So I used my credit card yesterday morning at a local business and BAM!

[Arcadio]

4 unauthorized charges on the same day. I always do business with this local place and always pay with credit card. What are the chances that the people at this place used a device to steal my card info? My bank already cancelled the charges, but should I talk to the manager of the business about it? Or just drop the whole thing? I'm not paying with a credit card anymore at that place. Does stuff like this get investigated?

 

[Tweak155]

4 unauthorized charges on the same day. I always do business with this local place and always pay with credit card. What are the chances that the people at this place used a device to steal my card info? My bank already cancelled the charges, but should I talk to the manager of the business about it? Or just drop the whole thing? I'm not paying with a credit card anymore at that place. Does stuff like this get investigated?

You have no proof that this place caused your problem, only coincidence so far. Do you know where the unauthorized charges happened?

 

[Arcadio]

You have no proof that this place caused your problem, only coincidence so far. Do you know where the unauthorized charges happened?

No proof, but the last time I used my card to pay at a local business was a week ago at a major supermarket. I did make a few Amazon purchases online, but Amazon's got my cc info stored. The unauthorized charges were from Lowe's, Stop & Shop, and Popeye's.

 

[LTC8K6]

You should go report it to the store manager anyway, even if you are not sure.

They might already be suspicious of an employee.

At least you will have informed them in case they have no idea.

 

[maddogchen]

were the transactions local to your area?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah I'd inform them. If multiple people come forward then they'll know it might actually be from that place.

 

[Kelvrick]

Your card could have been compromised years ago at any other random merchant or in any of the big data breaches and it finally got used. Dispute the charges, get a new cc and move the fuck on.

 

[Markbnj]

The right thing to do here is to inform the bank that those charges aren't yours and let them proceed with their investigation. They know a lot more about the transactions than you do, and there isn't much the merchant can do with the information you can provide.

 

[inachu]

When I see people walk away with my card then I follow them.

Never let people take your card away from your eyesight.
That is your legal and security right!
Seen a few sisters think they can run in back and dance around and stuff when they say they have to go and talk with their boss for some reason unrelated to my purchase.

So . . . you really only get suspicious when it's "sisters?" Oh, brother!

Perknose
Forum Director

 

[inachu]

Your card could have been compromised years ago at any other random merchant or in any of the big data breaches and it finally got used. Dispute the charges, get a new cc and move the fuck on.

Also change your online account password and in your browser if you do online banking then do not click on SAVE PASSWORD. That is just asking for problems as there are cookie stealing programs out there.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Probably good idea to get a full credit check too, just to make sure no other fishy things are going on. Credit monitoring service is not a bad idea, but I hate the idea of paying per month for something "just in case". It's yet another insurance to pay for.

A big issue these days is how all these big companies have tons of your personal info and they don't care about securing it because they have liability insurance to protect themselves from that. We are constantly in the hands of corporations and the government who could not give a rat's ass about us.

 

[Arcadio]

The charges are from stores with physical presence in NYC, although I don't know if they were made at the local branches.

 

[rh71]

Why haven't most merchants in the US adopted the chip readers yet? Most of the card companies have already sent out new cards with chips because of all the fraud news since Target.

Is it simply cost to add the reader? Most of the swipe devices I've seen already have the capability to read a chip also from what it looks like.

 

[lxskllr]

I used cash at the deli today, and BAM!, they gave me change, and I walked out with my Mediterranean wrap, and a bag of chips. The rest of my cash is still in my wallet, backed up by my knife ;^)

 

[JM Aggie08]

Say local business one more time, I don't think you've quite gotten your point across yet.

 

[highland145]

Probably good idea to get a full credit check too, just to make sure no other fishy things are going on. Credit monitoring service is not a bad idea, but I hate the idea of paying per month for something "just in case". It's yet another insurance to pay for.

Security freeze all 3 after annualcreditreport.com. It's free.


Doubtful there will be much an investigation. I got wacked for $4k. I got my $$ back and, iirc, the bank got their $$ back from the merchant.

