Credit Card Fraud involving Blizzard Entertainment

garyw8pu

I also just got hit last Thursday for three Blizzard charges on my Fith / Third Visa Debit Card. I have never purchased from them before or even knew who they were. My question is, is anyone with a credit card a possible victom, or is it just those of us that do online bill paying and purchases. Obviously Blizzard has a problem with a lack of information verification they gather from credit card purchases since this has been going on now since December 06.

Gary

Jay_Ken

I have 2 charges on my cc for 27.65 each. I haven't used this card in awhile so i have no idea where they got my numb.

Mad_WOW_Parent

I have never been a fan of these games from the beginning. I have 2 teenage sons who spend an inordinate amount of time playing these despite my constant nagging. The fraudulent charges on my credit cards were the final straw. I had 2 Amex cards hit. You can see the list of the charges. Amex has reversed some already. They are still investigating a few others. PLEASE NOTE. BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT WAS A BUREAUCRATIC NIGHTMARE. You wait on hold forever. I told them I wanted them to stop charging my credit card. They stated it was not possible. Oh really?? It was clear they could care less. Amex was helpful but it still takes some time for the charges to clear. I use my credit cards widely online. I suspect this one some type of online hack since 2 separate cards were involved. Here was my list of charges on the 2 cards. Now I have the hassle of replacing 2 cards and rearranging automatic bill pays. Thanks to World of Warcraft. As a note, I did not buy from Jasco nor Vistaprint. I do use ebay extensively and know how to avoid phishing.

5/27/2007 BLIZENT-ELEC_UPGRADE800-592-549 DHTYDF -21.19
5/28/2007 BLIZENT-ELEC_UPGRADE800-592-549 DIATGW -19.99
5/28/2007 BLIZENT-ELEC_UPGRADE800-592-549 DIATHK -39.99
6/4/2007 BLIZENT-ELEC_UPGRADE800-592-549DJCIGE -19.99
6/4/2007 BLIZENT-ELEC_UPGRADE800-592-549 DJDICL -21.39
6/4/2007 BLIZENT-ELEC_UPGRADE800-592-549 DJDHIJ -21.63
6/21/2007 BLIZENT-ELEC_UPGRADE800-592-549DMEETT -21.19
6/21/2007 BLIZENT-ELEC_UPGRADE800-592-549 DMEETX -19.99
6/21/2007 BLIZENT-ELEC_UPGRADE800-592-549 DMEESX -19.99
6/24/2007 Plaync - Ncsoft Game Http -19.98

Total Damage 204.14

I am mad!!!!! :mad:

harryhound

Kevoh wrote: »

A warm welcome to all newbies from across the globe, I am very glad I started this thread.

When will this crimes ever stop? Speaking of crime, some drunk (we had been clubbing in the town centre) stole 2 wiper arms from my car last week (bad luck coincidence or what?). At least they left the driver side wipers intact. It cost me £125 to replace them.

This crime will never stop: The multinational companies trading as "Blizzard" are "selling" something that marginally costs them next to nothing and they appear to be growing like a weed. Why should they invest in software and people to answer queries about fraud? Just accept the charge backs if and when they happen. The game is probably addictive, or at least habituating, so the player will be back, why should they care about messing up your life?

You could try complaining to the United Nations. I don't think I can see them doing much about it.

Harry.

PS Gold plated wipers? No wonder you got them pinched. I remember in 1971 parking a mini in Belgrade and noticing I had the only car in the street with wipers. The wonders of communism meant no wipers in the state plan. So I locked mine in the boot;)
I've recently replaced the wipers on a Mondeo (the rubber blade and its metal carrier that goes back and forward over the windscreen - not the spring loaded arm). The pair cost less than a tenner from Brazil via Aldi.

diablox29

I got the same 3 charges from Blizzard Entertainment, $19.99 each, on 24 April.

I didn't spot this at the time but then had another charge on my card to TOPSONLINE.COM for 341 pounds sterling on 21 June.

I've never dealt with either of them. I've just been on to my bank's fraud dept. to cancel this card and they will refund me.

Presumably a fraudster would find computer games easy to sell on, there a quite a few on ebay for instance. But Topsonline.com sell spares and accessories for US cars. Would he have the balls to have this stuff delivered to his own address, or maybe he'd flog it on eBay and have it shipped straight to the buyers?

