Fifty Plus (50+) - Surprise! This is your security calling.

It's time to refresh the tales of internet purchases and your security. My credit card security company called last night to ask if I was willing to confirm my Air France Tickets...............:eek:

The charge pattern was unmistakeable, first a very small charge for an I-Tunes download, (is this a good card # and does it work) followed by big ticket Air Fare charges.

Thankyou Chase Security..:)

This is why I keep one card for my online purchases of bike parts and hobby supplies only. The last card served me well for several years before this hack. I recomend that you do something similar as it is not nice to find that your primary card is enjoying foreign travel. That "online card" had a very predictable pattern of charges that were easy to keep track of and for which Air France tickets were very out of place. Being as I am completely parinoid, I also do all of my online buying from the same computer. That computer is now undergoing the colonoscopy of security sweeps and may find itself brain wiped and reformatted before I'm done. I do know where I have placed all of my orders and many of them will be changed over to my pay-pal account for future sales.

Keep safe.............it's hard to earn it so try to hang on to it for as long as possible.

Yup, it can get nasty. My nephew was almost extradited because somebody rented a car on a foreign country on his name, robbed a bank and used the rental as getaway car.

Eventually they got the real bad guy. It turned out he worked on a restaurant in the US and stole a bunch of credit card slips... The old fashion ones that pressed the card with some rollers.

had the card cancelled by bank security last friday due to a $0.13 charge - looks like the crackers are active on a massive front...

i have a good bank though, so i was FedEx'd a new card on Monday - and at the same terms - 4 percent APR - and the existing limit!

(i guess they think i'm not a risk?)

:-)

but i did get notice that rates will be going up two points some time in the next month or two - there's a new law - Credit Card Reform Act, IIRC, that will take effect in July 2010 that will restrict banks' ability to alter APRs and terms - this should be interesting to see what happens to all those junk mailers and TV ads touting benefits of various cards...

i can live without a credit card (bank doesn't make any money off of me), but for some things the card is convenient...

I do request a new card every 6 months or so, just in case.

We received an overdraft notice on our debit card, the charge was for an online purchase, the URL was listed on the notice. So after a 'Did you order anything?' back and forth with the wife, we looked it up. I was in Russian! After another few 'What the hell!?!'s, we called the bank. Of course they give you the third degree to make sure your not scamming them, so we had the CSR look up the web site. With in minutes the card was canceled, with a security notice that it had been comprimised, and what ever fund that where removed where credited back into our account, and a new card was issued. It took two days to get a new card, which we had to pick up at the bank. I had a russian coworker look t the site, he said it was a scam(duh). It does make you parinoid that you can be robbed with out even knowing it's happening.
It pays to pay attention.

My Daddy always said, "Son, pay cash."

The wife and I went to one of those renaissance fairs last year and she decided to get some period dress. The vendors who sell at those places travel around a lot and their home bases are all over the place. So over about an hour or so we made purchases in California, Florida, New Hampshire, and Kentucky, and... they shut the card down. It took me another hour to get it turned back on.

As frustrating as that was, it was probably better than our account getting hacked.

My Daddy always said, "Son, pay cash."

I received similar advice, but the cards can be handy. One of my card companies sent me a check last year for $583.58 as a cash back bonus. No annual fee, no interest charges ( I pay in full each month) and a pretty useful summary of purchases.

All of the cards I carry are either no fee, cash back, or both, so if I can pay with a card I do. You do have to pay attention to security issues, but the cards also offer insurance on purchases in some cases, and if you have a dispute with a seller you can often defer payment without penalty until the dispute is settled.

I buy everything from cheeseburgers to cars with them; but don't ever buy anything I couldn't have purchased with cash.

It's time to refresh the tales of internet purchases and your security. My credit card security company called last night to ask if I was willing to confirm my Air France Tickets...............:eek:

The charge pattern was unmistakeable, first a very small charge for an I-Tunes download, (is this a good card # and does it work) followed by big ticket Air Fare charges.

Thankyou Chase Security..:)

This is why I keep one card for my online purchases of bike parts and hobby supplies only. The last card served me well for several years before this hack. I recomend that you do something similar as it is not nice to find that your primary card is enjoying foreign travel. That "online card" had a very predictable pattern of charges that were easy to keep track of and for which Air France tickets were very out of place. Being as I am completely parinoid, I also do all of my online buying from the same computer. That computer is now undergoing the colonoscopy of security sweeps and may find itself brain wiped and reformatted before I'm done. I do know where I have placed all of my orders and many of them will be changed over to my pay-pal account for future sales.

Keep safe.............it's hard to earn it so try to hang on to it for as long as possible.
That's very foolish credit card fraud. The name on the ticket must be the name of the person who is flying, and later name changes are not allowed.

That's very foolish credit card fraud. The name on the ticket must be the name of the person who is flying, and later name changes are not allowed.

Hmmm... how would one come to know this? ;)

Hmmm... how would one come to know this? ;)
They plaster it all over the page when you're trying to purchase a flight.

It turns out that Air France will refund tickets. It's not painless though and in this case where the fraud was detected on the same day, it could be dangerous. Had the fraud not been detected untill I read my bill.......................well, that's the risks criminals take.

