Had my credit card number stolen!

[Flur]

This afternoon I got a call from Prana about some yoga clothes that I had ordered from them. It seems that my credit card was declined. The woman that called wanted to verify that they had the correct info, and it turns out they did. So I went online and checked on my account and there was a red message stating that my card had been flagged for suspicious activity and to call the company (Citibank). So I called and it seems the card company's computers were down. :confused::eek::confused::mad: The woman that answered the phone told me to call back in a few hours...

So this evening I called back and the rep asked me to verify that certain transactions were mine. Things started out well, with the new crankset that I ordered, and then the bicycle race/scavenger hunt that I'd signed DH and I up for, but then the rep started listing FTD.com, roses.com and some jewelry stores, with individual charges up to $400! It seems there had been 48 charges that were either pending or declined for being suspicious!:eek::eek::eek:

If everything goes as it's supposed to, I'll be getting a new card in a few days, I'll have to fill out some paperwork, and I'll have to give Prana a new credit card for my purchase, but that's it. Citibank is supposed to take care of the rest. All I can say is I am so, SO glad for Citi's Fraud and Early Warning department! It's nice to know they're looking out for their cardholders.

[Trek420]

That's what tipped them off "She never sends flowers! All her jewelry is made of recycled spoke nipples. This is just plain wrong!" ;)

Glad they caught it :cool:

[Aggie_Ama]

I have to say Citicard is pretty good about alerting you. We were traveling in California and they called us after seeing the charges rack up. Once we told them we were on vacation they lifted the block but one of the charges set off a red flag since we were in a strange location.

[Blueberry]

That's cool - although the computer down thing sucks. Chase did that to us - we only had one card at the time, and they locked both of us out *while traveling*. We gave them a heads up - they locked it anyway. Caused a giant problem as we were both traveling for work. I stopped using Chase and haven't gone back.

[KnottedYet]

I keep my credit card maxed out (good red-blooded American!) so anyone who steals my number isn't gonna get very far.

yeah, that's why it's maxed out... really... ;)

[Irulan]

Years ago, someone at the bank suggested we call the CC security department when traveling. This has saved us numerous hours of grief. We just tell them, we are going to XX for this time frame, and it saves the hassle of the phone calls and blocks for the activity. Esp since we never use ours except for travel. I also get a new card/account number when we return: too many of the places we go hand write the numbers down for transactions.

You are pretty well protected against theft with most bank credit cards as long as you report the activity right away or as soon as you see it on your statement. It's debit cards that have issues.

[roadie gal]

That happened to me a while back, too. The Mac store called to verify my iPod order. Well, I hadn't ordered any iPods. I quickly called Citicards. Someone had racked up about $1000 in electronics that I hadn't bought. They were really good about cancelling those charges.

Another nice thing about the Citicard is that they have a "virtual" card. If you order online it generates a new number for each purchase, so the card number can't be stolen. I like using my card online more than in a store now.

[maillotpois]

I had Amazon call me several years ago because they had discovered some suspicious activity on my card (whose information they had stored w/ my approval). I thought that was pretty nice that they were on the lookout on my behalf.



Chase did that to us - we only had one card at the time, and they locked both of us out *while traveling*. We gave them a heads up - they locked it anyway. Caused a giant problem as we were both traveling for work. I stopped using Chase and haven't gone back.

This JUST happened to my FIL this week! He drove from SF to AZ to buy a trailer, brought one card (which he was going to use to buy said trailer and cover ALL expenses during the trip) and while in the middle of the desert, Wells fargo called and said they were closing down the account! He was SO mad - took a full day and a half to get a new card after several go rounds with people in India as well as the local AZ WF branches. They were ultimately able to get him one, though, and all in all, I think they did a decent job.

[NoNo]

This year my friend had 3 credit cards compromised during the Hannaford's mess in northern New England (they're the local supermarket up there). Charges were made, but he was able to dispute those easily. The worst part was the hassel of waiting for the new cards and arranging payments (since the cards had balances on them) between the old account and the new one. I've been very fortunate with all of my online purchases, keeping my fingers crossed it stays that way.

[MtnBikerChk]

I've had it happen too - Amex caught it immediately though and called me. Now I'm so cautious, when they called I said "how do I know this is amex?" They said, "no problem. Take your card and call us back with the number on the back."

I did and it turned out some numbnuts had made 2 separate $300 purchases at autozone. Guess that was a red flag! LOL

Amex called me on a Sunday night. I had a new card overnighted and received by monday afternoon. I can't say enough good things about their customer service!

[Becky]

Several years ago, we opened a second credit card account so that we could keep internet purchases and any linked accounts (heating oil, EZ Pass, etc.) separate from our other credit card. It's paid off- we've had fraud intercepted by Bank of America (and previously by MBNA) on a couple of occasions. At least, when it happens, we're not totally "cardless" while they investigate and open new accounts for us.

Now that credit card skimming is becoming so prevalent around here, we're considering a third credit card to use in place of our debit card as a means of further isolating our finances. I know....we could always use cash and not worry about it.... :o

[wackyjacky1]

I pity the fool that tries to steal my credit identity! The criminal's credit is probably better than mine. :p

[Aggie_Ama]

My insurance company decided after four years to jack my rate up "due to my credit" (which I thought was acceptable), looked at the report and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Accounts I knew about and an old 30 day late on one account. I decided insurance is a fraud since the credit has not changed since last renewal (balances consistent or lower and nothing new). I was sweating bullets thinking my identity was stolen such a miserable feeling.

