Painful Pleasures

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Jeanne Steck May 14, 2011 at 7:10am

Thanks for this reminder Maija!

I have found Amex and Bank of America to have vigilant fraud departments. The notified me of suspicious activity before I did.

BOA called me in reference to a few small international charges. (unfortunately, those were the husband's fault - word to the wise - if they need your credit card info for a "free trial", it's not free. But that's a different story)

Amex also called a few months ago in reference to thousands of dollars in international charges. What they noticed first were a few very small charges ($1 or $2) to merchants that don't normally have charges that small. The thief tests the waters, then makes the larger purchases. I wasn't responsible for anything in that case and never actually saw the charges on my account.

I try to check my accounts regularly.
Art on the Lawn: Barbara Berney May 13, 2011 at 4:02pm

Just saw this. Haven't been to Michael's in some time. I guess that's a good thing! Having had the debit card for my nonprofit hacked some time back, I'm very wary.

Thieves Swipe Debit Card Data

by Ann Zimmerman and Miguel Bustillo
Friday, May 13, 2011

provided by

Brandi Ramundo of West Chicago, Ill., rushed out to a Michaels arts-and-crafts store April 16 to cobble together corsages for her seven-year-old twins, who were going to a father-daughter dance.

"It turned out cute," Ms. Ramundo says of the fake-flower crafts project. "But it wound up costing me 1,400 bucks."

Ms. Ramundo is one of an unknown number of shoppers at Michaels stores in 20 states whose bank accounts were looted after they had used their bank debit cards at the retailer.

Thieves tampered with the retailer's debit-card processing equipment at about 80 stores from Massachusetts to Washington, according to the chain's corporate parent, Michaels Stores Inc.

The thefts apparently involved the use of electronic devices called skimmers that allowed crooks to record information from shoppers' debit cards and steal their personal identification numbers, or PINs.

See the rest of the story here: http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/112735/thieves-d...
- Connie Mettler > Art on the Lawn: Barbara Berney May 13, 2011 at 4:14pm
  
  Thanks for this good link, Barbara.
  
  Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there a limit to what we are liable for when our cards get compromised? Seems like this problem with Michael's is not good for Ms. Ramundo, but really not good for Michael's or other merchants. Right?
  - Art on the Lawn: Barbara Berney > Connie Mettler May 13, 2011 at 4:51pm
    
    When my Vision Surgery Rehab Network card got hacked, I was not responsible for any of the charges. I had to go to the bank, fill out and sign an affidavit for each transaction, which was rather difficult because my dominant right hand was in a cast after thumb joint replacement surgery. The nice young woman at the bank filled them out and I managed to make an X with my left hand 26 times.
    
    With credit cards, where you are not required to enter a pin, it's a bit harder to steal your information. However, at the time my debit card was hacked, I had never used it anywhere I had to enter a pin, had used it primarily online to pay VSRN's bills. The bank had no idea how it had been hacked.
    
    My geeky son advised always using a password spelled backwards, with at least one numeral somewhere in it. Also, when setting security questions, use obscure questions that only you will be able to answer.
    
    Mind-boggling the lengths to which crooks will go to avoid doing an honest day's work.
    - Maija Baynes > Art on the Lawn: Barbara Berney May 13, 2011 at 8:51pm
      
      I think all of us have to be vigilent. That being said...How?
      
      I just went through all this trauma. You think I'd learned a lesson. Since then, I've filled up twice with gas. Did I remember to look into the slot for an illegal card scanner. No, I did not. I had other things on my mind. I don't even know what they look like. The reason we don't know, is that we haven't seen them, and they're hidden. If they were in plain sight, we'd see them. So, I was told to run my finger over the slot. Feel and look inside for anything you think might be "funky"
      
      No we are not liable for anything over $50....per transaction. Did you read that? Per transaction. I had over a dozen transactions. If you have credit card fraud protection, you aren't even liable for a penny. Personally, I didn't know I had it. I wasn't paying for it. It was just part of my HiltonHonors Visa Credit Card.
      
