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

CFC

Same thing has just happened to me. 2 payments of £15 to O2. Their security must be rubbish. You can clearly use anyone's credit card to top up an O2 phone.

iB1

Sue_Hart wrote: »

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.

Add me to the list as well. My situation was almost identical to Sue_Hart's above.

I checked my Halifax credit card online, and noticed a payment for £20 to O2(UK)Ltd Prepay. I phoned Halifax immediately and told them that this was a fraudulent transaction. I was surprised and disappointed by how Halifax reacted initially.

Firstly, I was told to ring O2 and sort it out with them and they would credit me back. I then had to ask them to cancel the card, as they were about to hang up! Surely it's obvious that if your card has been used for a fraudulent transaction, then the card details have been compromised, so the first thing to do would be to cancel it Lord knows how many more transactions would have happened if I had just left it.

I then rang O2, which was quite difficult as their automated system for Pay and Go assumes you have an O2 mobile (which I don't), and they told me to ring my credit card provider to get an indemnity claim form... round in circles we go!

Although it would be very difficult to do, I'd love to find out how they got my credit card details. I very rarely use my card, use strong passwords online and shred everything. The only thing I have used it for was for a hotel a few weeks ago in Liverpool, where I had to write down my name, address and postcode on a piece of paper. Hmmmmm :rolleyes:

*zippy*

I've had a second one within a few months. First time Nationwide were fab, very good customer service, no hassle, uk call centre and I was refunded before i'd even returned the forms. This time M&S are very dissapointing, told I have to wait for a call back, they didn't know when. No cancelling the card in the mean time as they don't think there is any need, I reported on Wednesday and am still being told I have to wait for a call from the relevant dept as its done by priority. I will be cancelling my M&S account asap as I know who I would rather deal with in future.

antispam246

I'm so glad I remembered this thread. I just got back from Egypt and checked over my Barclays statement online, everything was in order except this,

O2(UK)LTD PREPAY -£15.00

Now, I have a DD with O2 (contract) that is £20 so I know it's not that. I don't have nor never use an o2 top-up/pre-pay. I do have an O2 money card which is what I was thinking it could be initially, however, I've never used it, yet, can't even log onto the damn site yet.

Does this look like what this thread is talking about. I noticed alot of people saying they've had -£15 amounts deducted from o2, is it listed the same as above?

I will probably read through the whole thread but I'd like to know

How could this have happened? What's the general consensus on how this is occuring, specifically with o2? I'm very very very very careful so it could only mean my details have been passed on by another company, my card details, or, my card details are available on some black market cyberspace site and someones tried their luck with it.

Again, I will read the thread when I have a chance but where do I go from here? Report to O2 then to Barclays? What else should I be worried about?

Edit: Reading through the thread now. Just to add, I never used my card abroad. Now worried more than my card details are available somewhere. Also would the line I posted from my statement indicate it was done online?

CFC

Egg were very good, they cancelled my card immediately.

antispam246

Well, cancelled my card with Barclays, replacement on the way and forms to fill for refund which they said straight up I'd get. They also acknowledged this was very common place.

Call O2, reported it, again, said it was common place, they were meant to be calling me back but no word yet.

antispam246

O2 finally called me back yesterday. So that part is resolved, just hope Barclays process my post for refund, assuming it ever gets there with the current postal strikes.

LinD

Oh no. Not again. Oh please. I've just opened my Barclays debit card statement and I've been cleaned out. Several payments out of my account to 'O2 Money Card' for £500 each, amounting to £1,700 in total. I've just been on the phone to Barclays Fraud Department who said all they can do is stop my card and look into it. What is so shocking is that this has been going on for 3 weeks and they didn't even pick up on it (and in the past they've stopped my card when I've simply tried to buy petrol). This is also quite a new card (the last one was stopped earlier in this thread for mobile phone topup fraud) and I just can't fathom how these fraudsters are getting my details.

Sorry for the rant but I've been in tears for the last hour. I'm devastated by this. I just hope the bank can sort it out because I've nothing to pay my bills for the next month.

WWitch

This has just happened to me today....£15....O2 (UK) prepay...luckily they took it today and I was online and spotted it, hurried down to Lloyds who seemed clueless but gave me a number to call. I called it and they said it was a phone transaction to O2 to top up a mobile. Told them I have never had any dealings with O2 so they have cancelled my card, said they would refund the money and investigate.

I hate this feeling though. Do these people have all my details? My address? I use my cards all the time online (Amazon, Play.com, Paypal etc) and out and about...but I have done for years with no problems.

Have to check my other cards now!

LinD

WWitch, was the fraud on your debit card, or a credit card?