My Son Fell Prey to Online Fraud
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
United States
December 3, 2017 7:13am CST
My son told me recently that he ordered an expensive item from a vendor online. He then told me that when he opened his online bank account he found that the vendor charged him 5 times for the item ordered. It put his account to a negative balance.
He called the vendor several times and asked them to reverse the charges. To this day the money has not been returned. His bank is trying to get the money back for him. Not sure they will be successful.
My son also said that his credit card was hacked and there were several pending purchases on the card. The credit card company is investigating this for him. I hope that he won't be responsible for payment on the fraudulent purchases.
I told him he should set up a Paypal account and have the purchase go through them with both his card and his checking account. They do help with getting money back on fraudulent purchases.
So, I urge everyone to be very careful when making online purchases. Check to see if they are reputable vendors before you go ahead and make the purchase.
19 people like this
20 responses
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
3 Dec 17
I know that he isn't the only one to fall prey to these sneaky devils. I hope that he can get his money back. He is the only one working because he and his wife are expecting their first child at the end of this month.
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
3 Dec 17
@ElusiveButterfly
Sorry to hear this, I hope he will find ways to have it back.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11120)
• Malaysia
3 Dec 17
Oh no...5 times more? That's awful! I hope the credit card company would resolve the issue very soon and he gets his money back.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
3 Dec 17
I hope they can resolve it soon for them. They just bought a car and home, toss in the rest of the household bills and they are strapped.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38723)
• Midland, Michigan
3 Dec 17
Good points. Usually when using credit cards if we claim we didn't make the said purchase they will automatically take the charges off.I'm surprised the credit card company hasn't already taken care of that part for him.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
3 Dec 17
I guess he is working on getting things turned around. However, the hits on his credit card keep piling up.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
5 Dec 17
@MarshaMusselman one of his friends told him about PayPal credit and I do believe he is looking into getting one of their cards.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38723)
• Midland, Michigan
4 Dec 17
@ElusiveButterfly If that's the case, maybe he should check into closing that one out and beginning fresh. He may also want to purchase prepaid credit cards for online purchases. Or use a paypal card as was suggested by another person.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
3 Dec 17
He isn't a happy camper at the moment.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
4 Dec 17
@DianneN his credit card company should do the same. We will find out on Monday what is happening with the bank.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
3 Dec 17
@ElusiveButterfly I can imagine. My credit card covers all fraudulent activities.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
4 Dec 17
I have a paypal account and I also pay a tiny bit every month on one of my credit cards for wallet protection. This covers all the credit cards I have.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
5 Dec 17
My husband just got a card and I told him to be very careful where he spends the money from that.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
9 Dec 17
@fishtiger58 oh I have heard of those as well.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Dec 17
@ElusiveButterfly The bad guys also have a device where they can stand several feet away from you, push a button and get your credit card number. That's why they now have RFID wallets to protect you from that kind of theft.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
3 Dec 17
He has a credit card that was hit pretty bad and keeps on getting hit. Surprised that the company didn't freeze the card.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
3 Dec 17
@NJChicaa I doubt he will ever get the item he ordered either.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (116295)
• United States
3 Dec 17
@ElusiveButterfly shame on that company. He can dispute all of he charges
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157873)
• United States
4 Dec 17
Hubby ordered a "free watch" for shipping. Either he did not read the fine print or they are very convincing. He saw the second charge when it came through, had the bank close his card. After investigating, the bank said that the vendor or company said he signed the terms which means they cannot get the money back. Grr. Nothing free online, but he does this every once in a while.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
5 Dec 17
My husband did this many years ago. Ordered magazines that cost him an arm and a leg. We weren't together at the time he ordered these. They kept withdrawing money from his account even though he cancelled the order. Had to close the account and start fresh.
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
4 Dec 17
We are sorry to hear about the incident. It was unfair on the part of online website to charge five times higher. I think you could mention the name of the website here, so that others could remain alert.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
5 Dec 17
I'll have to ask my son for that information.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159936)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Dec 17
My bank got some money back for me recently. Some company debited my account. I didn't know anything about them, nor did any family members. My bank got all the money back. Thank goodness. I had to cancel my debit card. The bank got a new one to me in two days. I was amazed. Hope your son gets all this settled quickly. I think some banks are better than others. THis could be a wake up call for him.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
4 Dec 17
I am going to have a talk with him about ordering from companies without checking their rating first.
@celticeagle (159936)
• Boise, Idaho
4 Dec 17
@ElusiveButterfly .......That's always a good idea.
1 person likes this
@cherriefic (10400)
• Philippines
4 Dec 17
The bank should cover fraudulent transactions and give back his money.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Dec 17
That is such a shame. Our bank has been on the ball and rung us a couple of times when they think a transaction might be dodgy but really that's been when we're in a different country and have used the card. We use Paypal for most small online purchases now.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
5 Dec 17
I use PayPal for all of my online purchases. So far so good.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
5 Dec 17
I have yet to hear from my son for an update on this. I hope that he gets his money back soon.
@Happy2BeMe (99386)
• Canada
3 Dec 17
Sorry that happened to your son. I hope it all works out for him and that he gets his money back. I only use paypal when I shop online.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
3 Dec 17
I have made many purchase through them this year. Glad that I have too. Makes the process so much easier too.
Just ordered a bunch of photos for gifts. Hopefully they will come out to my liking. Some were a bit on the expensive side. However, I got 50% off the cost and also will get 15% back from Ebates.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99386)
• Canada
3 Dec 17
@ElusiveButterfly great deals. I keep forgetting to use Ebates.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
3 Dec 17
@Happy2BeMe I usually start there and if I forget I back out of the site I am ordering from and go to Ebates and open the site.
1 person likes this
@redurnet (1799)
• United Kingdom
5 Dec 17
I have been a victim of fraud and so has my sister. My sister's situation was similar to your son. It was difficult but she did eventually get the money back. I might be a bit dim but in cases where this happens I don't understand why it's so difficult to seemingly trace where money has been transferred and just get it back for victims. I'm very scared every time I make a purchase online now.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
5 Dec 17
I told my son to be very aware of any purchases he makes online. When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
3 Dec 17
He is pretty ticked off right now. Can't say as I blame him for being so.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37764)
• Philippines
3 Dec 17
This is really bad. There are so many scams and fraudulent activities now we should be careful. Hope he can figure out to solve this problem
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
4 Dec 17
He has notified his credit card company and he is watching his accounts closely now.
1 person likes this
@Angela150 (928)
• London, England
3 Dec 17
That is shocking. This is why I stay away from unknown suppliers and only shop with well known and trusted suppliers!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
3 Dec 17
I questioned the reputation of the vendor he chose. He said he wasn't sure, but now knows that he shouldn't have ordered from them.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
4 Dec 17
I use paypal as much as possible.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
3 Dec 17
I hope it doesn't take too long. He has a family to support.
