Clever Christmas Thieves

vernon

Just received an out of the blue credit card statement from Nationwide. A card I rarely use, have never lost it and do not use it for online purchases. Apparently I spent £537 online with Fortnum and Mason in London. Reported the fraud immediately. Helpful person at Nationwide/Visa. Was told that another £620 had been spent online with F & M. I know their prices are expensive but that total must have bought some fine foods! Card blocked and a form to be sent to me to plead ignorance and get my 'payments' cancelled. Apparently the poor retailer gets the money clawed back (if it is Fortnum and Mason)?
Incredible sick skill from the fraudsters. Seems amazing that their expertise is in advance of the banks. Hoping this will help everyone to be more and more vigilant. What can we do? Back to cash and cheque payments?

bryanb

Any idea how they got your Name address details etc?

Dabooka

Cheques were forever being fradulently written out too. Basically the thieves of the world will always find a way to beat the system; look at chip and pin!

lisyloo

What can we do? Back to cash and cheque payments?

Shread all correspondance with any details on it.
Be careful who you give you details to e.g. competitions,
Don't give ANY details over the phone to some that calls you. (call them back).
Don't click on ANY links in emails - go direct to website.
Minimising card to those you actually need and use, helps keep track and avoids dormancy fees.
Don't carry your world goods in your handbag/wallet/purse.

Not sure you can avoid it completely as there are some "insider" issues.

I had AXA call me the other day offering me free accident insurance.
I think they were genuine but I NEVER give details out over the phone to someone who calls me.
If it's genuine, you will be able to call them back (but verify the number).

Alex_LS

Dabooka wrote: »

Cheques were forever being fradulently written out too. Basically the thieves of the world will always find a way to beat the system; look at chip and pin!

There's no evidence that Chip & PIN has actually been beaten.

vernon

bryanb wrote: »

Any idea how they got your Name address details etc?

I wish I knew. A card that is supposedly 'Verified by Visa'. I will get the transactions cleared eventually. Just wish that more can be done to identify and prosecute the thieves.

Dabooka

Alex_LS wrote: »

There's no evidence that Chip & PIN has actually been beaten.

:rotfl:

Beaten as in hacked? No.

Duplicated and replicated, copied and intercepted? Yes.

And the burden of proof falls on to the individual, whom is assumed complacent and therefore liable.

Dabooka

vernon wrote: »

I wish I knew. A card that is supposedly 'Verified by Visa'. I will get the transactions cleared eventually. Just wish that more can be done to identify and prosecute the thieves.

VBV is another well known joke. Anyone who knows your birthdate can reset the password.

Alex_LS

Dabooka wrote: »

Beaten as in hacked? No.

Duplicated and replicated, copied and intercepted? Yes.

Not quite. Intercepted, yes - but then anything can be intercepted.
Duplicated and replicated, no.
Copied - some information, yes. And any online authorisation will show anomalous data (chip data on a mag stripe, or incorrect cryptograms).

C_Mababejive

I think a lot of this crookery originates from within the industry and its upply chains/service industries.

ManicMum

I had credit card stolen and bank said it was used to purchase petrol at 3am or something using chip and pin. There's no way thieves could have known my number. And I definitely wasn't filling up at 3am. Have better things to do like sleep. Got money back after some argy-bargy with bank.