.

02 Slough is a common one, as is 3-Maidenhead - both places in Berkshire. Coincidence?

o2 head office is in slough if this helps

brainwaster

I got my credit card statement this morning and noticed 2 O2 (UK) Ltd Prepay SLOUGH transactions, both on the 15th of March, 1 for £10 and 1 for £20. Neither of these were me. I phoned Barclaycard and they have cancelled my card adn are sending me a new one out and also a set of Dispute forms. This has been going on for so long it seems O2 really do need to look at thier security measures.

glitchkitty

Signed up just for this thread really - it's a shocking read!

Had a missed phone call from Halifax the other day (apparently they do this if there's been suspicious activity on your card), checked my account online and noticed a debit of £30 go to O2 prepay in SLOUGH.

Haven't bothered contacting O2 at all (don't want to give them more money :rotfl:), but I went into* Halifax yesterday and they cancelled my card there and then. I answered some questions, signed two pieces of paper and they'd repayed my money by the time I got back. Really couldn't speak more highly of my local branch, this isn't the first time this has happened. Not O2, but debit card fraud in general.

Told watchdog today, as per others in this thread Hope something comes of this, because it's not on. Do O2 have to pay the banks back any money, or is it the banks losing out every time they refund the money O2 steals? As if O2 need any more money with all the apple fanboys throwing it at them

*I noticed a theme with people ringing up their banks - if possible, it might be better to deal with someone in real life. I've rung up my bank before and the people on the phone couldn't care less about your money woes

rachum_86

Just this morning I went onto my online banking to pay off my credit card (as I do every month) and there sitting innocently at the bottom of my statement was 2 x £15 O2(UK)Ltd Prepay transactions.

Considering I have an o2 contract phone (and therefore don't topup) and my direct debit with them is on my OTHER account (they have no access to my credit card info), I phoned up o2 to ask what it was. The guy knew immediately what I was on about and told me to phone my credit card company and claim for a fraudulant transaction! Seems to me he had heard of this many times before...

So, I phoned up BoS and got a very lovely and helpful man who knew exactly what I was referring to. Apparently, he had been speaking to the "dispute" branch of BoS just last week about the o2 scam and that it was unbelievably common. So he cancelled my card, reassured me my money would be back within 2 weeks and told me to keep an eye on my accounts just in case. I asked him how on earth someone could have got my details considering I am SO careful (i don't use my card at ATM's, petrol stations, on play or paypal) and he said it could either be due to incorrect input of someone's card details that turned out to match mine or that it was a scam that tries thousands of card numbers and that it just so happened to guess mine!

I really wish someone knew exactly how these people are doing this because I really don't think someone could have got my details/my address etc so easily. I also didn't have the "test" transactions or any money taken from my account after the topup. I really hope this is the end of it for me as i'm a poor, wee student and need every penny

sinbin_72

I noticed a £20 charge on my bank statement today. Phoned Halifax and reported it and they stopped card and will investigate after completing dispute procedure over the phone.

I also have a paypal account that I use regularly - what is the evidence that this may be paypal?

Am I the only one that has been done for £20 and not £30?

I am so annoyed because this has ruined my weekend. I am booked into a hotel and they need my card to pay for the booking. I now have to wait 7 days for a new card. I tried to ring and explain but they told me that I have to use the same card.

allamagoosa

I too noticed this morning when I went to check my online banking details with Alliance & Leicester I saw on my statement that £30 (2 x £15) O2(UK)Ltd Prepay transactions had been made from my debit card on the 24th. How on earth was this made and why is it still happening? As I do not even registered to O2 phone company.

I admit I have used my card to purchase items of amazon a few months ago. But I never use ATM machines, or anything else to pay by this account. I quickly rang up my bank and stopped my card and an investigation into this matter will be made.

I think it would be wise for everyone read there statements just in case it has happened to them so they can act immediately.

JaxMax_2

Well, since I phoned O2 about the fraudulent £30 (2 x £5) top up from my current account, not only have they blocked the SIM that shouldn't have been using my details, but they've also blocked MINE!!

I'm out of the country at the moment with no UK mobile (the fraud thing happened while I was out here) , no bloomin' ATM card (as that had to be cancelled) and have spent the last week trying to get through to someone in 02 who has the authority to un-block my card. I'm spending a fortune on calls to their Customer Services (don't make me laugh!) and being promised call backs within 48 hours which don't happen - probably because I'm out of the country and they don't want to phone international. My poor old mum has had to go out and buy me another 02 SIM card to send to me while I'm here so I can give 02 a UK number for them to contact me on! I'm furious, but when I complain about how much my calls to them are costing (for their mistake) and the inconvenience as well, they just come out iwth a very lame "I understand, but there's nothing I can do".

As soon as I've used up the Credit on my 02 SIMS they're going in the bin and I'm switching to another company.

Would like to add that Abbey were very good and refunded me the £30 fairly quickly.

Jax

lonfar

JaxMax wrote: »

Well, since I phoned O2 about the fraudulent £30 (2 x £5) top up from my current account, not only have they blocked the SIM that shouldn't have been using my details, but they've also blocked MINE!!

I'm out of the country at the moment with no UK mobile (the fraud thing happened while I was out here) , no bloomin' ATM card (as that had to be cancelled) and have spent the last week trying to get through to someone in 02 who has the authority to un-block my card. I'm spending a fortune on calls to their Customer Services (don't make me laugh!) and being promised call backs within 48 hours which don't happen - probably because I'm out of the country and they don't want to phone international. My poor old mum has had to go out and buy me another 02 SIM card to send to me while I'm here so I can give 02 a UK number for them to contact me on! I'm furious, but when I complain about how much my calls to them are costing (for their mistake) and the inconvenience as well, they just come out iwth a very lame "I understand, but there's nothing I can do".

As soon as I've used up the Credit on my 02 SIMS they're going in the bin and I'm switching to another company.

Would like to add that Abbey were very good and refunded me the £30 fairly quickly.

Jax

Had the same trouble as 02 charged me 2x£35, took 5 month just to do the dispute as their staff say they haven't recieve any information from me.
Still hasn't resolved yet as i not really please the speed they dispute

MrEvilGiraffe

Thank god for Moneysavingexpert.

I just logged into my account tonight like I do everynight only to notice a £30 transaction for O2(UK)LTD PREPAY SLOUGH.

Called the bank immediately to have the card stopped, lodged a fraud complaint with the fraud team and ask if any other transactions were pending, and surprise surprise, £1.52 for i-tunes has been authorised.

I do not and have never owned an O2 mobile and do not and never have or will own an i-pod or have an i-tunes account.

Bank getting back to me later today. I was shocked to see how widespread this issue is when I found this thread.

My recent transactions have been Amazon directly, a 3rd party seller on Amazon, ASDA in store and fuel at a pre-pay fuel pump at Tescos. Not good and I'm not particularly pleased. So much for chip and pin security.