Is it a coincidence?

[Arkteia]

My cc has been closed again for major fraudulent activity. For the second time in 2 months.
Naturally, I am angry - with the thieves, with the bank that can not protect its clients, what not...

But here is what surprised me: at the same time, several days before fraudulent charges started on my card, fraudulent activity started on my husband's card. A totally different card.

We were trying to figure out whether it was a mere coincidence or it had to do with one of the places which we could go to and pay from different cards. I got an idea, but the fraud dept. was unconcerned. Either it is enough for them that the card is closed, or they have their own way of tracking these things, I do not know. I am very angry that I have to go through this hassle for the second time, especially since there is James Meyer sale going on, but it happens I guess. My concern is that if the numbers are really stolen at one of the places I know, it will keep going on. Should I insist on them checking places that I find suspicious?

 

[tyty333]

I dont blame you for being mad...I think I would be pretty livid! I think it cost CC companies more to investigate fraud then to
take the loss. If I had an *idea* of where it might be happening then I might start using cash at those locations (yes, a pain).
Good luck...hope it doesnt happen again.

 

[perry]

What is the source of the fraud? Is it that the owning bank or financial institution was hacked and people got your number that way? If so - then it is perhaps not a coincidence...

Is it because both you and your husband use your CC's a lot; and someone out there copied the numbers (or perhaps the entire card). Then its not so much of a coincidence.

One comment - if you had problems a couple months ago - did you change your CC number. I had one time where I felt that 2 of my cards had been compromised (someone I did not trust had access to them) - and I immediately contacted the CC companies and requested new #'s as my cards had been compromised. They immediately suspended the old numbers and issued me new numbers; and no fraud occurred.

I also rarely use my CC's in public. By and large I'm cash and cary for most routine purchases.

Have a great day,

Perry

 

[soocool]

This happened to me last year. You need to file a police report and get a copy of you credit report and alert them to the fraudelent activity so that they can put a fraud alert on your accounts.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

I have been the victim of on going identity theft for the past 7 years. Every so often things will pop up, and then I can also go long periods of time with nothing. The moral of the story is, once someone has your personal information--SS #, pertinent information--they can continue to violate you by accessing everything you can no matter what accounts you close, numbers you change...doesn't matter....they can and will find you.

I am of the belief that this is not a coincidence, my gut feeling is that one person closely linked in to you is the one person doing this. At this point, it's time to get very serious and handle this with every avenue you have at your finger tips.

Most of identity theft or fraud is committed online, so if you're going to involve the police (and I suggest you do) ask to speak with someone in the CYBER CRIMES department, generally speaking, larger departments will have this. Things of this magnitude will go over a desk officers head, and you'll end up on a wild goose chase, so if your local department doesn't have cyber crimes, then find the nearest large city. I would also contact your bank, they do have departments that handle this, so involve them as well, but make it clear you're also working with the police.

Pull your credit report ASAP. Go over it with a fine tooth comb. In this day and age people aren't doing this simply for the "grab and dash"...people are using identity fraud as a means of reaching their personal goals. For example, someone with poor credit will steal another persons credit, open a car loan and pay on it--never so much as defaulting, leaving the victim in dark for a long time if they aren't diligent about monitoring their credit. Usually the victim will never know because the person who is doing this will be a prompt as possible. So, my point is, if there is one person at fault here who is continually victimizing you, there is a chance that there could be other things going on outside of this problem CC.

Sorry you're going through this, it's hard and unfair and really stressful.

 

[VRBeauty]

Crasu - I'm sorry you're going through this. Is there any possibility that it's tied to the bad billing agent you posted about some time ago?

 

[Arkteia]

To all who have responded to this post - thank you very much. Three most obvious persons who do have numbers of my cc's are out of question. But yes, I do ask myself if someone has access to our cc's. I am concerned that it happened twice with my one credit card (and the number had been changed after the first fraud) and that it happened to both me and my husband.
But I never knew that I myself have to go to the credit bureau and check my credit report since the bank said they would do it. And you are right, I should alert the police.
VR - it has nothing to do with the infamous biller since she never knew my personal SS # or even saw my cc. Her job was much easier, get statements - submit - I get the money - I send her a check. But it is a good thing that you have mentioned her, since she had infortmation about my business, by default. I probably should give another call to my lawyer and consult him about this, too. It just never occurred to me. It never occurred to my lawyer, and it is much more concerning. He has a big name in business.

 

[lulu66]

a few weeks before our honeymoon someone got our debit card number & made about $4000 worth of fraudulent purchases. we filed a police report because the bank requested it. of course, the police department stated that not much would be done with the case. we voiced concern b/c we live in a teeny tiny town & our neighbor had their card # stolen & cloned. luckily all the stores agreed that the charges were fraudulent, one even remembered the couple & their description b/c they thought the transaction was strange. so, we got the money put back into our account before our honeymoon. once we got back in the country we had several missed calls from our sheriff's dept wanting to follow up/ask more questions. there had been a rash of reported stolen card #s since we reported ours. we believe that someone put a credit card # reader over one of the pay-at-the-pump gas stations. unfortunately, the sheriff's dept didn't have any specific evidence & nothing came of the investigation. but all of that is to say: i feel ya! it sucks bad! it really made me mad that stores have transaction dates & times, does no one use security cameras?! i mean, if i wrote $4000 in bad checks my ass would probably be doing a bit of jail time & they sure as hell would use their man-power to bring me in. anyway, sorry, this just gets to me. crasru, i hope this gets cleared up in a speedy manner for you!

 

[Arkteia]

Lulu,

Please accept my sympathy. I, too, am amazed at the fact that they were alerted once the first (Inet) transaction took place, but allowed it, like they allowed a couple of subsequent ones, till someone tried to charge 19K on this cc. Just the sums these guys are charging or trying to charge!