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Foreign currency or transaction alert from AMEX

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IrishPM
Frequent Contributor

Foreign currency or transaction alert from AMEX

It's now official that the United States has ceased to exist (sarcasm). Something bizarre is going on. I did some shopping at the new Walmart location in downtown Honolulu (Hawaii) and used my American Express Blue Cash Everyday card. After swiping my card and the transaction was approved, I got an email message from AMEX on my smartphone that said this..."The following purchase on your Blue Cash Everyday  (SM) account was made in a different country or currency. If you do not recognize this transaction, please call the number on the back of your Card."....Merchant Name: Wal-Mart.....Merchant Location: MASCHOUCHE QC CAN....**bleep** is going on? I have used this same card in different locations in and around Honolulu and have never seen this happen. Even if it's a Canadian company that owns the Wal Mart store, shouldn't they have to conduct transactions using American currency? Anyone got any thoughts?

Message 1 of 5
4 REPLIES 4
gdale6
Moderator Emeritus

Re: Foreign currency or transaction alert from AMEX

Compromised card, I would be calling in.

Message 2 of 5
IrishPM
Frequent Contributor

Re: Foreign currency or transaction alert from AMEX

It can't be a compromised card because I made the transaction...it's not fraud or a stolen card if I made the transaction...it's just that the transaction is showing up as a "foreign transaction" or "foreign currency" at a Wal Mart location in downtown Honolulu, HI, on American soil.....I've never encountered anything like this before. It would be like going to a Starbucks at the Miami airport, using the same card and an alert from American Express that there's been a foreign transaction on your card....odd.

Message 3 of 5
heyarrnold
Valued Contributor

Re: Foreign currency or transaction alert from AMEX


@IrishPM wrote:

It can't be a compromised card because I made the transaction...it's not fraud or a stolen card if I made the transaction...it's just that the transaction is showing up as a "foreign transaction" or "foreign currency" at a Wal Mart location in downtown Honolulu, HI, on American soil.....I've never encountered anything like this before. It would be like going to a Starbucks at the Miami airport, using the same card and an alert from American Express that there's been a foreign transaction on your card....odd.


Call them ASAP. Or get on chat. It's probably a mistake on their system. They will take care of it for you. If your card has no FTF, then don't worry about it. 

Message 4 of 5
DaveSignal
Valued Contributor

Re: Foreign currency or transaction alert from AMEX


@IrishPM wrote:

It can't be a compromised card because I made the transaction...it's not fraud or a stolen card if I made the transaction...it's just that the transaction is showing up as a "foreign transaction" or "foreign currency" at a Wal Mart location in downtown Honolulu, HI, on American soil.....I've never encountered anything like this before. It would be like going to a Starbucks at the Miami airport, using the same card and an alert from American Express that there's been a foreign transaction on your card....odd.


I use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees to reload my Skype account, because Skype bank is in the UK and it will bill as a foreign transaction.

 

I can't believe this happened at an American Wal-Mart, however.  It might not hurt to still call Amex just to double-check that there aren't more Canadian transactions on there after your card was skimmed at a US Walmart.

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