Credit Card Fraud, Someone Got Me!
By craftcatcher
@craftcatcher (3699)
United States
August 22, 2008 3:55pm CST
I am so angry right now I can hardly see straight. I just got a call from my credit card company stating that they suspected fraudulent activity on my credit card. They tell me that someone went on an online spending spree with my card over the last few days to the tune of over $2,000!I'm still trying to figure out how they got my number! I am always so fanatically careful about where I use it.
It had to be online because I have only used my card 4 times over the last 2 months, 3 were online purchases on encrypted websites I've been shopping at for years and one was to pay a bill online, also an encrypted website. Other than those my credit card has never left my possession or even been out of my wallet. So the only explanation is somehow I've gotten some kind of trojan virus on my computer that can track and log everything I do online. What an incredible invasion of privacy!
Now I have to fill out a bunch of paperwork that the credit card company is sending me, they have cancelled my current credit card number and are issuing me a new card. I have to change all my online passwords too. I'm sure there are several other things I'm going to have to do that I haven't thought of yet but I will as soon as I calm down. I have a bad feeling this could be a huge hassle and who knows what I might get stuck with paying because of someone else's fraud.
I think from now on I'm going to use those credit cards that can be used only once then the number is no longer valid if I must make an online purchase. It's just to risky to use a regular credit card online.
Has anyone else been a victim of credit card fraud? If yes, did you get your situation resolved easily or was it a big hassle?
11 people like this
32 responses
@stacysmomstl (397)
• United States
22 Aug 08
i'm lucky enough that it has not happened to me. But I know it is quite the ordeal. I hope that things will go smooth and that you will get your $2,000 back. More importantly, I hope they catch the person.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.
2 people like this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Thanks hon, we can use all the luck we can get right now. Every bit is very much appreciated!
@douchrti (176)
• United States
23 Aug 08
Im sorry to hear you were a victim,
Youve got a lot of great responses here and I hope I dont repeat any advice.
First, and most important,
Put a freeze on your credit. Contact all 3 ASAP. What happened to you is part of the typical setup to take and use your personal data.
Visit Fight Identity Theft.com
http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/index.html
Then visit E-Victims.org
http://www.e-victims.org
Dnload and run the program "Hijack This".
Run it and submit the log results to a good Help Forum like MajorGeeks.com
http://forums.majorgeeks.com
You'll have to register, then submit the log to the Malware section of the Forum, tell them whats happened, they are good people there and will help make sure your puter is clean.
Also one other piece of advice. Get a Password Fob from Paypal if you're gonna use Paypal or Ebay. Its only $5 here in the US and its worth not having to worry if youre acccount is being hacked.
Good luck, and stay safe.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Thanks so much douchrti! Great advice! I had never heard of the fob either, what an excellent idea.
@LouieWpHs04 (4554)
• United States
23 Aug 08
What's a password Fob? 
Oh, and that's going to be very helpful, the whole "Hijack this" program. It's very beneficial to protecting your computer! I just love that program, I don't know what I would do without it in some cases. 
Oh, and that's going to be very helpful, the whole "Hijack this" program. It's very beneficial to protecting your computer! I just love that program, I don't know what I would do without it in some cases. 
@littleowl (7157)
•
22 Aug 08
Hi CraftCatcher yes I have been a victim..fortunatly it was only £150 ($300) over my limit but the hassle it caused me and it took 6wks for it all to be sorted out..they did for a while block my card which I didn't mind and was putting money back on there but the fraud department did refund the money which was good...the one thing I won't be doing is using it online anymore there are too many hackers out there thieving our money for their own gain..littleowl
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Hi littleowl. I'm glad you got your money back eventually. Unfortunately I will still have to make some purchases online, I have no choice since a lot of things I need aren't available locally. But I'm going to start using those "one purchase only" cards. Once you make a purchase the number becomes invalid so even if they get the number they can't ever use it. It's terrible when you have to constantly outwit the bad guys just to be secure. 