 

[Markbnj]

When I see people walk away with my card then I follow them.

Never let people take your card away from your eyesight.
That is your legal and security right!
Seen a few sisters think they can run in back and dance around and stuff when they say they have to go and talk with their boss for some reason unrelated to my purchase.

I don't know man. Since I am not responsible for more than $50 worth of fraudulent activity, and in reality not even that, the total risk is easily outweighed by my desire not to follow the waitress back to the register when I pay my tab after dinner.

 

[Tweak155]

I don't know man. Since I am not responsible for more than $50 worth of fraudulent activity, and in reality not even that, the total risk is easily outweighed by my desire not to follow the waitress back to the register when I pay my tab after dinner.

That's sexist.

 

[JM Aggie08]

When I see people walk away with my card then I follow them.

Never let people take your card away from your eyesight.
That is your legal and security right!
Seen a few sisters think they can run in back and dance around and stuff when they say they have to go and talk with their boss for some reason unrelated to my purchase.

Sounds like you're awkward as @#$% at restaurants.

Also, you sound slightly racist. Lol.

 

[Dulanic]

Why haven't most merchants in the US adopted the chip readers yet? Most of the card companies have already sent out new cards with chips because of all the fraud news since Target.

Is it simply cost to add the reader? Most of the swipe devices I've seen already have the capability to read a chip also from what it looks like.

Because until October they have no incentive to. As is the issuer is responsible for almost all fraudulent activity on the card. Starting in October of this year that shifts to the merchant being liable IF they have a terminal that supports EMV chip cards and chip is used. Otherwise what does the merchant care? And why should they care? They can't really detect or prevent fraud in the current environment.

I'm sure chip will just migrate the fraudsters to something else though...

 

[midnight growler]

Why haven't most merchants in the US adopted the chip readers yet? Most of the card companies have already sent out new cards with chips because of all the fraud news since Target.

Is it simply cost to add the reader? Most of the swipe devices I've seen already have the capability to read a chip also from what it looks like.

The switch to chip-protected cards will happen in October by the latest. Visa and Mastercard have a plan in place that, come the switchover, whoever has the weakest security in a breach gets to foot the bill. If the bank doesn't give you a chip card, they pay. If the store doesn't use the chip, they pay.

A lot of stores have the readers, but they aren't on yet because the payment systems need a lot of editing themselves to adapt the new technology. So its more then just plugging in a new card reader and being done with it. Whether merchants are actually working as hard as they can to iron out any bugs or just taking their sweet time to avoid paying for it right now is up to you to decide.

There are two important things to note though. These microchip cards will not do much of anything to protect your cards online. Also gas stations will have until 2017 to make the switch, because they have a lot more terminals they need to replace.

http://consumerist.com/2014/02/07/visa-mastercard-to-end-swipe-and-sign-by-2015/
and
http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-inte...e-and-sign-credit-card/?KEYWORDS=chip+and+pin

 

[unokitty]

4 unauthorized charges on the same day. I always do business with this local place and always pay with credit card. What are the chances that the people at this place used a device to steal my card info? My bank already cancelled the charges, but should I talk to the manager of the business about it? Or just drop the whole thing? I'm not paying with a credit card anymore at that place. Does stuff like this get investigated?

Sorry to hear that.

Lead Federal ID Theft group is the FTC.
https://www.identitytheft.gov/#what-to-do-right-away

You definitely need a police report and likely need an Identity Theft Affidavit.

Whether you tell your local place is up to you. But, chance are, they won't care.

Chances are, your local police won't be able to do anything either... Though, you need the police report for your own protection...

Best of luck,
Uno

 

[Humpy]

It seems to me a lot of people are paranoid and overreact to unauthorized credit card charges.

Who gives a shit? It's Visa's problem.

 

[feralkid]

What Humpy said.

 

[Dulanic]

It seems to me a lot of people are paranoid and overreact to unauthorized credit card charges.

Who gives a shit? It's Visa's problem.

Technically it's your banks problem