After all, it's not like their worried about a 20% surcharge (just my estimate, not a known value)

I had lunch at Chili's the other day. The next evening, I realized I could not find my credit card. I remembered charging lunch but nothing else. After a fruitless search throughout the house and car, and a call to Chili's, I decided to cancel the card. They verified my last few purchases and were able to tell me that nothing beyond Chili's had been added to the card.

24 hours later, Chili's called me; they'd found my card in the booth under the cushion when they raised it to vacuum. Sigh. I had them cut it up and toss it. Not that anyone could use it, but just sayin.

Years ago, I went to a reputable bike store in Santa Monica to buy my niece her first bike, a nice little no-nonsense Jamis in a time when the only other bikes for 6 year old girls were Stingray style. I paid by check, but the clerk wanted my credit card info for "ID". Not thinking, I gave it.

A number of days later, I got a call at where I worked at Security Pacific Bank as a Computer Graphics Specialist. It was the credit card division, and they had caught someone with my credit card number. Nothing had been charged yet, but they had me cut up my card and sent me a new one. Sometimes its good to work for the bank. :)

It's not just credit cards that can be stolen. Hackers can used key stroke programs to obtain access to your internet passwords to all of your accounts. I just recently signed up for one of those identity theft protection services (there are a couple of them). They notify you if someone tries to obtain credit in your name (something that my ex and her boyfriend did to me a dozen years ago). I also check the balances on my debit/credit card accounts daily.

It's time to refresh the tales of internet purchases and your security. My credit card security company called last night to ask if I was willing to confirm my Air France Tickets...............:eek:



D*MN! There goes my vacation in France.

Can't have anything nice.

Had to cancel our credit card (and get a new one) a few weeks ago after someone, in 4 transactions on the same day, ordered online $500 worth of apple itunes gift cards. Yikes!

Those charges have been removed/adjusted but we are still waiting for an adjustment of a $29.95 "membership" charge for a website scam called mediamogulme.com that had happened a couple of weeks earlier.
Should have canceled the card right then. Take a look at that website and see if you can figure out exactly what it is that they have to offer. I can't. Customer service address is on an island in the Caribbean.

Got a call last week. Someone had figured out my password (mother's maiden name) and used it to notify the CC Company that I was traveling in Canada for a week.

They then attempted a withdrawal from a Canadian ATM for $429.64, but the credit card company refused the withdrawal.

I wonder if they have a camera in that ATM?

In any event, I placed notes on Equifax, et al, so that no one can get "Instant Credit."
CC Company assured me that I have no liability against fraudulent use. They fedex'd me a new card pronto.

My belief is that the CC companies would rather take the hit then spend money investiagting, especially for small amounts.

Here is the solution to all of my money problems. I got this just as I was posting the above post. Must be destiny!!


jameswilliams_5@nifmail.jp

My Dear Friend,

I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred un
der the cooperation of a new partner from Japan Presently, I'm in Japan for in
vestment projects with my own share of the total Contract sum. Mean while, i d
idn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those
funds. I have the sum of USD$1.5 Million Dollars as Compensation for your sup
port humanity and contribution you help me the past.
Kindly accept this token , Please Contact My secretary David Mark via E-mail (
david_mark50@hotmail.com) . and send him the information below: to enable him
to get to the bank manager for the issuer of this cheque to you:

Your Full Name:
Full Address:
Company Name:
Tell/Cell:

Contact David today and forward all your information's to him.he will help you
on how this money will be send to you. All you need to do is to follow his in
struction because i know he is a good and responsible person, thanks so much f
or your assistance.

Sincerely Yours,

Mr.James Wilson.

I got the call from Chase January 9th, asking me to confirm my purchase of Air France tickets from and on line travel agency, and an additional $18.00 purchase online. I hadn't used that card in two years, it was in my desk drawer. They turned it over to the fraud department, I got a letter today asking me to confirm that I didn't make these purchases. Of course, they voided that card and sent a new one. In the newspaper today, I read that a company that handles payments for banks had been hacked, and a lot of credit card numbers and names had been stolen. That probably explains it, and Air Frances' refund policy explains why the ticket purchases.
I think I'll just cancel the new card.

It does make you parinoid that you can be robbed with out even knowing it's happening.

I can't help but think that the banking system puts up with it because it can. Things would be different if they looked at these crimes the way they really are. *You* are not being robbed, *the bank* is being robbed through fraud. It's wrong that the bank often puts the burden on you.

Got a call last week. Someone had figured out my password (mother's maiden name) and used it to notify the CC Company that I was traveling in Canada for a week.



You are very lucky that you haven't been taken big time, if you are using family names as passwords. Those the first things a professional identity thief is going to try.

I got the call from Chase January 9th, asking me to confirm my purchase of Air France tickets from and on line travel agency, and an additional $18.00 purchase online. I hadn't used that card in two years, it was in my desk drawer. They turned it over to the fraud department, I got a letter today asking me to confirm that I didn't make these purchases. Of course, they voided that card and sent a new one. In the newspaper today, I read that a company that handles payments for banks had been hacked, and a lot of credit card numbers and names had been stolen. That probably explains it, and Air Frances' refund policy explains why the ticket purchases.
I think I'll just cancel the new card.


