Credit Card Fraud.

[Alex]

So I got approved for a credit card, and Capital One was like, "Hooray, you'll get your card in a couple days or something." and I was like, "Hoooorayyy." because, you know, I've never had a credit card or anything.

A couple weeks pass before I call Capital One, enter my account info, the last four digits of my SSN, and find out there is a balance of 60-something dollars, credited to various gas stations around town.

Well, that sucked. Seems like someone stole my mail, card included, and went crazy. Bam. Cancelled account. I had them send the new account info and card to a new temp address, my girlfriend's house.

But I get the card and everything here, at my house. I thought it was just a simple error. I buy a couple books, check the transaction history online, and find more gas station charges. I don't drive.

To make a long story short, there are two card circulating around here, I have one, and the other one is issued to "Robin Boyce".

*cough*

That's my mom.



So. Uh.

I cancelled yet another account, filed for yet another fraud case, and I'm starting over, yet again.

...Has anybody else been through anything like this?

I don't know what to think or do.

Is there a rational explanation to this? I'm trying to think of scenarios in which my mother isn't the one totally ****ing up my life.

[Shadow Rider]

Re: Credit Card Fraud.

I had $500 stolen from account before. Apparently it's very easy for people to commit fraud on your account or on your credit card, so you should always check your balances and stuff. In fact just today I realized that even though I cancelled my account with eMusic (aside from just wanting free downloads, the selection was crap...I don't need to download new music, I have a radio...I want older stuff!) they are still charging me $10 a month. So I'm bitching them out hardcore.

Back to the original point though...always complain to the financial institution. They make a shite load of money off of your business, they should pay for any and all fraudulent use of your account.

[Nixon]

Re: Credit Card Fraud.

I would confront your mom about this.

[Kojiro v. 2.1.14r7b]

Re: Credit Card Fraud.

I agree... where as they aren't guilty until proven innocent in the court of law, they really aren't innocent until proven innocent, either. You're mom, for all I know, is God's gift to the world and stuff, but if she drives, it doesn't hurt to ask. Just, try not to sound accusing.

Sadly, I know of people who would do things like that.

[ErikaFuzzbottom]

Re: Credit Card Fraud.

Eh, I don't have a credit card, so I wouldn't know.

Does sound pretty stupid, though. Is it the first card that was still in use, or was someone taking money off of your new card despite having it in your wallet?

[Alex]

Re: Credit Card Fraud.

Someone with my credit card number and social security number ordered a second card, in the name of Robin Boyce. I'm guessing it's Robin Boyce.

I avoid confrontation...

[JLaCroix]

Re: Credit Card Fraud.

I know I shouldn't bump old topics but this one really caught my eye.

Why?

Because I work for a Visa/MC processor and I see this stuff ever day. (I've almost worked in this industry three years, and although I handle the technical side of things, I still catch wind of fraud).

Most credit card fraud though is done by employees of stores. For example, there's nothing stopping a clerk from swiping their card, putting a $10,000 refund on it, and then leaving town. It happens all the time.

Every day I get a call from an excited merchant, usually jewelery stores, whom call that are very happy that they have a potential purchase from someone for tens of thousands of dollars. When I find out that the purchaser is Nigerian, and they ask me if they should do it, I tell them no, for obvious reasons.

I even had one merchant hit for 2,000+ attempts a week, from people whom write programs to randomly generate credit card numbers and bounce them from websites. (And consider this: Merchant's pay $0.25 per attempt, even if it doesn't go through).

That's not the worst stuff, either. From working for this company, let's just say I don't own a credit card. No way in hell. Merchant's double charge, and sometimes quadruple charge people all the time. I even spoke to a merchant once whom was "accidentally" putting tips on cards in the millions of dollars. This stuff is VERY scary.

On the lighter side, it's not always bad. I spoke to a company whom was accidentally putting refunds on peoples cards instead of charging them. This was because they thought the "credit" button was for a sale, when in actuality, it's to do a refund. Imaging going to buy something, getting it for free, and then getting a refund on top of it.

[Karr Lord of Chaos]

Re: Credit Card Fraud.

fraud and identiy theift is exstremely high. i would first confront you mother, to ensure it isnt a mistake on her part and then id contact the police and credit card company. it is exstemely dangerous to have your credit manhandled about becuase it can compleatly damage you for the rest of your life.

i always guard my information and never put it anywhere that would jepordize it. i use only major sites to do business on, and use special sites like paypal to keep my info extra safe. also shread ALL personal data so no one can sift through your trash and get a sensitive document.

fight it as hard as you can and take steps to prevent it.