Credit card fraud help

[Indiankash]

Hi guys, i dont know if this is the right place to ask but i need some guidence. Recently someone made $2000 worth of fraudulanet charges on my credit card. There were 4 charges total each about $500. Two charges on one day and the ohter two on the next day. I noticed two days later ( i know i should have set up alerts) and called my bank (bank of america). They have witheld the charges until the investigation is complete. The four charges were all made at pilot gas station and it should also be noted that i had my credit card the whole time, i did not lose it which is why I didn't bother checking my acc of charges. So im reading online a lot that Bank of America rarely ever sides with the customres in cases like these. I was wondeing if you guys have had different experinces or have any advice in what i should? If i should talk to a lawyer or not? Also on the same days of the charges i got gas on the same credit card and can prove that. I dont know what to do. I feel as though my hands are tied and have to wait untli the bank finishes its investigation.
I would appreciate any advice, thanks in advance.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

Make sure you file the disputed in writing. Don't just rely on the phone. Banks don't like written complaints as there are different rules when a complaint is in writing.

Use the company's billing inquiries address specifically. They will contact the merchant about the chargeback and the merchant will possible dispute it and call the charge valid.

If you are notified in writing of a denial respond again in writing ASAP. Within ten days. Detail again the nature of your claim as to why the charges are believed to be fraudulent. Detail everything you know about your whereabouts. Any evidence you can provide etc.... to show you could not have made the charges at the locations and times stated. Include that you would also be filing a complaint with the OCC (Office of the Comptroller of of the Currency).

 

[Indiankash]

Okay thanks, i will go to the bank on momday and will make the dispute in writing. Also do you know how i can get the merchant's billing address? On my credit card charge it shows only the city and the state.

 

[Humpy]

The pattern of 4 charges of $500 each at a gas station pretty much proves they are fraudulent.

Not that Bank of America isn't a bunch of assholes, but I wouldn't worry too much about this one.

 

[Indiankash]

The pattern of 4 charges of $500 each at a gas station pretty much proves they are fraudulent.

Not that Bank of America isn't a bunch of assholes, but I wouldn't worry too much about this one.

I hope so man thanks for the reassurance.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

Okay thanks, i will go to the bank on momday and will make the dispute in writing. Also do you know how i can get the merchant's billing address? On my credit card charge it shows only the city and the state.

No easy way to identify the merchant from your bill if it's a big chain with multiple locations. I'd just call the service line and ask if they can provide you any details. You might get an address from their side or a store # etc...

 

[Indiankash]

Okay thanks, i will go to the bank on momday and will make the dispute in writing. Also do you know how i can get the merchant's billing address? On my credit card charge it shows only the city and the state.

Make sure you file the disputed in writing. Don't just rely on the phone. Banks don't like written complaints as there are different rules when a complaint is in writing.

Use the company's billing inquiries address specifically. They will contact the merchant about the chargeback and the merchant will possible dispute it and call the charge valid.

If you are notified in writing of a denial respond again in writing ASAP. Within ten days. Detail again the nature of your claim as to why the charges are believed to be fraudulent. Detail everything you know about your whereabouts. Any evidence you can provide etc.... to show you could not have made the charges at the locations and times stated. Include that you would also be filing a complaint with the OCC (Office of the Comptroller of of the Currency).

Hey also who shoulf i send the letter too, the local bank orbthe hq?

 

[MomentsofSanity]

Hey also who shoulf i send the letter too, the local bank orbthe hq?

There should be a billing inquiries address. Send it there. Make sure for yourself it's going to the right place. You can go so far as to ask for an overnight address and send it requiring a signature. Might be overkill as Humpy is right, it looks obvious.

Did they say if the charges were point of sale? Cash advances?

 

[Indiankash]

There should be a billing inquiries address. Send it there. Make sure for yourself it's going to the right place. You can go so far as to ask for an overnight address and send it requiring a signature. Might be overkill as Humpy is right, it looks obvious.

Did they say if the charges were point of sale? Cash advances?

They didn't specify. Also i never set up a pin to get cash from my credit card if thats what you mean by cash advance.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

I think you'll be ok but just make sure to cover yourself as best you can. Don't let them just decline it right off the bat and accept it.

 

[Red Squirrel]

If it was at a local store and not online, you might be able to get the cops involved too so they can try to get CCTV footage.

I would cancel the card and change the number everywhere else. As an extra precaution change all your passwords. If they got your credit card number you not sure what else they might also have, or what they had in order to get it. Credit card companies are pretty good about dealing with fraud charges so I would not worry too much about that part.

 

[Indiankash]

If it was at a local store and not online, you might be able to get the cops involved too so they can try to get CCTV footage.

I would cancel the card and change the number everywhere else. As an extra precaution change all your passwords. If they got your credit card number you not sure what else they might also have, or what they had in order to get it. Credit card companies are pretty good about dealing with fraud charges so I would not worry too much about that part.

I cancled my card, the stores were about 25-30 miles from my home address i cabt fugure out which store it is. On the charge it only says the city and state and theres tons of pilot gas stations in atlanta. Thanks for your advice

 

[bruceb]

I agree with what Red Squirrel said. It sounds to me like you used your credit card at a tampered gas pump reader, one that probably had a card skimmer installed on it. How soon were the fake charges after you bought your gas ? Might even have been done by the owner of the gas station and in the future I would not go there again. Learn how to spot card skimmers. And by all means change the card number ASAP .. I had an order placed recently with what looked like a legit on line company. They even provided Phony Shipment Tracking information, item never delivered and you could never get a real person to speak to or an answer to an email. I filed a dispute with Citi (which of course was honored) and just to be safe I changed my account number. For online buys, your safest method is to use Shop Safe (Bank of America) or Virtual Account Numbers (at Citi) .. This way they never get your real account number and the virtual number is a one time, one vendor use only. Once used it is invalid and you can set an Amount and Time Limit as well.