If there was also a small $1 charge on your card for an I-tune download, then this would almost be a mirror image of my "problem". Since you hadn't used your card in over 2 years, I feel a little better about my local security issues.

At least it appears that our thief is consistant.

You are very lucky that you haven't been taken big time, if you are using family names as passwords. Those the first things a professional identity thief is going to try.

System logon................User Name-----<User Name>..................Password-----<Password>.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:.....:eek:


Nope........haven't done that for years :thumb:

You are very lucky that you haven't been taken big time, if you are using family names as passwords. Those the first things a professional identity thief is going to try.

That is what the CC Company asked as a "hint" - use your mother's maiden name. Their choice, not mine.

Of course, they have changeed that policy now.

That's very foolish credit card fraud. The name on the ticket must be the name of the person who is flying, and later name changes are not allowed.

My bank account was emptied while the wife was not monitoring it. They used my check card number. She had told me that only one of us was allowed online access to the account. We got all the money back. One ticket was coming in to SFO on a Saturday night, so I went over there to report it. The ticket agent acted pissed that I was there, and so did the police officer I talked to. I told him I was just reporting it, not sticking around to confront anyone. He said if they detained the person I could be sued. I answered that it would be improbable if she was in posession of stolen goods-the airline ticket. He said that the person with the ticket most likely bought it at a discount off e-Bay, and the seller was the thief.

These hackings seem complicated. Our credit card called us while we were overseas, to report unusual activity. Fortunately it was us; we were heartened that the CC company was monitoring our usage.

I'm sorry for all y'all's fraudulent usage; hackers ought to be ... well, use your imaginations. :innocent:

That is what the CC Company asked as a "hint" - use your mother's maiden name. Their choice, not mine.

Of course, they have changeed that policy now.

That wasn't a password then, it was a hint to get a new password.

They would have to have your name and CC number, your mother's name and your email account and email account password, to steal it that way. That's a lot of information. If they know that much, they can hurt you.

For they would have to attempt to log-in to your on-line CC account, then request a new password, and pass the "hint" question to get it. Then would have to log in to your email and know that password, in order read the email from your CC company with the new temporary password.

I heard that Visa/Master Card had a huge security breech, just the other day. Check your accounts for awhile.

Last night our credit union called. Someone had tried a $1076 purchase and a $500 Western Union transfer with one of our check cards. They canceled it even though none of our 4 cards ended with the same digits. I vaguely remember that one of our old cards had the same last 4 digits.

Got a call last week. Someone had figured out my password (mother's maiden name) and used it to notify the CC Company that I was traveling in Canada for a week.

FYI. I recommend free password programs like Password Safe (click here (http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/)) to create and store passwords. Programs like this allow you to easily create passwords from random characters, maintain unique passwords for each site, and store the list as an encrypted file.

PayPal allows you to create single-use credit card numbers. I've used this to pay for items when I don't quite trust the vendor's security. Log into your PayPal account and click on the "PayPal Plugin" option. You don't have to install the plug-in to be able to generate a single use card number.

This is really interesting. I had a call from Chase Security earlier in the week with the same thing. Two very small charges on my card. We canceled it right away and I am still waiting for a new one. I was leery at first so right after I got off the phone I called the number on the back of my card and confirmed that I had, indeed spoken with Chase Security and that my card was now canceled.

As a computer programmer, I'd love to talk to the guys/gals that wrote the software scanning their database, because you know that's what's tipping them that the card is going to be used for fraud. Some clever people out there -- on both sides unfortunately.

the problem is with Visa/MasterCard, which allow charges to card numbers by fraudulent authorized 'merchants,' and then pass responsibility off to banks and then bank customers - in many cases, charges are allowed without input of the card's expiry date!

I just read that there is a new "worm" out there that has been infecting computers through a flaw in windows--but even though the worm has been detected, so far it has just been lurking and it is not known what it will do if/when activated...seems it infects through other than the usual paths (like email). Anyway, MSN has a fix available for the flaw and also a free one time use program to detect and repair--so get the update if you don't do it automatically.

Now this is not about fraud.

Now me and the wife are very frugal with credit and Credit cards- I do not have a credit card and the wifes one is paid up every month. If we want anything we pay up front and the credit card is only used for online purchases for convenience and insurance.

Tonight we have had one of our savings Banks phone us up. They want us to take out a credit card. Our credit rating is superb and we can transfer any other balances we have to this new card at a special low rate---

No thanks-


The reason we have no financial problems is that we do not have any outstanding credit- we do not have credit cards with a debit sitting on them and we don't want any credit.

Whay am I only offered credit when I don't need it?

I went through a spate of fraud charges on a card. Pain in the rear.

The bank said it was due to the way gas stations do their credit card purchases. When you swipe your card the oil company attempts to charge your card $1. If it goes through then your card is approved and the $1 gets put into the purchase. Crooks using computers try to charge card numbers $1 and when a charge goes through, bingo, they have a good card number to lay to waste with fraud.