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 OT: Credit card fraud		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts
Initially Posted - 06/01/2010 :  21:56:27  Show Profile  Visit delliottg's Homepage
Rita was going through our credit card statement this evening, and there are usually a few charges by me that she doesn't recognize, so she asks about them. The same thing tonight, all the charges were something I recalled, except for one tiny little charge for $4.89 from a company down in Fresno, CA. that neither of us had heard of, or remembered doing business with. I went to their website, very amateurish, called their support number, got a very heavily accented recording telling me to just send email to their "info@" account. Red flags flying, I Googled them, and no real surprises, found them on a list of known credit card fraud sites. Wonderful.

Called & canceled my cards, opened a fraud investigation with them, credit card company was very interested to hear details. New cards will take about 7-10 days to get here. What a pain in the butt, but I guess it could have been worse. Thankfully Rita is so on top of this stuff.
David
C-250 Mainsheet Editor


Sirius Lepak
1997 C-250 WK TR #271 --Seattle area Port Captain --
Edited by - delliottg on 06/01/2010 21:58:45

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts
Response Posted - 06/02/2010 :  03:21:42  Show Profile  Visit britinusa's Homepage
From little fraudulent acorns, mighty oak trees of debt grow! Well spotted!

Got rid of all my Credit Cards in 2006!

Paul
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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4312 Posts
Response Posted - 06/02/2010 :  05:16:45  Show Profile
Working on paying all of ours off and convertng wife my to cash/debit card use only. It's amazing how much more money you have when you pay down the credit cards.

As Dave Ramsey says, "don't be a slave to the lender" or something like that.
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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts
Response Posted - 06/02/2010 :  06:03:59  Show Profile  Visit DaveR's Homepage
Actually you're much safer using the credit card and trashing the debit. When using a debit you're taking the chance of someone getting their hands on <i>your</i> money. Not so with a credit card. Also credit cards come with many protective options that bank cards don't offer. And of course you pay them off every month. If you have the self control this is the way to go.
Edited by - DaveR on 06/02/2010 06:06:48
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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts
Response Posted - 06/02/2010 :  07:25:51  Show Profile  Visit delliottg's Homepage
You should never use a debit card for an online transaction. If a thief gets ahold of your debit card number, they can clean out your account and you have no recourse. If instead it's a CC#, at most you're only liable for the first $50 of the charges.

We keep our card paid down, and use a HELOC for larger purchases, like say, a boat.
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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts
Response Posted - 06/02/2010 :  08:03:49  Show Profile
We pay for almost everything with a credit card and then pay it off fully each month. No fees, no interest ever. The card gives us airline miles and we have done some substantial flights for free. A few years ago we had a fraudulent charge that e-Bay recognized and reported to us and Visa. Got new cards. Minor hassle. Trick is to pay the card off fully every month. Otherwise the interest is crazy.

Good catch by Rita!
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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3477 Posts
Response Posted - 06/02/2010 :  08:11:26  Show Profile
They got me 3 months ago, credit card, and it was fixed pretty easily.

I am afraid of using the debit card most.
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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts
Response Posted - 06/02/2010 :  09:06:03  Show Profile
I would never use a debit card for an online purchase, or any large purchase. for our daughter's wedding, we paid the caterer $500 by check when we signed the contract. The first installment of $3,000 was put on a credit card we set aside strictly for wedding stuff. to make a long story short, the deal collapsed, not our fault. We filed a claim with the credit card company and got our $3k credited back to the account but lost the $500 initial payment. I'm sure glad we didn't pay the $3,000 by check.
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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4312 Posts
Response Posted - 06/02/2010 :  18:12:05  Show Profile
You are all correct about the credit card having more protection. I would never use a debit card for an online purchase. I only use it for local purchases such as groceries and gas. I use my American Express for online purchases.

How can thieves use a debit card that requires a PIN number?

I started using a debit only card about 12 years ago after I inadvertently left my VISA check card in an ATM machine. Within 2 hours someone had cleaned out three of my checking/savings accounts at the local mall. The accounts were tied together for overdraft protection. Got my $10 grand back after I spent a day filing police reports.

I've never understood why VISA check cards require you to enter a PIN number to get money out of your own account but anyone can use the credit card portion without any security checks. Just throw the card down and it's yours.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.