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

smf412

My bank called me within minutes of a £10 top up appearing on my card. I don't understand how they knew it wasn't mine but as it happens it was for an O2 mobile and we don't have any O2 mobiles in our house. I have such respect for the fact that they spotted it within seconds so I had no fear any other transactions were going to go through. The best security comes from the bank you have your card with I think, if it takes till you've got your statement so much more money can be taken.

smf412

Through discussion with the bank, we figured out btw that they got the details through a fake website where the checkout process does not complete but by then they've got the details they need. So just be careful about using new shops that you've not used before and if the process doesn't complete for any reason let your bank know straight away.

babyboo_3

hi,
this happened to my partner last month and we assumed it was a mistake. barclays didnt take it very seriously and said they would call back but didnt. my partner is very slow with things like this and has let it slip but on reading this and realising it could be fraud i will be on to him to sort it out asap. the amount was 30 pound for an 02 top up (he was no longer using his 02 phone so knew it was a mistake) and as it happened at the end of a month it put him overdrawn on his barclays account that he hadnt yet set up an overdrawt limit on, so he also got a charge of 20 quid applied. so this has cost him 50 quid. will barclays refund the charge too do you think?

*Flybaby*

Hi. At the end of July I noticed when checking my current account statement online that £30 O2 top up was taken from my current account on 24th July (I have nothing to do with O2) followed by £130 to a website called Maximuscle.com for body building "supplements" three days later. My bank cancelled my debit card immediately and sent a new one. I can't understand how anyone got my card details - I am so careful. My bank refunded the money within a week, but I am left wondering whether someone can do the same with my new card - I mean, the account details are the same? It's bad form really but I would suggest everyone checks their statements carefully

HGLTsuperstar

Update to my post above, #301. The new credit card came today and sure enough the £30 to O2 has been taken and is showing on my online statement. Rang Nationwide who said they would send me out claim forms and then decide if they will refund me or not - although they did admit this is becomming a well-known fraud (both the company and the sum) so hopefully should be sorted.
But unnerving how someone can have enough info for this to be authorised.

Mazzie

I live in Canada, but I maintain a Lloyds bank account. I went over to the UK on July 26th and returned back to Canada on August 7th. I used my debit card a few times for purchases, but it was never out of my sight and no-one else but me knows my PIN number. On August 25th, (2 days ago) I checked my bank account online and found that on that very day a payment for £30 to O2 had been taken out of my account. I immediately called my bank as I have no dealings at all with O2. The bank put me through to the fraud department and they cancelled my card immediately and are sending me a new one to my UK address. They are sending forms for me to Canada. The £30 was refunded back to my account the very next day. It appears that no-one knows how these fraudsters are getting the numbers, but there must be one common link between what is happening.

I believe that this may be coming from online purchases. I made 2 online purchases with my debit card recently, one was when I was in the UK, I purchased a digital camera from a company in the UK. The other online purchase was on August 20th when I was back here in Canada, it was for £4.90 to someone on eBay who sold me an unlocking code for my Dongle. (Funny that this transaction had something to do with Mobile Phones) I paid by PayPal for this and it was supposed to have been paid with a direct debit from my bank account. However, that did not happen because my bank account direct debit for PayPal had expired and I received an email from PayPal saying that they had charged the debit card which I had on file with them for the $4.90.

I am relating this experience to see if anyone else may have purchased something using PayPal or eBay just before the top up money was illegally taken from their bank account. I also used my debit card at Gatwick Airport on August 7th in M&S.

People should seriously think about what actions and purchases they have made just prior to the money being taken out of their account and perhaps they can post it here. Maybe then we will all find a common thread as to how our details are getting stolen.

Mand12

I can be added to this list. Thankfully I always check my account every couple of days to check everything is ok. Spotted £15.00 had left my account on 26th another £15.00 yesterday, both to 02 Prepay Slough. Reading other people's experiences this seems to be the most common. Have cancelled card and have spoken to the bank's fraud department to get a refund. I too am completely baffled how they got my details. I do order products online but I only use companies with secure well known transaction sites such as Worldpay. In stores I never let it out of my sight, I am always really carefull. I can't believe so many innocent people are falling victim to this and it has been going on for so long. I wish we could find a common link between us to crack this. It is not a nice feeling to know some creep has your personal details.

nomnomnom

Second time this (top up scam) has happened to me. First time was on my HSBC debit card and I spotted it a few weeks after the transaction. HSBC were hard work on the phone! I had to answer loads of questions about who can use my pc etc!! Got the money refunded a few days later.

Received a call from Natwest fraud dept the other day. My credit card had been used to try and do a vodafone top up. Natwest put a stop on the card immediately because they put the exp date in slightly wrong!! It was close though. But they rang and made sure it wasn't me and I haven't had to do anything, just wait for my new card.

Natwest are much better at this kind of thing then HSBC. Years ago my natwest cc was cloned and used in a load of electrical stores. They ran up 3K. They were on the ball then as well as they phoned me the day it happened. It also once happened on my Nationwide cc and they were rubbish. Took 3 months to give me 100 quid back despite them promising it back within a few days

HGLTsuperstar

Funny how it's O2. Either 1) they're in on the scam or (more likely) 2. they have weaker security than other companies and this is being taken advantage of.

SimbaSimon

Just got done by Orange and Vodafone and possible some more over the weekend which aren't showing yet.

So annoyed, especially as Egg rung on Friday due to possible fraudulent activity but the bloke on the phone was useless. I had my doubts at the time but wish I'd just told them to cancel it anyway on Friday but the bloke said it was fine.

I thought it was suspicious as I had an automated phone call from egg which lists transactions, some were real and it was egg, but one of them was for an american data processing company but the bloke insisted this was probably just the secured by mastercard thing perhaps.

idiot!