Just got a call from my bank...

[HannibalX]

... Someone in Michigan has been using my check card to buy gas apparently. Since I always have my card in my possession and don't lend it to anyone that means someone I have done business with in person (never use the card online) has cloned the card. Interesting.

The bank shut the card down and will be reimbursing me for the charges, obviously. Now I am trying to figure out who it could be. I don't really shop anywhere shady with the exception of a self-service wash bay on the way to work. I stop in twice a week or so and hose the car down and they take cash or debit, I almost always use the debit option since I rarely carry cash. Hmmmmm...

Wild.

 

[phoenix79]

Not necessarily someone you did business with. When a business runs your card, the info goes to a card service then to your bank. There have been hacks into those services before where millions of numbers have been stolen. Likely that was the culprit.

 

[Platypus]

More likely that you got skimmed. Do you use that card at ATMs?

 

[HannibalX]

I have heard about the ATM thing but the only ATM I typically use is inside my bank's lobby.

 

[Platypus]

I have heard about the ATM thing but the only ATM I typically use is inside my bank's lobby.

It's rare that there'd be a skimmer inside a bank lobby due to the cameras but it's definitely not unheard of. It's more likely you used it at some random ATM somewhere and it was snagged there.

 

[HannibalX]

Perhaps. I am cashless probably 95% of the time. I can't even remember the last time I've used an ATM, it's been probably six months, maybe longer.

 

[RKS]

My wife has to testify next month regarding the cloning of her card. Apparently the cashier at a local nail salon had some device to quickly steal the info. By the following weekend he was buying gift cards from various stores with a cloned card.

 

[HannibalX]

DAMN!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3qK46L2b_c

 

[xochi]

... Someone in Michigan has been using my check card to buy gas apparently. Since I always have my card in my possession and don't lend it to anyone that means someone I have done business with in person (never use the card online) has cloned the card. Interesting.

The bank shut the card down and will be reimbursing me for the charges, obviously. Now I am trying to figure out who it could be. I don't really shop anywhere shady with the exception of a self-service wash bay on the way to work. I stop in twice a week or so and hose the car down and they take cash or debit, I almost always use the debit option since I rarely carry cash. Hmmmmm...

Wild.

had the same thing happen to me about a year ago with a chase check card. It took a few days for all the fraudulant charges to come in.

The customer serivice agent told me that the crook goes to a shady gas station and asks patrons if they want gas for a discount, (give me $20 bucks cash and i'll fill up your car) They use the credit card option rather than debit and it delays the reporting process. They do this many times before the card gets canceled.

I've noticed that many gas stations now ask for your zip before paying at the pump.

 

[The Stig]

Not that unusual man. In college I had a guy try and use my card for $1700 at a travel agency, too bad I had a $500 limit. Who knows how it happens. I don't really sweat it, not like they make you pay for it anyways.

 

[The Stig]

had the same thing happen to me about a year ago with a chase check card. It took a few days for all the fraudulant charges to come in.

The customer serivice agent told me that the crook goes to a shady gas station and asks patrons if they want gas for a discount, (give me $20 bucks cash and i'll fill up your car) They use the credit card option rather than debit and it delays the reporting process. They do this many times before the card gets canceled.

I've noticed that many gas stations now ask for your zip before paying at the pump.

ohh shit I did that with my parents/gf card when I was a junkie... works every time!

 

[Platypus]

Honestly you should just use a CC instead of a debit card for everything.. it's not worth the hassle and the banking system has so many bullshit rules in place to allow these scams to happen in the first place. With a CC you just contest it and its over. With debit, you'll likely have to sign a bunch of forms and wait X number of weeks/months for them to investigate the fraud. I've been through that one too many times and just stopped using debit years ago. The added 'convenience' is really not worth it and with a CC you can be earning points or cash for purchases you are going to make anyway. Why not get 'free' money?