@littleowl (7157)
•
23 Aug 08
Hi CraftCatcher I toally agre with you why is it always the honest innocent people are caught out by these people..there so many hackers etc online especially at the moment too...I haven't heard of the one payment card though it sounds good then I might entertain getting something online still what can we do about it..guess not a lot at all..bright blessings littleowl
1 person likes this
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
23 Aug 08
i am also worried about this that will possibly happen to me because i work online with different site. i think it is not advisable to used credit card only because of many opportunist that will might be hacked your account spend it without your knowledge. so that i keep myself away from this problem i used my debit card online. the advantage opportunist can't hacked my debit card because i see to it that it has no funds.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
24 Aug 08
That's one way to handle it! Hard to steal money from an account with no money in it. I won't be using my credit cards online anymore. Prefilled cards only from now on! Thanks for stopping by julyteen!
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
23 Aug 08
I hope you know it was your credit company that called. We had an item on our news the other night that said a new scam is one where a person calls supposedly from your credit card company to tell you of fraud on your card. Our consumer news reporter suggested that any time someone calls supposedly from your credit card company, that you hang up and call the company yourself - to the toll free number on the back of your card (and not one the person gives you over the phone).
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Hi kenzie, I would never take someone's word for something over the phone, ever. After they called I used the customer service number on the card. We've had a rash of those scam calls around here for a long time.
Thanks for bringing it up though, I'm sure there are myLotters who may not have realized that that situation can happen as well.
@lixiaos77 (1030)
• Shijiazhuang, China
23 Aug 08
Did you ever use you credit card to open a bank door? I hear that some one install a device to the door. And device can copy your information when you credit card near the device. Then they produce a false card which fuction as the true one. In this way they can use your money.
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
23 Aug 08
Hi lixiaos. No I've never used my credit card that way. I only use it online and occasionally to buy gas if I'm low on cash. I have heard of the ways that thieves can make a fake card though. They are so sneaky! I'm using "one purchase only" cards from now on for online purchases. Even if they steal the number they can't use it since the number becomes invalid after you use it. Thanks for bringing that up though, many people don't know about it and it may save someone else some trouble.
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
23 Aug 08
We only use the pay as you go or prefilled cards online, because of a fraud attempt. We did have something we cancelled get billed to us several extra times. We got our money back, then almost a year later, they started trying to access it again.That was a card tied to our checking, and we ended up closing the account out and moving all of our payments to the new account. I am sorry you are having such a hassle. You are serving as a good warning to us.
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
23 Aug 08
Hi GG. That's exactly what I'm going to start doing. Nothing but "one purchase only" cards. I hope they catch the thief and throw the book at him. $2000 is grand theft and carries a hefty penalty.
I'm glad you got your situation cleared up. It's such a hassle having to do all that work for someone else's stupidity!
Thanks for stopping by GG!
@ycanteye (778)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Sorry to hear about your misfortune. I have been lucky so far but it always concerns me when make purchases. I use Paypal mostly but have used my cc a couple of times.
Hope you get it straightened out without too much of a hassle and don't have to pay any of the charges.
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Thanks ycanteye, I also use Paypal whenever I can. Unfortunately many websites won't accept Paypal. There are alternatives like the "one purchase only" credit cards which is what I think I'm going to start using. I won't be taking any more chances, this is just way too scary and frustrating to go through again.
1 person likes this
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
22 Aug 08
We had the same thing happen to us, but it was our debit card not a credit card. We call a call saying that activity had gotten flagged. Apparently someone tried to take out $1000 out of our account. Boy did they pick the wrong people to try to steal from lol. We are so broke they wouldn't have gotten far on the little bit we had. I didn't really have to do much, they just sent me a new debit card with a different number on it.
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Hi ravinskye, It would be the same with us, if they tried to withdraw any money they'd be in for a surprise... the well is dry! 
I'm glad you got it resolved easily. I sure hope it will be the same for us.
