Card Fraud

Multiplex2013

Hi,

MBNA called me up a few days ago checking on some transactions that flagged on their system. They were for Experian, Dialaphone, Graze and the Chocolate club. I told them they weren't mine so they put a stop on the card and added me to CIFAS.

I'm actually a little worried though as I don't understand what the person behind this fraud is doing. Are the purchases from Graze and the Chocolate Club designed to fill my letterbox so the person doing this fraud can visit me to pick up the post he needs to collect?

The Experian subscription arrived with the PIN number to login to the account they created. What's the point of requesting this when the PIN arrives at my address? Surely this is useless unless they plan to visit me?

Same goes with Dialaphone. An Orange sim card arrived yesterday.

Today a large box of chocolates arrived. Yesterday the box from Graze arrived.

I'm so confused. I just wish they had taken a grand off the card so I knew what they were doing. Subscribing me to Chocolate and Nuts doesn't serve them any obvious purpose.

Has anyone heard of this before and can advise? Do I need to be worried that someone is going to turn up to my house?

Regards,
Simon

imoneyop

Multiplex2013 wrote: »

Hi,

MBNA called me up a few days ago checking on some transactions that flagged on their system. They were for Experian, Dialaphone, Graze and the Chocolate club. I told them they weren't mine so they put a stop on the card and added me to CIFAS.

I'm actually a little worried though as I don't understand what the person behind this fraud is doing. Are the purchases from Graze and the Chocolate Club designed to fill my letterbox so the person doing this fraud can visit me to pick up the post he needs to collect?

The Experian subscription arrived with the PIN number to login to the account they created. What's the point of requesting this when the PIN arrives at my address? Surely this is useless unless they plan to visit me?

Same goes with Dialaphone. An Orange sim card arrived yesterday.

Today a large box of chocolates arrived. Yesterday the box from Graze arrived.

I'm so confused. I just wish they had taken a grand off the card so I knew what they were doing. Subscribing me to Chocolate and Nuts doesn't serve them any obvious purpose.

Has anyone heard of this before and can advise? Do I need to be worried that someone is going to turn up to my house?

Regards,
Simon

Looks like someone is trying to build a credit history using your address by setting up an Experian account (not sure why the chocs and graze box though).

It wouldn't surprise me if you get a visit from someone over the next few days claiming that post has been delivered to you in error.

Mulder00

Maybe they wanted to or have put on a postal redirect that's not working for whatever reason?

eddddy

It's surprising that all the goods are low value. I don't think any 'real' fraudster would take a risk for such low value items.

I wonder if somebody is playing a prank on you - having got hold of your name address and CC details (long number, expiry date and cv2).

I guess it could be someone you know, or somebody who took an order over the phone from you (perhaps a disillusioned shop assistant.)

Assuming the relevant websites don't use 3D secure, it will be the merchants that lose the money.

The merchants may suspect you of ripping them off (e.g. ordering a box of chocolates, denying it in order to get a refund, keeping the chocolates). So you may get one or two nasty letters from the merchants, and/or they may blacklist you and refuse to accept orders from you in the future.

dzug1

OTH they could be trying out small transactions before going for a big one.

Experian_company_representative

Please [URL="mailto:identityfraud@uk.experian.com"]send an email to Experian's Victims of Fraud team[/URL] so we can investigate this for you. Thanks. We send the PIN as a security measure.

James

Multiplex2013

I hope they're trying small transactions before going for the big one. But it seems strange to me that the small transactions involve the receipt of something. Graze and Chocolates in particular are a strange choice since they're both bulky items. Why not buy something that doesn't require a physical delivery because as soon as this stuff starts arriving the person will get suspicious and will cancel the card asap.

I also don't think it's anyone playing a prank on me. It's not a very funny prank anyway.

James - I already got a letter from Experian explaining that the membership has been blocked as you somehow detected this was a fraudulent application (full marks for that!).

Regards
Simon

Dr_Cuckoo3

I suspect that their motivation is the "cashback" on offer for these "small transactions" , they will have a cashback account and click through to these companies

bear in mind all the companies below are recurring subscriptions and will attempt to charge the credit card each month

http://www.quidco.com/graze/
http://www.quidco.com/experian-credit-expert-30-day-trial/
http://www.quidco.com/the-chocolate-tasting-club/

Danny_G

Mulder00 wrote: »

Maybe they wanted to or have put on a postal redirect that's not working for whatever reason?

Call Royal mail everyday, and check if a 'redirect' has been set up to an alternative address. (they will tell you if somebody has done that)

Call the police, telling them everything that has happened, and get a reference number.