I'd like to know whether my bank will pursue this, or just write it off.

I always thought that items ordered with a credit card over the internet would only be delivered to the postal address registered with that card. This is basic security, and firms that ignore it should be blacklisted by the card companies.

Security using a card in the stores has been tightened up with chip&pin. Now crooks seem to be getting round this by exploiting the security weakness and anonymity of internet and telephone sales.

Diablo

flyingfingers

I got a call this morning and I, too, am a victim of this scam. I'm so glad they called (Chase) because I'm sure they already knew about the scam. But I had to cancel the cards and I do have a back-up Visa. I tried calling Blizzard and was on hold forever. I can't figure out a link, though, no scrubs, buy very few items online. I do remember !!!!in' off the grocery cashier and it was like two days after that and I did get an eerie feeling when I used my credit card to pay for those groceries for three percent cash back!
It was a gut instinct and that's my only link. I didn't have to fill out any paperwork or anything and actually one of the charges was declined so they tried again and only one went through. I'm gald I found this site. thank you for letting the world know about this. :A
Also, the only people who benefit from class-action lawsuits are lawyers. We were part of Enron and I didn't even fill it out for, what, 40 bucks after losing eight grand! I didn't want the lawyers getting money from me for my claim and it was probably more than 40 bucks.

John_Pierpoint

diablox29 wrote: »

I'd like to know whether my bank will pursue this, or just write it off.

I always thought that items ordered with a credit card over the internet would only be delivered to the postal address registered with that card. This is basic security, and firms that ignore it should be blacklisted by the card companies.

Security using a card in the stores has been tightened up with chip&pin. Now crooks seem to be getting round this by exploiting the security weakness and anonymity of internet and telephone sales.

Diablo

Hi Diablo,

The vast majority of transactions on this thread are for a passport into a fantasy world. I've not tried it, but it seems to be very addictive for some users. It is also possible to do "work" in this fantasy parallel universe and get paid real money. This is explained nearer the top of the thread.

If my experience of the sort of fraud you have suffered is typical, your problems are just starting.

Good luck.

John

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=332339

Here is the big UK thread, mainly about cloning:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=331120

This link shows the very limited interest in dealing with self evident fraud in the UK:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=5640231&highlight=scotsman#post5640231

curiouswriter

Hello all,
Just this morning I found three charges matching those that many members of this forum have described. I have already reported the problem to my bank, but I'm interested in hearing more about your stories. I'm a college student and freelance writer, and this is a story that needs to be reported. If any of you live in the Eastern United States (preferably PA, but NY NJ or DE residents are more than welcome) and you are interested in sharing your story with a larger audience, please send me an email at [EMAIL="Turambar1760@yahoo.com"]Turambar1760@yahoo.com[/EMAIL] so that I can contact you. We may not be able to bring legal action against this company, but we can certainly spread the word to others.

Akiliwalker

Horrible. I was hit with 6 charges all on May 25th, and did not catch it until today. My credit card company (Elan) refuses to remove the items, and as a result of the additional charges, I went over my credit limit. Big surprise that my CC company moved my interest rate from 6% to 33% as a result and are now refusing to move it back to where it was. Considering I was carrying a balance, this is HUGE. Any thoughts on how to mitigate this impact if the "supervisors" that we work with both in blizzard and elan are taking stances that we as consumers are to blame and are at fault?

flyingfingers

What do you mean they refuse to credit you? Put the charges in dispute. Yes, you are in charge here, not them! When you put charges in dispute, they have to prove you ordered the item, whatever. I have never lost a dispute one time. It costs the merchant money to prove to Visa, whomever, that you did make those charges. Please do not let them bully you and I would get rid of them immediately. I have NEVER had a problem with any of my credit card companies in twenty years take charge of me. they are there for you, not the merchant.
So call them immediately and tell them you are disputing the charges and then THEY have to prove you ordered the item. Heck, one time I really do think I forgot to cancel my room in Italy. It was so hectic. They charged my card 200 bucks for one night's stay and I remained steadfast that I cancelled the room, even though I wasn't sure. they asked for a cancellation no. I told them I didn't have one. i ended up not having to pay because it is a pain in the butt for them to prove otherwise. Stand your ground!