I'm glad you got it resolved easily. I sure hope it will be the same for us.1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
1 Sep 08
I am so sorry to here this has happened to you my friend. I really do hate that some people get a way with such a thing. I do not know how they got your credit card. I wonder if it is someone who works for the companies who you paid your bill or bought your stuff from.
My friend's check book and credit card was stolen out of her purse at work one day. It was her father's check book that needed two signatures on and her credit card. She got a call from the bank when someone was going shopping. The checks where spent at target stores all over Northern California for Gift cards.
The mess my friend has to go through to clean up all of it was terrible. All the affidavits she had to sign that the charges where not hers.
Good luck and arn't you glad the bank was checking things like that.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
2 Sep 08
Hi tea! Yes I'm sure glad they caught it before it got too bad. Still don't know what's going to ultimately happen yet. I hope they catch the bum and throw his behind behind bars! LOL! Thanks hon.
1 person likes this
@keasling (723)
• United States
22 Aug 08
I have been lucky not to have that happened yet. But I am also unlucky because I don't have a credit card. After my husband was hurt we lost everything. I surely do hope and pray you get everything worked out. I can only imagine the trouble you are going to run into.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Thanks keasling. Sorry to hear about your husband's accident. It doesn't take much to lose everything in our current economy. We live paycheck to paycheck so if anything were to happen to my husband we'd be in the same boat very quickly. Our income has been cut in half because I am unable to work for health reasons so we would have no income whatsoever. It's extremely scary. Thanks again and best of luck to you.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Before you change any of your passwords make sure your computer is bug free. If you do have a bug it will get the new passwords if it's still functioning on your machine. I'm glad you credit card company caught it and you didn't have a nasty surprise when the bill came.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Thanks spalladino. Yes, tonight my computer gets a very thorough cleaning with every bit of software I have that deals with viruses, spyware and trojans. I'm also writing up a popup alarm to remind me to do it more often. I usually just run my anti-spyware programs once a month or when I remember. But I'm going to start running it every few days and always before I do any online transactions. I'm also going to start using the "one purchase only" credit cards. As soon as you use it the number becomes invalid. So even if I do get another virus or trojan it won't matter, they can't use the number and it won't come back on me anyway. I should have done this all along but I guess I was a little overconfident. Won't happen again!
1 person likes this
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
22 Aug 08
Hi craftcatcher,
I am so very sorry tha had happeded to you, it is disgusting what people can do, stealing money that don't belong to them. Its an invasion of privacy and I know how it feels because my house was burgled a few years ago and it made me sick. I aam scare of online banking and buying stuff online because of hackers and now it happened to you. I hope you won't have to pay for the money that was stolen from you, it was not your fault, I hope everything will work out fine believe in Karma, they will get their own back three fold.
Tamara
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
22 Aug 08
Hi Tamara, thanks so much. That's exactly what this feels like, like my life, my privacy, my finances, my computer... everything has been violated and burgled. It is a very nauseating and gut wrenching feeling. If they get this back 3 fold, they are in for a world of hurts judging by the way I feel right now.
1 person likes this
@trishasantos (1297)
• Philippines
23 Aug 08
Good thing your credit card company sends you a notice. I remember that there is a news that came out before. Almost the same things happened. But the credit card company did not send her some notice. She have to pay a very big amount.
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
23 Aug 08
I'm sorry to hear about your friends problem. I am very glad that they caught the problem but I don't know yet if they missed any of the charges. I have to fill out a bunch of paperwork before I will know anything. They locked me out of my account online which I knew they would do but I would still like to know where all these charges originated. It would help me pinpoint who stole the number. Thanks for stopping by Trisha.
