Credit Card Fraud!!

[Bob Thomas]

#$%^&* SUCKS!! Noticed 3 charges in one day from "Blizzard Ent elecupgrd" on the bill and low and behold, it's a known fraud. Did a google and it seems to be an ongoing problem. Why don't they just shut the company down? SUCKS! Cancelled the card, made the complaint and can't wait to see what happens next. First time for this sort of thing

[Raven]

credit card fraud is less obvious when they will charge a small charge like 20 bucks a month only ..... calling it something inconpicuous that you take for granted .........that it is accurate

what really SUCKS is....most of the credit card companies or businesses that have had their data bases compromised are reluctant to release the information right away for fear it will lessen their stock value,,, and the public generally only hears about it many months afterward if at all.

i already had some girl steal my SS number in boston....

identity theft though is rampant and the rotten thing is once it happens your credibility is often destroyed and your left with an expensive process
of rectifying the situation.

[Hooper]

There are two up sides, if you can call it that. First, a timely report such as you made will not hold you loable for those charges and second, with ID fraud the huge crime that it is today, it should become easier to clean up the mess if this happens. I think it will happen to us all at some point unfortunately....

[Backbeach Jake]

ID Fraud should be a capital crime.

[Bronko]

Bob I just googled "Blizzard Ent elecupgrd." It appears that this is from a company called Blizzard Entertainment. They are a gaming company associated with World of Warcraft which is an extremely popular and addictive online game. You can read a bunch of posts and stories of people who had the same 3 charges on their credit cards. It appears some hackers who want to upgrade their gaming service have found a way to do it through cc fraud.

[striperman36]

Also please remember you have limited liability with a credit card.
However with a DEBIT card, you are completely liable for any fraudulent use.
I am going back to cash or at least trying to we are so depend on them in our society.

Bill

[Raven]

i keep my online credit card maxed out to just under 50 dollars credit available so that even if the number was compromised they couldn't charge for anything...signifigant... and i use either cash or money orders for anything larger and spend the extra buck ....worth it...

E-bay....what ebay ..... never been there...

[NeedaKeepah]

I work for a big bank and would like to comment and offer advice.

Federal Regulation E is what protects you as a consumer from being defrauded electronically. It covers transactions presented to checking accounts via ACH (routing and acount number) and through Check or Debit cards. It also covers credit card transactions.

It is your responsibility as a customer to report any unrecognized/unathorized activity within 60 days, otherwise your bank/CC company does not have to file a dispute, and most will not.

It limits your liability to a maximum of $50.00, many banks/CC companies will further increase that and offer a $0.00 liability and eat the $50.00 if needed. I know that is the policy at my bank.

Striperman, you are indeed covered when using a debit card, if your bank says different.......move your accounts. Just rememer that the 60 day limit for claims is universal. ALWAYS CHECK YOUR STATEMENT!!

As far as ID theft the Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction over it. Here is the web address, http://idtheft.gov/

Most companies also offer some kind of protection and may also give it to you free if you have been affected.

Security/Privacy breaches almost exclusively take place at a third party like a store, TJ Maxx anyone??

Companies would love to shut all these folks down, disputes cost money after all.

If anyone has any questions, PM me, I can't say what bank I work for or anything but if I can help in any way, I would be more than happy to do that.

[Bob Thomas]

Needakeepah...

Would my case warrant "IDTheft?" Reason I ask is that in the "Front-line" law enforcement field, if we get a suspect, it is just a "Larceny" charge. Would obtaining and using credit cards be "IDTheft" or simple larceny, monetary amout depending?

Thanks for the info. We'll see how the company handles this as it's my first personal case.

[NeedaKeepah]

Bob, if just CC info was used then it really wouldn't be ID theft. ID theft is when someone start assuming your identity, applying for or opening accounts, cell phone, even drivers license. You may want to explore just to make sure this isnt happening. You can check with all 3 credit agencys to see if there were any accounts opened or applied for that you don't know about. You can even request a "credit block" meaning that a note would be placed that no new credit e issued without further contact from yourself. Being in law enforcement you could prob run your name to see if any official IDs have been issued anywhere.

[fish4striper]

Someone got my debit card number (not the card) somehow and charged up $1100 worth of charges in one day before my bank shutdown my card. Everything got credited but had hassle of new card, filing complaint, etc. Pain in the arse but it all worked out.

[Joe]

Restaurants account for a lot of credit card fraud...strip joints also...

Interesting that people can be so paranoid about online fraud yet have no fear with letting a illegal alien waitress walk of to parts unkown with their credit card..There are rings of grifters harvesting credit card numbers while working as waitstaff.

The honesty of the merchant plays a big role - I reverse all suspicious activity and report it to the issuing cc company and I won't do international. Some merchants ship the stuff (or say they did) and leave the issuing cc company/bank holding the bag.

Once, I had some dude from Gaza try to buy about $1200 worth of waterproof flashlights and black Aquaskinz tops - enough to outfit a squad of Jihadists - I wonder what he planning?