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

PugLady_2

Just checked my online bank account and I have been done for £30.00 by the 02(uk)ltd prepay scam.
I rang the Halifax to say I hadn't made the transaction as I've never had any dealings with 02 at all and was told it was a dispute between me and 02 to sort out. She suggested I gave 02 a ring. Oh yeah I don't think so. I then had to point out it was a fraudulent transaction. So I asked her should I draw out all of my money or are you going to cancel the card. Now I've just got to wait for them to send forms out so I can get my money back and she cancelled the card eventually.

poppie123

It's a joke isn't it. :mad:

I got the forms from Barclays yesterday, filled them out and sent them back via recorded delivery. Just checked on the Royal Mail tracker and it has been delivered. Hopefully it shouldn't take too long for them to sort out and refund my account with the £30.

No sign of my replacement card yet though.

Platty182

Natwest refunded me the day after they received my forms which was pretty good.

Did anyone watch "the one show" on thursday?

It had a piece on this type of fraud with an elderly lady being done by £30 o2 prepay. Her bank wouldn't believe her it was fraud etc etc and o2 were not helping either.... Sound familiar?

You can watch it on BBC iPlayer. Fast forward to 17:30

I would give a proper link to the episode but the site wont let me yet so just add the www to the link below:

bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00mwfps/The_One_Show_24_09_2009/

PugLady_2

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00mwfps/The_One_Show_24_09_2009/

I think that should work

PugLady_2

rb10 wrote: »

All these cases of PAYG mobile top-up fraud happen online. That indicates that a 'clone' of the card doesn't exist. So the fraud probably doesn't originate from an ATM, because a device on the ATM, along with 'shoulder-surfing', would enable the fraudster to create a clone, and this, along with your PIN, could be used for ATM withdrawals.

The Halifax told me the transaction to 02 using my debit card details was carried out over the telephone not online. Infact they seemed quite interested to know where I was at the exact time my card was used. They also asked if I'd used my card in any cafe's and restraurants recently which suggests to me that most peoples cards are skimmed.
To be honest I didn't find the Halifax very helpful. They seemed to be blaming me, as mentioned in my previous post they even told me it was a dispute between me and 02. It was only when I mentioned the banking code and that surely this was a fraudulant transaction that they became helpful, I even had to tell them to cancel the card.
I've found credit card companies rather than banks deal with these problems a lot better. You even get phonecalls when you have made some transactions from Egg to check its you using the card.

feline1

Just found out tonight following a letter from my bank, The Clydesdale, that I've had a fraudulent £30 O2 top up transaction. Followed by a flurry of fraudulent transactions starting with an O2 money card, attempting to register for click and buy, toys r us etc.

Fortunately The Clydesdale were v helpful and nice to me, no suggestion it was my fault etc. The £30 will be returned to me within 1 working day, my card cancelled and being reissued.

My suspicions however take me back to O2. 6 weeks ago my credit card was cancelled because it flagged as being used fraudulently - this was 24 hours after I placed an online order with O2.

I used my debit card about 4 weeks ago to top up with O2 £15 - first time I've ever topped up via debit card (and the last) and here we are another card being cancelled because of fraudulent activity.

Co-incidence? Not convinced personally as I rarely use the debit card, certainly never online. Can't recall the last time I used it at an ATM or for petrol, in a restaurant etc.

Does anyone know who loses the £30 due to the scam? O2 or the bank/credit card company? I ask because I'd imagine if it were O2 it would provide an incentive to tighten security for their customers.

rb10

I very much doubt that O2's security is to blame ... instead, I expect it's more like http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=25119205&postcount=328

feline1

Like???

And why would O2's security be beyond breaching? Are all their staff vetted to a standard that would shame the Intelligence Agencies? And even then it only takes one.

Not convinced.

rb10

feline1 wrote: »

Like???

And why would O2's security be beyond breaching? Are all their staff vetted to a standard that would shame the Intelligence Agencies? And even then it only takes one.

Not convinced.

No, but I expect when you top-up online, no O2 employee actually has access to your card details. It will all be processed through their bank.

feline1

So if all these big organisations with reputations to guard are being uber careful where did the fraudsters get my debit card details?