Thursday, June 14, 2012

Any Ideas, Please Help

I am about at my wits end on this one, I use a credit card for most purchases because I get cash back and I always pay the bill in full each month this includes, gas, ammo, food, ammo, bills, guns, ammo, insurance, ammo etc. (you get the picture) anyway since Christmas I have had my credit card number stolen six times, roughly once a month. My card has not been physically stolen but a duplicate card has been made and used at places like Sam's Clubs and gas stations, I may see a $1 charge at a Sam's club and then a string of gas purchases, usually 3 or 4 over a 24 hour period.  This usually happens at locations a few hundred miles from where I have been.

The activity usually gets detected very quickly, by myself or the credit card company, usually while the purchases are still pending.
 I have not been held responsible for any charges but it is getting bazaar. I have 2 different credit cards and it has happened 5 times with one card once with the other, it always happens with the card I am using most that month. The credit card company doesn't seem too eager to investigate very deeply,  I have changed passwords and user names, I have stopped giving the card to a waitress at a restaurant (I walk to the cash register, wherever it is) I cover the numbers at the store when I scan it, I push the clear/cancel button after gas purchases, I  try not to have a habit of using certain stores over and over, I have searched for patterns in my purchases but have no clue how it is happening. The credit card company's fraud department has offered little help. It really bugs me how it is happening and I feel it has to be something I am doing but I have searched for clues and implemented all the safeguards I can find. Other than this I have had no other instances of ID theft, bogus loans or credit theft.
Any help out there?????
With all this fraud I think the ultimate solution will be to have a chip or tattoo put in everyone's right hand or forehead,.....Hmmm...................where have I seen that idea before ?

30 comments:

  1. A few years ago a credit card number with the security code and expiration date was selling for $500 on the black market.
    When we need to refund someone money on a credit card, as long as we physically swiped the card (vs. an online order), we have all the information needed to process a refund (or in your case make a charge).

    I think you are doing the right things, and it's most likely the places you are shopping physically have people working there making money on the side.
    The card companies write it off and don't care it's a hassle for you. There isn't much you can do unless you pay cash. Lucky for me my checking account is always empty so my debit card wouldn't get anyone very far... but it's a PITA.

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    1. Max, it is a hassle for sure, I will keep searching for a solution. Thanks.

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  2. Change account numbers on each credit card.

    When you say credit card, do you mean a credit card attached to your bank account to get cash back? If so, stop. I don't use mine for that at all. Only to get cash at an ATM. That's a direct line to your money. I'd also start going inside the bank to a teller to withdraw money. Also change your bank account numbers.

    Yes I know that's inconvenient. Then.... assuming it's not some one at the bank....

    Use the divide and conquer method.

    Use card A only at certain places and use card B at the other places. Keeping track of which. If a scanner is being used to copy your account numbers, then you should be able (by repeating the divide and conquer method) to narrow the culprit down. You may have to change account numbers a couple of times.

    I suspect someone has put a scanner somewhere where you are inserting a card.

    Also, back to the banking issue, I have my accounts set up this way. My savings account is not attached to my checking account.

    If I were to bounce a check or if a thief were to get access to drain that account, then you savings account DOES NOT get drained as well.

    You may end up paying a bounce fee, but they can't get your savings account. These things are generally covered by the Banks, but they are known for taking their time replacing your money.
    Its easier to just prevent this from happening to begin with.

    Duke, sorry this was so long and complicated.

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    1. Matt, each time I change cards I get a new number and I do not use debit cards, these are credit cards which are not connected to a bank account. I do like the idea of dividing the use of credit cards up to discover problem areas excellent idea, thanks.

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    2. Duke, Not is on to something here. Recently gas stations have been targeted with scanners attached to the credit card device on the pump. It's hard to see them but look really good before placing your card in the slot.

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    3. Very true Sandy, and I do check the best I can before buying gas. Thanks.

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  3. Long time reader, first time commenter here..

    Do the cards have a RF chip? Sometimes referred to as a contact-less card? (You just wave it in front of the scanner vs swiping it) If so, there are ways to mobile-scan (for lack of a better word) the card information when you use it. See this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_identity_theft In that case, i would request a non-RF card, or find a RF blocking wallet/sleeve: http://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/catalog/rfid-blocking-credit-card-passport-sleeves-p-1307.html (this link also shows how RF pickpocketing occurs)


    The other thing to look for is the potential skimmer located at credit car swipers (see this link: http://money.msn.com/identity-theft/buy-gas-get-card-data-ripped-off-indexcreditcards.aspx)...you swipe your card, it downloads the info, and you are none the wiser.. They are hard to spot (here are some pictures: http://krebsonsecurity.com/all-about-skimmers/)

    Good luck!! (And I appreciate the blog!)

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    1. Anon, They do not have a RF chip (at least I don't think so) I always have to insert the card into the machine. I do keep an eye out for suspicious looking equipment but I will check out the links you provided. Thanks.

