The Old Folks Home

[Peep_Show]

About two months ago I got an urgent call from my credit card company and, yes, it looked like fraudulent activity on my card number. The number hadn't been stolen as I didn't often use that card, just somebody in Europe got lucky with random numbers. The first charge was for, like, $11 at a home furnishings store in France....and then the attempted charges started coming in from all over: $500 tv at Best Buy, a couple of ebooks. It was almost funny as the stuff they were attempting to buy was stuff I wouldn't use (I don't watch TV or have a Kindle or iPad for reading). Figured out that the last charge I had done was at Baker Creek Seed Co. (Rareseeds.com). No, they didn't lift the number. Anyway, it was nipped in the bud by some diligent folks that figured I wasn't buying European paperclips and lampshades, a new card was issued, and that hopefully is the end of it.

That being said, I'm still a tad po'ed about the Target inconvenience and the Home Depot breech. My bank issued a new debit card over the latter. The Target folks were just lame...and have lost a customer.

 

[drumstick diva]

I got a call from them yesterday _recording_ and just hung up. The local paper said there was a big scam going around and especially wanted to alert older folks. I resemble that
I am old. Nuk nuk nuk !!

 

[drumstick diva]

With stolen credit cards, the cautious perp tries it out with a couple small purchases.

 

[Peep_Show]

Well, when it went through in France they must've put it out on the network because then it was back stateside and all over the place.

(I haven't left my state in over a year)

 

[drumstick diva]

My brother was in Ireland a few years and when he got home the credit card co. told him someone had charged $ 500 in liquor to his card. My brother doesn't drink. The credit card co. knew it wasn't a typical purchase and flagged it. It was taken care of. Another time someone charged 30 trips to a certain state - my brother had never been there.

He says the new cards has a special chip in them - don't know what difference that makes - I'm sure crooks will find a way around it.

 

[vehve]

Cards with just the magnet strip are ridiculously easy to fake, with the right equipment it takes a few seconds. The ones with chips aren't as easy, but I'm sure they can be copied too. And in the world of internet purchases, you really only need a picture of someones card from both sides, and their address and you're good to go. Karin's card had been used to the tune of 600 GBP in some British online clothing store that only sold white clothing. Not really the color for a person who regularly finds herself shoulder deep in the back end of a cow.

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: I just hung up. I saw on the news that some hackers were doing this to people telling them to get money orders or prepaid cards to send them. Karma will get them sooner or later. Hopefully sooner.

They can print numbers on a new card while walking down the street! Just so wrong!

 

[getaclue]

What's even scarier is Google Wallet, and PayPass, where your phone becomes your debit card. While technology has outpaced the capabilities of the average user, it has not outpaced the capability of the cyber bad guys. Until they come up with better cyber phone security, I don't think I will be using it as my debit card anytime soon, no matter how convenient it is. With the new chip in most bank cards now, I will be getting one of those aluminum wallets for all my cards with magnetic strips, and chips, including my drivers license.

For everyone's information, the IRS does NOT call anyone, unless they're returning a call you've initiated. They contact you by mail. Anyone getting ANY phone call for ANY personal data, should NOT give any personal information. Instead, get the name of the caller, and who they are with, but not their phone number. Look up the number for who they are with, or get the number from information, then call it and ask for the person that called requesting the information. That way you know it's legit.

I've even gotten messages on my phone from Bank Security saying that my debit/credit card had been compromised, and to fix it they needed me to confirm my identity by responding to the text with my card and PIN numbers. Um, I don't think so!

 

[chickadoodles]

What's even scarier is Google Wallet, and PayPass, where your phone becomes your debit card. While technology has outpaced the capabilities of the average user, it has not outpaced the capability of the cyber bad guys. Until they come up with better cyber phone security, I don't think I will be using it as my debit card anytime soon, no matter how convenient it is. With the new chip in most bank cards now, I will be getting one of those aluminum wallets for all my cards with magnetic strips, and chips, including my drivers license.

For everyone's information, the IRS does NOT call anyone, unless they're returning a call you've initiated. They contact you by mail. Anyone getting ANY phone call for ANY personal data, should NOT give any personal information. Instead, get the name of the caller, and who they are with, but not their phone number. Look up the number for who they are with, or get the number from information, then call it and ask for the person that called requesting the information. That way you know it's legit.

I've even gotten messages on my phone from Bank Security saying that my debit/credit card had been compromised, and to fix it they needed me to confirm my identity by responding to the text with my card and PIN numbers. Um, I don't think so!

It know it is terrible! Our laws put restrictions on the cops from making it as easy to catch the bad guys! They claim invasion of privacy or violations of their rights!
While the bad guys do what ever they can think up! Well our courts and legal systems need to catch up to the times! Being as I don't have a home phone I don't get to many of these types of calls but since our dear president made all the cell phone companies release our private numbers now I do get some.

My father got taken on some scam over the phone once and they stole his whole SS check and my mom got the bank to give it back but ever since we have just made a rule not to give any private info over the phone to anyone.

Oh ya a couple weeks ago someone called saying I had won all kinds of prizes thru PCH and they transfered me to a supervisor and she was telling me how many prizes I had won. Then "SHE ASKED FOR MY CREDIT CARD INFO"! I politely hung up!

 

[Puddin Fluff]

With stolen credit cards, the cautious perp tries it out with a couple small purchases.

Yep, that's exactly what they did.

My brother was in Ireland a few years and when he got home the credit card co. told him someone had charged $ 500 in liquor to his card. My brother doesn't drink. The credit card co. knew it wasn't a typical purchase and flagged it. It was taken care of. Another time someone charged 30 trips to a certain state - my brother had never been there.

He says the new cards has a special chip in them - don't know what difference that makes - I'm sure crooks will find a way around it.

I am wondering how the chip works when you are ordering on line? All you do is put in your card number so you really could be anyone.

Cards with just the magnet strip are ridiculously easy to fake, with the right equipment it takes a few seconds. The ones with chips aren't as easy, but I'm sure they can be copied too. And in the world of internet purchases, you really only need a picture of someones card from both sides, and their address and you're good to go. Karin's card had been used to the tune of 600 GBP in some British online clothing store that only sold white clothing. Not really the color for a person who regularly finds herself shoulder deep in the back end of a cow.