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

o2hater

Hi all,

27/01/201127/01/2011GBP10.00 1.625000ORANGE (A/PG/01)
3 of those
That seems to be the common piece of fraud right before they start charging tons of money. I have a BMO mastercard and recently had my old card expire 2 weeks ago and was issued a new one. In 14days people began using it in the UK. Seems BMO has an issue with fraud from within. I cancelled it right away. Issue is with tons of charges outside of these in the UK why didn't they contact me? They know I have nothing to do with the UK and that it is 5000miles away. Sadly their security is bad. All we can did it request that the card be couriered to our homes to prevent anyone in the postal service from adding to the worry of fraurd. GL to all those who this has hit. Really angry so many are affected and no one has stopped it yet. Will do what I can.

mellowbird

I too have fallen victim to this today, though its great testament to Natwest that its gone no further.
I had a call from their fraud dept. within 15 minutes of the transaction being made on an O2 top up, and they have cancelled my card and will refund the acct. I've never made any payment to o2 before which is why it flagged up.
My friend was not so lucky though recently and after the o2 top up went through, lost over 1k in gambling fraud.

Thumbs up to Natwest!

Newbie poster

Kaoslisa

My mum found 2 x £15 to O2 on her account today, found this thread by google as I was curious to how this could of happened and ended up on this thread. I cannot believe this thread goes back to 2008 and this fraud is still happening today!! She contacted Natwest and they were brilliant to be fair, cancelled her card straight away and are sending her forms, its just frustrating she's without a card for a few days now. Its ridiculous in this day and age that this scam can be allowed to continue years on from when it started!!

Spiggle_Bum

Ditto - another card cancelled due to a £15 O2 transaction...

edtheduck_2

happened to me today too :mad: 2 x £15 payments to o2 prepay slough. have reported it to Halifax and hopefully will get my refund soon - anyone any particular experience with Halifax and this particular scam - how long it takes them to refund?
Thanks

meer53

It's no good calling any of the mobile phone companies, don't waste your time. The bank should cancel your card, send you a declaration which you should sign and send back. The banks can then reclaim the money from the mobile phone companies. You are refunded, the bank gets their money back from the retailers, it's down to the phone companies to sort out after that as they're the ones who lose the money. The police are aware of these incidents and unless they can link it to a bigger issue it's highly unlikely they'll be interested in speaking to you. Card details can be compromised anywhere, it's pointless racking your brains to try to work out where !

timbstoke

Just noticed this too - two x £15 charges to O2 Slough this morning. I was checking my account because a transaction was declined earlier today, so looks like Natwest are on the ball and have already spotted it. I'm going to call them shortly and report it.

E: Natwest have cancelled the card and are sorting a refund. Most likely source for the compromise looks to be Domino's - it's the only transaction where I gave all the required details over the phone to effectively a stranger. Everything else was online to reputable companies - Play, Paypal, Amazon etc.

Katt22

I had 2 lots of £15 taken out of my account on 24th Jan, noticed/saw it straight away, went down to my local barclays branch and cancelled my card, used their phone (that was a proper ball-ache I can tell you - just being transferred to about 5 different departments and then having to repeat myself to five different people and what a palaver it is just trying to get to speak to someone who's accent I could understand, which by this point was just making me more stressed out, annoyed and frustrated) Customer service in my local branch is dreadful, which is one of the reasons why I try and avoid going into the bank at all/as much as possible...So, I waited for the forms, filled em in, sent em off, got a new card within a few days, got a reply from barclays saying they would refund the £30, ''too right you will'' I thought.

Now Ive checked my online statement today and barclays have now charged me a £22 referral fee - the thieves who took the money out of my account also caused me to go over my aggreed overdraft limit
as well, :mad:So, It feels like the bank's given back with one hand and now taken away with the other, if I had caused myself to go over my overdraft (I always try really hard not to! lol) I would totally accept responsibility for it and wouldnt bother disputing it - but I want to know If I have any chance of getting this particular £22 back??
I was told by someone over the phone that any charges incurred would be refunded but I just dont trust what they say, maybe they were only talking about just the money that was taken out (£30) - someone else could tell me something completely different if I tried to dispute it...

Please could anybody give me some advice if they think I have a chance of getting this money back from the banks, it would be much appreciated!

I cant believe this mobile top up scam has been going on for years since 2008 and the banks and phone companies cant get together and do something to sort it out properly once and for all

EeViL_WeEvil

Just noticed it today for me too, £30 from O2 in Slough. Luckily I check everyday. I have cancelled the card but have to wait until tomorrow until I can report the Fraud to Natwest.

Speedy service eh. Not.

meer53

Katt22
Barclays have to refund your account with any charges which are incurred by the fraud on your account, they have to put your account back into the position it was before the fraud occurred, they don't have the option to decline to do this. Just make sure that your charges are definately linked to the fraudulent transactions before you contact them !