My old computer had some bad@ss virus on it. It was a real tough one to remove which lead me to reinstall everything and start fresh. Since that virus, my credit cards have been skimmed. 1. Visa check card for $400. 2. Visa credit card for $14 or so (just got the fraud call). Are viruses that sophisticated where they can steal your online account information, and then the receiver of the info program it onto a new magnetic strip? These cards were in my wallet at the time of occurrence, so I’m baffled as to how this happened. Other items: I never run a tab at bars/clubs (skim opportunity). I rarely used either of these cards when I went out. My Chase card is used everywhere, yet it has not been compromised. So someone explain to me WTF I have to do to keep these crooks in check?
Dispute charges order new cards.
QuantJock_MBA Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > So someone explain to me WTF I have to do to keep > these crooks in check? Making use of the temporary card numbers your credit card company offers when making online purchases can eliminate a lot of the problems, as a lot of credit card fraud is a result of spyware on your PC recording your account numbers. Shred credit card offers that come in the mail.
> Shred credit card offers that come in the mail. A crook is far more likely to pull a credit card offer (or bill) out of your mailbox than your garbage can. Shredding makes you feel better, but doesn’t do much to prevent fraud.
Some people put skimmers in ATMs (especially ones that aren’t at banks), gas pumps, etc. My wife had something similar happen. Someone took out about $400 cash (a few transactions) from an ATM in NY and we live in FL. They say it’s best to use your zip code at gas stations and run it as credit so they can’t get your pin. Also, we check our accounts every day online (which is how we identified it quickly).
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Brent Favre Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > Shred credit card offers that come in the mail. > > A crook is far more likely to pull a credit card > offer (or bill) out of your mailbox than your > garbage can. Shredding makes you feel better, but > doesn’t do much to prevent fraud. Good point, although if they have the key to my mailbox I probably have bigger problems.
Yeah, I get some offers in the mail, but all my billing is paperless. No credit card has been opened in my name, so I can’t believe that this was due to someone taking my mail. I fear a keylogger with that prior virus. Who knows.
You have 60 days by law to dispute a personal electronic charge on your account. If its not yours, they have to reverse it. Thats the cost the banks have of doing business transactions with minimal oversight. And you should get new cards with new numbers as yours have been compromised. This sometimes happens when the merchant card service is hacked into, like Heartland a few years ago. Millions of cards were compromised and if you ever bought something from a company that uses them, your card was compromised. Or the company you bought from had its computer hacked into and those numbers were taken. Worse still, hackers can use a virus to store illegal info on your harddrive and access it when you go online.
Don’t use a debit/check card for any online purchases. That’s a direct link into your bank account whereas a credit card is not. At least with a CC you have time to dispute the charges before any payments have to be made. There are some very sophisticated worms/trojans out there now that easily bypass common firewalls and anti-virus software. Most of these programs originate from China, as does 90% of the world’s spam and hacking software. Some of these programs do have keyloggers so obtaining pin #s, bank accts, etc… is fairly simple. I rarely use my debit card anymore. I pretty much charge everything to my cc and zero the balance out before the due date.
Chuckrox8 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Most of these programs > originate from China, as does 90% of the world’s > spam and hacking software. I think the rest of the world (especially the Americans) would take offense to you giving China so much credit for spam: http://www.spamhaus.org/statistics/countries.lasso Couldn’t find the numbers for hackers, but it’s definitely nothing close to 90%.
I have to call Citi today regarding my fraud incident. The charges totaled $4xx. Does anyone know of an iPhone app that allows you to record calls? I’d like to have my own record of this in the event Citi’s decision does not land in my favor.
QuantJock_MBA Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I have to call Citi today regarding my fraud > incident. The charges totaled $4xx. > > Does anyone know of an iPhone app that allows you > to record calls? I’d like to have my own record > of this in the event Citi’s decision does not land > in my favor. I have dealt with fraud twice with my bank, although I have a different bank (I have NFCU). Every time it has been hassle free. Also, mine was due to someone stealing my cards and going on spending sprees in foreign countries (brazil , south africa), but it should be the same process to get the charges removed. My bank takes off the charges almost immediately and says I have to sign some official looking form that says under punishment of perjury, I affirm that these charges were not mine nor were of anyone that I knew.
I hope it is hassle free, but in the slight chance it is not, I wish to have some evidence to escalate my complaint further.
I’ve disputed charges on a Citi MC within the past year and have had no trouble at all. I just filled out the form and they removed the charge.
Look up Reg E this governs electronic banking. I believe that the proof is on them that you committed these transactions through the merchant. In fact what is most likely is that they will credit you back, then contact the merchant and withhold the amount from them through their merchant card processor. They dont lose here, nor do you. Its on the seller of the goods as a cost of doing business with credit/debit cards. They will contact the seller and if they cant prove it was you, they will lose. You cant prove it wasnt you for obvious reasons. Unlike credit reporting, banking regulations are pretty skewed toward the consumer.