      Also, I was told they can use radio waves to scan the information off your credit card as you walk down the street. If you wrap it in aluminum foil, they can't read the magnetic strip. All this has sounded so far fetched to me....but it isn't anymore.
      
      BTW, the scanning of your credit card via radio waves is more prevalent in airports.
      
      Also, while we are on the subject of security. Do not ever return your hotel key. Your credit card number and length of stay are embedded on the mag strip. Take it home. Cut it up...use it for a craft project, but don't return it.
      
      This is all mind boggling to me too....
      - Megan Horan > Maija Baynes May 14, 2011 at 6:28pm
        
        When I get gas, I always pay inside with my credit/debit card. Twice in about two years, my card info was swiped. Since I started paying inside, I haven't had a problem. It's a pain sometimes, especially in bad weather.
        
        Jeanne Steck > Megan Horan May 15, 2011 at 6:03am
        
        personally, I try to use cash for my gas because paying by credit is more expensive.
        
        Maija Baynes > Megan Horan May 14, 2011 at 10:37pm
        
        Now that is the simplest solution. Maybe not quite the simplest, but it's a great idea. Thanks.
      - Carla Bank > Maija Baynes May 14, 2011 at 2:24am
        
        Hi, I used to have retail stores in FL and I will get credit card frauds almost every day (besides shop lifting) They were several types that I experienced, the most popular was people coming with an actual credit card that looked just like a real CC but it was a counterfeit. Let's say it was an american express that looked perfect, but the number was stolen and was printed on this fake CC with their own name, so the name will match with their ID. When you scanned the magnetic strip the CC reader wouldn't take it because it was fake. But the system would tell you "unable to read the card" and when you typed the number it will perfectly go through because it was a real CC # just stolen. The fake credit cards that I got didn't have an hologram so when I learned that I had to get a machine with a special light that when you scanned the CC you will see the hologram. (fraud fighter is the name of the machine, it also detects fake checks or bills) There's websites that sell "fresh" CC numbers so these people make the CC, print the number and sell them. Obviously you can pick your name when you buy them so they will match with your ID...scary. So basically you buy your credit card and custom it with the name you want from these people. Very creative right? The cashier person will never suspect it's a fake one when it matches the name on your ID
        
        Other problem has been the internet. Somebody hacked my husband's e mail. My husband works for a financial company. His e mail started sending e mails to other financial institutions and clients asking them to wire him money because he had an emergency and was out of town. This almost cost him his job because this big financial institutions don't need an employee sending these kind of e mails.
        
        Another experience was again, the internet, somebody took my number and went shopping all over the country in one day. They even bought plane tickets first class to Dubai, computers at best buy and Target.
        
        Also...be aware of people that buys your art and pays with money orders or cashier checks, I got counterfeit cashier checks that looked like they came from the bank, the paper, the ink, the stamps were a real piece of art because you couldn't tell the difference. You can go and cash them at the post office or the bank, and they will pay them to you right there if they are under 800.00, well, once they realize they are counterfeit, you are part of the fraud without knowing because you went and cashed them, so you are committing the crime too, and who gets in trouble? The one that cashed them because now they have you ID, address, SS and you will have to give that money back and be part of an investigation
        
        Also, be careful of having your bank info in your cell phones, specially those apps like citibank, paypal, etc If you lose your phone and somebody steals it, they can transfer money in a second and that is such a headache to prove to your bank that you didn't do it.
        
        I guess we just have to be very careful and keep tracking your bills and never hand your credit card to anybody. Well these scam artists don't even need your actual plastic to steal your info so just be aware. Hope this helps!
        
        Maija Baynes > Carla Bank May 14, 2011 at 9:26am
        
        Holy Cow!
        
        Never in a million years would I have thought about having a counterfeit CC handed to me. I always thought "People who buy art, are not that type of people" I am so naive. I wonder if...when you scan the card, and look at your receipt... the name that shows up on the receipt...will it be different from the name on the front of the card?
        
        How do we protect ourselves?
        
        Now I'm glad I started this thread, it's making all of more aware when we hear each others horror stories. I always thought, 'It would never happen to me'. Well it can, and it did.

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Thieves Swipe Debit Card Data