 

[Brainonska511]

When I had fraudulent charges on my Citi MC many years ago, Citi actually locked down my card before I even noticed anything was wrong online. Then they just told me to circle the fraudulent charges on my next statement and mail it back with some affidavit that I had to sign to complete the process of disputing the charges. It was easy and they handled everything.

 

[kranky]

Look on your statement - it will tell you exactly where to write when claiming that charges were fraudulent. Send it with proof of delivery requested. Do not do it at the bank. Follow the instructions on your statement.

 

[Svnla]

OP, read this link (from the FTC and follow it)- https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0213-lost-or-stolen-credit-atm-and-debit-cards

as long as you notify the CC company within reasonable time frame, you will not own anything. The most you could own would be about $50 (2 business days).

I recommend that you send them an email or chat (with a copy of chat log) so you have a paper trail that you can cover your behind later.

Look like the bad guy(s) was able to skim your card. Do not go back to that gas station or the place that you used that CC card the last time. Better yet, notify the management of that place pronto. They might not know about the skimmer(s).

 

[Indiankash]

I agree with what Red Squirrel said. It sounds to me like you used your credit card at a tampered gas pump reader, one that probably had a card skimmer installed on it. How soon were the fake charges after you bought your gas ? Might even have been done by the owner of the gas station and in the future I would not go there again. Learn how to spot card skimmers. And by all means change the card number ASAP .. I had an order placed recently with what looked like a legit on line company. They even provided Phony Shipment Tracking information, item never delivered and you could never get a real person to speak to or an answer to an email. I filed a dispute with Citi (which of course was honored) and just to be safe I changed my account number. For online buys, your safest method is to use Shop Safe (Bank of America) or Virtual Account Numbers (at Citi) .. This way they never get your real account number and the virtual number is a one time, one vendor use only. Once used it is invalid and you can set an Amount and Time Limit as well.

What i meant to say was that i bought gas the same day as the charges at a differnt gas station within 3 miles of my home address . I siad this to see if that is vlaid claim that i would not havr been at the places of the fraudulent charges.

 

[Indiankash]

Oma

OP, read this link (from the FTC and follow it)- https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0213-lost-or-stolen-credit-atm-and-debit-cards

as long as you notify the CC company within reasonable time frame, you will not own anything. The most you could own would be about $50 (2 business days).

I recommend that you send them an email or chat (with a copy of chat log) so you have a paper trail that you can cover your behind later.

Look like the bad guy(s) was able to skim your card. Do not go back to that gas station or the place that you used that CC card the last time. Better yet, notify the management of that place pronto. They might not know about the skimmer(s).[/QUOTE

Ok thanks for your advice. And i wasnt at that gas station, i was at a differnt one on the same day near my house (sorry for the confusion). Which is why i cannot figure out how they got my info

 

[bruceb]

It will probably help, but you need to figure out where your information was taken and then notify the police. There is very clear evidence of criminal activity here. Also was this one of those so called "secure chip cards" ? If it was if someone got within a few feet of you, they could (at least it said they could) read the card information with just about anything, including an app on a smart phone.

 

[Indiankash]

It will probably help, but you need to figure out where your information was taken and then notify the police. There is very clear evidence of criminal activity here. Also was this one of those so called "secure chip cards" ? If it was if someone got within a few feet of you, they could (at least it said they could) read the card information with just about anything, including an app on a smart phone.

Wow. Yeah it was the chip card. Its that easy huh.

 

[Svnla]

Oma

Ok thanks for your advice. And i wasnt at that gas station, i was at a differnt one on the same day near my house (sorry for the confusion). Which is why i cannot figure out how they got my info

The bad guy(s) got the data of your CC card at one place and then copied/cloned that data onto a blank card and use that "clone" card for their bad deeds. That's how I see it.

That's why whenever I use my CC at a gas station, I go to a nice place and use the pump in the middle (with highest traffic) and not an off side pump. I also pushed/pulled the card reader to be sure everything was all good.

 

[Indiankash]

The bad guy(s) got the data of your CC card at one place and then copied/cloned that data onto a blank card and use that "clone" card for their bad deeds. That's how I see it.

That's why whenever I use my CC at a gas station, I go to a nice place and use the pump in the middle (with highest traffic) and not an off side pump. I also pushed/pulled the card reader to be sure everything was all good.

Ok i will defently keep this in mind, thanks for the advice.

 

[bruceb]

They sell RFID sleeves to prevent cards in your wallet being scanned. Or get one of those metal type credit card cases to keep them in.
Be wary of anyone coming within say 6 to 10 feet of you. They really can't scan it at much farther than that.

 

[Indiankash]

Y

They sell RFID sleeves to prevent cards in your wallet being scanned. Or get one of those metal type credit card cases to keep them in.
Be wary of anyone coming within say 6 to 10 feet of you. They really can't scan it at much farther than that.

yeah its time for me ti look into a rfid wallet

 

[Brainonska511]

Wow. Yeah it was the chip card. Its that easy huh.

That's for RFID cards. The chip cards, the ones that banks are forcing on merchants, are the ones with the golden-colored contact on the front - those are different than the RFID ones that allow for contact-less payment.