@shooie (4984)
• United States
27 Aug 08
My husbands has had to get two cards now but so far so good he didn't get taken for a ride. He has been lucky he on;y got hit for $60 and it was resolved and over quickly. Someone used it at the gold course he normally plays at. But like you they cancelled his card each time. Sorry to hear they hit you for $2000 and hope you don't have to pay it.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
28 Aug 08
I'm very glad your husband didn't have any trouble getting things resolved. With any luck mine sitution will be over just as quickly.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
23 Aug 08
How awful for you !.
and no it hasnt hit me.
But some one did put a withdrawal on my daughters bank card! a few years back.
We still havent figured that one out but they gave her a new card changed the PIN no and all and the bank took off the charge that the people did.
She has no credit cards and dont shop on line so we dont know how they did it!
Heres praying that you get all resolved soon hugs
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
24 Aug 08
yes your mind will do that but as long as you have it turned in nothing more should happen and most cards say something about if lost and some one uses them you might have to pay $50 of it.
Buthen again with the way this went ya might not have to pay anyrthing still praying hugs
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Hi Lakota! Thanks so much for the prayers and hugs my friend, I can use them. I've calmed down quite a bit since this all happened yesterday but it's still very frustrating. I keep letting my mind wander to the worst possible scenario!
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
26 Aug 08
I have never been a victim but I know someone who has and yes it was a big hassle. The hassle only lasted 2 weeks and all was well after that! It did get resolved in the end.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
26 Aug 08
I'm glad the hassle didn't last too long for your friend. From the reponses I've gotten it is either one way or the other to the extreme! It's either a huge life altering blow or it's resolved fairly painlessly. I hope I get the latter! Thanks Skinny!
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
23 Aug 08
I am not surprised that you are really angry, I would be too that is terrible. I sometimes think that we are not safe in whatever we do, if we use our cards in a shop then the details can be copied and used against us, shopping online is not always safe and carrying cash to purchase is not always safe. How on earth are we supposed to be able to spend money without some predator waiting in the wings to steal it or use our details to go shopping with out money!
I am not sure how they managed to get the details of your card, but it certainly makes me stop and think now. I think I will think twice before I use my card online now. Will you have to pay that money back or are you covered?
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Hi gr, I hope everything is covered but I won't know all the details until I get the paperwork that they are sending me to fill out. I was so upset when I was on the phone with the credit card company I remember very little about what was said.
I know what you mean, sometimes it's very hard to feel safe no matter what you do. But from now on, no more regular credit cards online, only prefilled cards for exact amount of purchase! At least that way, even if they get the number it's no good to them. As soon as I use it the number becomes invalid! That seems to be the safest way to go nowadays, especially online.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
24 Aug 08
That actually sounds like a good idea, a card you can only use once. I have never heard of that before. Hope it all gets sorted for you anyway.
@dizzblnd (3073)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Yes, unfortunately I was a victim. I bought a screensaver on-line, I believe that's where they got my number. I started receiving "free" samples in the mail. I didn't think much of it until I also started seeing charges on my credit card $3.99 here.. $5.99 there. (shipping and handling charges for these samples) They opened a Gamefly account in my name. All of this designed to see if I the card was good and whether or not I was paying attention to my account. I had to call each of the companies, explain that I did not open the accounts. They were all very helpful and understanding and gave me no trouble. I went to FCC.gov (you should too if you haven't already) to file a complaint, (they will look into it, but won't keep you informed of their findings) File a police report (if you haven't done so already), contact any of the three credit bureaus and put a fraud watch on your account. They will also give you a free report so you can check for other fraudulent activity.
I am sorry that you got taken for that much money. That sVcks!
I have read a few of the other responses, good suggestions (running virus scan etc..)
Good luck getting everything cleared up. Keep tabs on suspicious charges (like the small ones I had) .. contact the bank or credit card company immediately to reverse them and shut down your cards, and report any new fraudulent activity to the FCC immediately so they can further investigate
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Hi dizzblnd and thanks so much for your suggestions. It's terrible how many others this has happened to. I knew credit card fraud was on the rise but so many others here on myLot alone have been affected as well. I'm glad you got your situation taken care of easily and without too much hassle.