 

[HannibalX]

I use prepaid CCs anytime I shop online. My current bank combines the check card and debit card into one which most banks seem to do now. My last bank had separate check and debit cards.

 

[dabuddha]

Ever shop with it on monoprice.com?

 

[Platypus]

I use prepaid CCs anytime I shop online. My current bank combines the check card and debit card into one which most banks seem to do now. My last bank had separate check and debit cards.

Either way it ties into your checking account which is a bad idea. You are not afforded the same protections when it comes from your checking account that you are via a credit card.

 

[HannibalX]

No, not the ones I use. I buy them with cash at my bank. I can add cash to them any time I want by going in the bank, handing the teller my card and a wad of cash. They have all the protections of a regular CC through my bank.

 

[Gibson486]

yeah...my amex card has been cloned. I went to this gas station and got $25 worth of gas. I get my statement and it shows that $25 worth of gas PLUS $50 more on a separate transaction 3 minutes later. Last I saw, Mazda 3's do not consume $75 worth of gas.

 

[moshquerade]

Honestly you should just use a CC instead of a debit card for everything.. it's not worth the hassle and the banking system has so many bullshit rules in place to allow these scams to happen in the first place. With a CC you just contest it and its over. With debit, you'll likely have to sign a bunch of forms and wait X number of weeks/months for them to investigate the fraud. I've been through that one too many times and just stopped using debit years ago. The added 'convenience' is really not worth it and with a CC you can be earning points or cash for purchases you are going to make anyway. Why not get 'free' money?

100% this.

 

[HannibalX]

Yeah, I'm heading down to the bank in about an hour to sign an affidavit. We'll see how long it takes. It looks like three transactions at the same gas station so if those stations have the typical $75 limit on the pumps it shouldn't be too bad, still a PITA.

 

[Platypus]

Yeah, I'm heading down to the bank in about an hour to sign an affidavit. We'll see how long it takes. It looks like three transactions at the same gas station so if those stations have the typical $75 limit on the pumps it shouldn't be too bad, still a PITA.

I guess my point was, if you used a CC, this trip to the bank to sign the affidavit would be unnecessary as would be the time it takes them to investigate and give you your money back. Some banks are better than others about this but either way, a hassle that isn't really needed.

 

[HannibalX]

Well, I don't have to go to the bank, they mailed me an affidavit as well but I was told if I didn't want to wait I could just drive down there and fill one out. I have several "real" CCs that I do use quite often. I'm in my bank probably twice a week anyway, no biggie. I guess I'm more annoyed than anything.

BTW the transactions were not debit transactions anyway, they were Visa check card transactions which of course go through Visa and then to the bank.

 

[xochi]

I guess my point was, if you used a CC, this trip to the bank to sign the affidavit would be unnecessary as would be the time it takes them to investigate and give you your money back. Some banks are better than others about this but either way, a hassle that isn't really needed.[/QUOTE

100% correct, Chase handled this via fax but still a PITA. Now i rarely use my debit card for anything.

 

[eits]

you just got a call from the bank... they're telling you to stop posting so goddamn much in the forums and get a job.

Posts Per Day: 46.92

christ on his throne! get a life, dude!

 

[HannibalX]

yeah...my amex card has been cloned. I went to this gas station and got $25 worth of gas. I get my statement and it shows that $25 worth of gas PLUS $50 more on a separate transaction 3 minutes later. Last I saw, Mazda 3's do not consume $75 worth of gas.

I probably shouldn't be this way but I avoid mom and pop gas stations now days. I didn't used to, in fact I preferred them.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Well, I don't have to go to the bank, they mailed me an affidavit as well but I was told if I didn't want to wait I could just drive down there and fill one out. I have several "real" CCs that I do use quite often. I'm in my bank probably twice a week anyway, no biggie. I guess I'm more annoyed than anything.

BTW the transactions were not debit transactions anyway, they were Visa check card transactions which of course go through Visa and then to the bank.

Why is real in quotes? What kind of CC's are you using?