[sb-gal]

I had my Citibank Debit card number stolen at a gas station a couple of weeks ago. Citi called me and left a message that they cancelled my card and would overnight me a new one. I called the number on the back of the card (same one left on the answering machine lol). Apparently they was a card reader at the gas station that took my debit card AND pin number (this is why I NEVER use the debit feature at gas stations, duh!)

No one used the card but still - whew.

[melissam]

Well, they got me too!! Fortunately, Citibank's fraud detection does an excellent job.

Silly crooks -- they haven't been too busy with my card. Only some airline tickets, iTunes, and something thru Paypal. I could give them some spending tips, let me tell ya! :rolleyes:

[Geonz]

Alas, usually it's the merchant that gets stung. Merchandise sent... charge canceled.

[MyLitespeed]

We are with B of A and they called my husband regarding some suspicious purchased on his debit card. Apparently someone had ordered a bunch of Bibles. My husband mostly orders biking stuff, maybe the person who did it thought we wouldn't notice because it starts with a B. Since B of A found it first that was great, they took off the charge but for the wrong purchase. We finally got it all straightened out and now I use my credit card instead of his debit card. If you use a debit card, they can pretty much clean out all the money you have in your account.:eek:

[Flur]

We are with B of A and they called my husband regarding some suspicious purchased on his debit card. Apparently someone had ordered a bunch of Bibles. My husband mostly orders biking stuff, maybe the person who did it thought we wouldn't notice because it starts with a B. Since B of A found it first that was great, they took off the charge but for the wrong purchase. We finally got it all straightened out and now I use my credit card instead of his debit card. If you use a debit card, they can pretty much clean out all the money you have in your account.:eek:

We actually have a system for our debit cards, where we keep most of our $$ in accounts that we don't carry cards for. The cards we carry are for our "fun" accounts - buying lunch and coffee, happy hours, etc. - the convenience stuff. They never have more than a couple hundred in them, and usually have a lot less, and we just transfer $$ into them as needed. That way we can debit stuff and have easy access to cash, and our theft risk is relatively low.

[Grog]

Had a thought for you Flur this morning as I was awoken by the CIBC (one of the Canadian banks) Fraud Prevention service on the phone, asking me whether I had spend $258 at an Online Casino, $50 at some computer store in Luxembourg and $1 on iTunes. The computer store and the iTunes things actually had received automatic approval because they're not unlike my usual purchase habits. But the Casino stuff raised a red flag, so they did not authorize that one without calling me first. Not a bad system. Sometimes Big Brother works well for the Little Guy.

The answer, of course, is no, so they're canceling my card (my husband's card on the same account is fine) and I'll have to sign a paper confirming that I didn't buy that stuff in Luxembourg nor that song on iTunes, and everything will be fine.

Interesting that the thieves proceeded exactly as explained in an article I read recently: they have big lots of credit card numbers which they run to make small purchases (like one iTunes song). If the number works, then they proceed to make bigger purchases.

[maillotpois]

I'm a little irked at Citibank's fraud detection right now. :mad::mad::mad::mad:

They called me last week and wanted to ask about a "suspicious charge". Ok. The charge they asked about was the $80 in conference call services I was billed last month. A charge that I incur EVERY month in some amount or another. Me: "That's fine. Is there ANYTHING else??" Them: "No."

Today I receive a suspicious package - a trial subscription of dead sea spa treatment cr@p I never would have ordered. So I go online. I estimate there's $7000 in charges on there that I didn't authorize.

You think when they were asking about my stupid $80 in conference call charges they might have asked about the $500 to "airasia"?? The $817 to some company in TURKEY???? The $800 to itunes (all in $200 increments)??? The Skype charges to a Luxembourg account???

No, it was the $80 in conference call charges that gets flagged. :rolleyes:

Someone signed up for NetZero using my name. I received CD ROMs designed for 3 year olds. It's all VERY creepy and I am VERY ticked off. :mad:

[Geonz]

That don't make no sense. Sounds like they've outsourced their thinking.

[maillotpois]

yeah there was so much random international stuff on there that is is crazy. so obvious.

then I call the nice educational company that made the "letters and numbers" CDs and told them it was fraud, card canceled, etc. and do they want their CDs back? he says I should return them insured mail or I might get charged $75.

what about "the card has been canceled" don't you people understand????? oy!!

[Grog]

Wow, I am NOT impressed with your bank there.

Mine seems to have its meter to "super sensitive" and they often call me to check for legitimate (but unusual) charges. But I really wonder how those frivolous things might have been authorized sight unseen!

What I don't understand is what's the point for the thiefs to be using your credit card to send YOU things?!

**


On a separate note, when my # was stolen it was used to open up an account with some online gambling web site. I received a letter by (post) mail from the UK thanking me for opening the account and blablabla. I wrote them back by email saying that the account was opened by someone who stole my credit card number and that I requested that it be closed immediately or I would be in touch with the British authorities. The gambling service wrote right back telling me that they had closed the account and how sorry they were for what happened to me. Under the circumstances, I thought it was not bad.