Whos been using my credit card??? Not me!! Updated And Again!!

jaxxy00

I had a phone call today from Direct Line Mastercard querying some recent transactions on my account. As it is a card that i hardly use my initial reaction was 'but i dont use my card' (it is cut up into pieces in my purse in case of the need to use online then i can still use the details) .
Anyway to keep things shortish and simple someone last night in the USA attempted a transaction for $1 which my card company blocked as they thought it suspicious and not in keeping with my normal spend habits. They told me that what the thiefs try and do is get a small transaction allowed (cant remeber the term she used) which would confirm to them it was a real working account and they then would have gone on to have a spending spree.
She asked me all about if anyone else uses the card and do i have it in my possesion etc. She said that the card got swiped last night so i asked how could that be possible but she said they are very clever, thats how they make their living and they are at it 24 hours a day. I then said does that mean i could have something on my computer which means they are accessing my info, but she said not to worry and in the event that any transactrions were made fraudulantly the bank would be liable and not me anyway. BUT I AM WORRIED, VERY WORRIED.
I am so security concious, i keep my anti virus up to date daily or twice a day. I dont log into any type of accounts (bank, catalogues, ebay etc) on anyone elses computer. I cant believe this has happened to me, i went shivery cold when she was telling me on the phone.
Where have i gone wrong or what have i done? How do these things happen?
The card has not been used physically for about 18 months or longer (it has a balance on it that im clearing and so not using the card unless absolutely neccessary, even then due to being cut up, can only be used online).
I am just so puzzled and shocked by this and was wondering if anyone has any answers or have experienced something similar themselves.
Please see further posts for updates.

zzzLazyDaisy

This happened to me a couple of years ago. I never knew how it happened, but it was only used for on-line transactions which suggested that they didn't have my signature or address details. I can only think that it was something to do with an online transaction or maybe a phone transaction.

Anyway, the CC co stopped the card and refunded all the fraudulent transactions. They said they could see that it wasn't me - they were mostly internet !!!!!! sites!!!

It did upset me a lot at the time, but it hasn't happened since. If anything, it has made me trust CC's much more - if that had been my debit card, they could have cleaned me out and you don't get the same level of protection with a debit card. A friend had £2000 taken from her current account with a cloned debit card and never got it back.

Now, I make sure that I only keep a small amount of money in the bank with the debit card, and the rest in another account and move it across when I need to.

Sorry you've had this experience. Cahoot does a webcard that gives a different number each time so it cant be cloned. Might be worth looking at?

jamesd

Try not to be concerned. This sort of thing is routine. I've had one card from the same issuer compromised twice in 20 years, first when my pocket was picked, then due to a fraud ring based at a supermarket. The bank dealt with both incidents without me paying anything. In both cases, the bank noticed before I did.

In your case it is most likely that the system at a vendor you have purchased from was compromised. You can be sure that the credit card company is looking for any signs of this and will be dealing with all affected cards if they do find a common factor like this.

Robert_Sterling

It happened to me.
Card company asked me if I had used my card in America.
I said no.
They said "We thought not"
They cancelled my card and sent me a new one.
No problem for me.

The_Boss

zzzLazyDaisy wrote:

Anyway, the CC co stopped the card and refunded all the fraudulent transactions. They said they could see that it wasn't me - they were mostly internet !!!!!! sites!!!

Damn, I'd have been in a bit of trouble then......

trippy

I had a bizzare thing happen to me. I was living in Spain, had my bag stolen, cancelled the card which was then reissued and sent to my UK address. Even though the new card was sitting on the doormat in the UK, envelope unopened, the reissued card was being used in Spain at the tolls! Explain that one! The card issuer refunded all transactions.

GlennTheBaker

Robert_Sterling wrote:

It happened to me.
Card company asked me if I had used my card in America.
I said no.
They said "We thought not"
They cancelled my card and sent me a new one.
No problem for me.

Same here. Two fraudulent transactions for an internet !!!!!! service appeared on my MBNA MasterCard and it was flagged on their systems straight away. They called me only a couple of hours after the transactions were made - well before I was aware of them. Card closed and re-issued no problem.

Geoggy

last month i had 300 quids worth of train tickets for an italian railway company.

the fraud people at mbna said the latest fraud involves computer programs the randonly generate card numbers and try transactions on web sites with poor security. once they get a hit, they go on a spree.

all got refunded, nothing to worry about, just a bit inconvenient having no card for a week or so.

jaxxy00

Thanks everyone for your replies, i realise its not just me then. The lady said that they will block my account and close it down. Then they will send me new cards etc.
Thanks for the info on the debit/credit card protection. If possible i will use my credit card now for transactions in the event of anything similar happening. I have my Direct Line card with a balance that im clearing, which once cleared i will close the account and not use anymore. The card i currently use is a Mint card which has just a £400 limit on it and this is tied to my paypal and ebay account and anything i put on this i try and clear straight away so its always avaiable for use. Thats a good idea about keeping the minimum in a current account and the rest in another also. Thanks

nearlyrich

Just had a call from a relative who has had thousands of pounds worth of fraudulent transactions on a CC. Fortunately it is obvious it's not normal spending but it makes you think doesn't it? I use an Egg card so I can keep a close eye on the transactions online, I use a cc for all my expenses and claim back from work monthly and it gets up to £1000-£1500 with diesel and hotels.

jaxxy00

Yes cry is what i did when i found out another of my credit cards has been used. The bill came in yesterday for my Virgin card which i have not used for at least a year or more. When i looked there was a £90 transaction for BT Click and Buy. I phoned Virgin to find out what it was and was told it was an onlone betting company called Bet Fair. I have rang them and was told that my card was used to join the site but what i didnt like was not only did they give my card details but also my correct address including postcode and my phone number (im ex directory too). I asked what email they had given but he wasnt allowed to tell me but he did say that it was a yahoo address and that it didnt make a lot of sense.
Virgin are sending me a form which i have to fill in and they then claim off the company or something like that.
Just goes to show that not all card companies are as vigilant as others though. My Direct Line Mastercard was blocked when the $1 transaction attempted to go through.
I really do feel like im being watched/stalked as how can people know all these things about me.
To make matters worse, the Virgin card was a replacement in February as the old one ran out and the new card has NEVER been used online, instore or anywhere at all. So how on earth is it possible for people to get the details???
Going back to the Direct LIne card issue, they sent me replacement cards and pin but guess what? They both arrived together in the post on the same day :eek: and the envelope which contained the cards was half unstuck!! I phoned and complained as they are supposed to send pins and cards seperately for security issues.
Anyway, ive rang all 4 of my card companys now and told them to block the accounts so no transactions can take place on them. I know i am probably going to regret it if and when the time comes i need something but i cant be having the constant worry of each month wondering if something has been added to my credit card bill which shouldnt be. I have just got my Mint card with a £400 limit which is tied to my Ebay and Paypal account so i really didnt want to block that one.
What im wondering now is, is there a possibility that whoever is doing this (is it likely to be the same people) could have gone into stores or even online as with Dabs etc and got credit over so many months etc? If i rang Equifax and Experian would they be able to tell me if there had been any activity on my accounts?
I feel like i darent do anything now. When i log into anything online i think someone may be watching me, its horrible.