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  4. There are several possible sources.
    First, your credit card company. Not likely if it is a major issuer unless it has been hacked. Highly likely if they are "store" cards, eg. Home Depot is one of the worst. Second, one of your regular vendors. Quite possible, remember Vesuvio in the Sopranos? It does not have to be at the cash register, it can be a bookkeeper in the back room.
    Third, the internet. Also quite likely no matter how many times you change passwords. Fourth, your computer has been hacked, usually a key tracking trojan. Possible but not likely unless you use one at work. Hackers usually go after business records not individuals unless you make it easy.

    Possible solution 1. Get new cards. Changing your passwords and user names is not going to be very effective against someone who already has the card number and your name. You need to start over clean and be more careful about where and how you use the card.
    Possible solution 2. Stop putting up information on the internet. ANY password or user name can be discovered.
    Possible solution 3. Divide your vendors into two or more groups. Always use the same card for each group. If one card is stolen you will at least know where to look for the problem. 4. Get better internet security. I use AVG and Malwarebytes. Yes, I run two security programs at the sametime. It works for me. I suggest that you run a search for reviews as there may be better programs out there.

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    1. Anon, they are major cards, Visa, Discover, MC. and I always get new cards each time they are compromised along with new account numbers, My credit card bills are paid on line from home and I have wireless router with a password attached and that has been changed to a more secure, difficult password as well, I will check into better internet security as well. Thanks for the advice, it is strange they don't attack any accounts except the one I am using to purchase stuff which leads me to think the problem lies with vendors and not my computer, but I'm no expert. thanks again.

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  5. Make sure the care isn't wi-fi enabled. If so, smash it. The best advice I can give you is to use old fashioned cash, as I do.

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    1. Excuse me. Meant to say 'the card.' Not care.

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    2. I do use cash for smaller things but it is so much easier to purchase gas and larger purchases with a credit card, provided they don't get hacked.

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  6. Duke - everyone has already provided some great advice although it is hassling to have to keep doing changing cards and dividing cards among vendors.

    my only advice is to alert the credit card companies to let them know that you want all new cards, but you don't want them sent for 3 months. and then use CASH ONLY for that 3 month period. and see if that doesn't identify, or at least put off, whoever is doing this.

    your friend,
    kymber

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    1. Kymber, it may come down to that...we well see, thanks my friend.

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  7. Wireless routers can be hacked. It is my understanding that they can be hacked relatively easily by those with the right equipment.

    Of course, with so many people's cards getting hacked it is always possible that you are the person who peaked out on the random distribution. But given the not very random local distribution, I would say it is a local problem.

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    1. I guess anything is possible, I tend to think that it has something to do with my spending because I never have a problem with any cards that don't get used or get used very rarely. Thanks.

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  8. Where are the duplicate cards sent to?

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    1. TCA, they are over nighted to my home, UPS

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  9. Oh, and you have a Ninja infestation on your blog. You might wanna look into that.

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  10. Replies
    1. John, that is the best system if you don't mind carrying lots of cash, on vacation it would require quite a few hundred even for a short vacation.

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  11. We have been going throught the same thing for the past 3 years. We even filed a sheriff's report three years ago to have an official investigation done. Nothing came of it. The deputy did tell us that all the information a thief needs is in the phone book. That they randomly chose a name and will keep using it, unless they are caught. The odds of that are almost zero. So when they compromise the account we cancel the card and get a need one. About a year ago they were so good that we had to get 3 new cards in a period of 2 weeks. They were getting the card number before we were and the card company was overnighting the card to us. The good thing is we have not been responsible for any of the purchases. Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear.

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    1. Stuck, that is strange, I don't see how they get the number before you do, on my account when I get a new card issued I am locked out of the account until I get the new card, activate it and reset the passwords ???? Thanks for the input.

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  12. Duke, if you want to talk at length about this, you can email me and we can talk. Fraud and credit/debit card investigation is what I did for many years. Just to start, if you have one card that keeps getting compromised and no others, look to the processor. If you have multiple cards from different issuers look at your purchase methods. Most importantly, those used on the computer. If you have a keystroke logging virus on the 'puter you can change passwords over and over and they will just get the new numbers and passwords every time you use them on the computer. There are just so many ways scammers can get cards that it is really hard to narrow it down, but if you have multiple cards being compromised you can probably narrow down the source based on your usage.

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    1. I usually use only one card (which I get cash back on) and that is the only one that get's hit except one time I was unable to get my new card for a few days and I had to use another card and then it got hit. I have 3 cards for different reasons which do get used maybe once a month and so far they have been unaffected, the only card which gets compromised is the one I use on a regular basis which leads me to believe it is some place I am using it. The only place I usually go to over and over is a gas station where I get diesel for my truck and because they only have one diesel pump I have to use the same island, as of now I will stop going there to see if that is the culprit. I don't even shop at the same grocery store every week. Thanks for your help.

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  13. Why don't you try prepaid cards?

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    1. Anon, The scary thing about a prepaid card is if it gets hacked then they empty the card account and then I have to fight to get it back, if they would even consider refunding it. Thanks for the input.

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  14. I had a single card compromised over and over for a year- in talking with a customer, found he was having the same problem- turns out he used a particular card ONLY for gas purchases at a pump 'n go I also used. Quit using that station, and have not been compromised since- we both reported this to local detectives and the card cos, but no follow-up of any kind.

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    1. Thanks for the info, I suspect the same kind of thing, thanks.

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