Visa Debit Fraud

Fudge1980

Hello lovely people. Wonder if anyone can give any advice or if anyone's been in a similar situation?

I bank with the Nationwide, flexaccount and all is lovely until two weeks ago when I checked my online account and found nearly £300 debited by Visa to some Lithuanian company, exchanged from Euros. Phoned the bank, got the card cancelled but then found out the next day that just before the card got cancelled there were 3 more unauthorised Visa debits this time to a Swiss company all for just over £300. Went to the bank and have filled in a Visa Debit dispute form.

I've feel silly but have no idea where they got my details from, I always check Cash Machines before I use them and only shop on the net from secure, well known names. I've not been abroad for a long time either.

I know I'm rambling, but 2 questions really: How long does it usually take for an answer to come back from the dispute people, and how likely is it I'll get my money back?

Any advice much appreciated!
Cheers,
Ben (money novice)

L_D_N

Hi Ben,

Sorry to hear you've been caught somehow. I was on holiday in South Africa with friends when one of their credit cards was cloned - we had no idea at the time. Barclaycard called them two months later to see if they were really in jo-burg buying lots of TVs and other electrical goods!

Good news is, their insurance on the card covered this and all the money was refunded (not without some husband / wife blaming in the meantime!).

Do you have additional insurance with your account? I would keep on their backs to get it resolved and ask for up to date progress.

Good luck with this, it's a lot of money to suddenly have disappear.

Lorraine

bargains83

Generally you shouldn't need any form of insurance. If these transactions were debited physically in Lithuania/Sweeden I.E they were done in shops and you were in the UK at the time, and were using your card normally at the same time there is absolutely no way it can have been you since you can't be in two places at once!, so they should refund you without too much trouble.

You can expect some pretty grilling questioning from Nationwide though, such as. Where do you keep your card?, have you ever left it unattended?, does anyone else know where you keep it?. What places have you used it in recently?.

They can easily trace who has used the card as if they ordered goods they would have had to go to the criminals address.

Fudge1980

Guys,

Thanks very much for your help. I'm still waiting for an answer, but have been asked some questions similar to those you described.

I'll let you know if I'm successful!

Cheers,
Ben

pin

When my debit card was cloned a few years ago (with HSBC), they were very good about it. Had the money back into my account within about 3 weeks.

Fudge1980

Well, finally after a bit of heavy questioning the money (all of it) has been credited back to my account. Thanks for all your help guys!

Kilty_2

There are plenty theories around about card details being leaked from VISA/Card Merchants, after a scam where a Romanian website debited loads of cards, some people had never used the card in question, anywhere :eek:

Headdown_2

My bank card and Visa card both got cloned about 2 years ago - would you believe my debit card got cloned in the cash machine outside my own branch!

My Visa (I think) got cloned in a restaurant in London, since then I have followed these rules religiously.

Don't use cash machines - either get cash withdrawals IN a branch of your bank or from you local post office or cashback from supermarkets. This takes a bit more planning - I usually take larger amounts out from my branch to see me through the week depending on what I am doing.

Get a prepaid Maestro card or travel card - I use this if I am going to London and need to buy drinks, eat out, etc - I pre load this online, use this to pay for things and then when I claim on my expenses simply reload it again. This card is not tied to your bank account or any credit limit - the worst that will happen is that you would only lose what was on the card - I only keep smallish amounts on there (£100 max)

Try and keep to a routine of filling up with petrol at local places you know - I only fill up at my local tesco.

You can only do so much to protect yourself, but if you follow a few steps at least you can console yourself that you have tried!