topic Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job? in General Credit Topics

Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 06:09:34 GMT

A couple of weeks ago, my Capital One QS started racking up random fraudulent charges. I quickly shut it down as soon as I was alerted. A week later, my Cap1 Platinum card (let's call it #1234) was hit with multiple fraudulent charges at various online stores on the same day. That card was also shut down. Fast forward to last week, I received my Cap1 Platinum #4567 replacement card and had yet to activate it. A couple of days ago, I received a text alert from Cap1 stating a charge from Online Subscription Store was declined since card #4567 was not yet activated. I mistakenly assumed the fraudsters were still trying to charge the #1234 card and I made the bigger mistake of activating #4567. Today, I login and see a pending $840 charge from a popular Online Subscription Store.

The reason I think this could be an inside job is because no one had seen #4567. It had not yet been activated, nor had anyone else including myself seen the card since it was still in the original sealed envelope when I got that text message from Cap1 stating the card was declined.

I have never shopped with Online Subscription Store in my life. So what gives? How the heck did they have that card# before I even opened the envelope, much less activated it?

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

DaveInAZ — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 14:23:56 GMT

I don't have any experience with fraud on a Cap One card, but from other posts here Cap One is known to "forward" charges from an old card to a new one, thinking they're doing you a favor in case you forgot to stop recurring charges on the old card. Call Capital One, they should be able to tell you if that's the case and if so block any & all attempts to charge the old card.

No one has to "see" your card, they just get the # & expiration date electronically. It could well be an inside job but if so more likely with the company that actually prints the card and not Cap One, or a hack into that card printing company.

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

KLEXH25 — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 14:27:12 GMT

Wow. I assume the card number is different from the first one, right? I honestly don’t know how anyone could have that card number. What does Capital One say?

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Shooting-For-800 — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 16:33:59 GMT

Don't have an answer, but I will state that Cap One is very easy to deal with for fraud and chargeback issues.

GL!

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 16:40:12 GMT

Heard that software exists today where fraudsters can run card numbers randomly and go after a few to obtain goods and services. Know it happened to me on a card that was new and never used but, charges showed up. I was dumbfounded! Nothing is really safe. Good luck on getting out of the circle that is trying to use and abuse your credit!!!

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

GApeachy — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 16:43:21 GMT

Maybe someone is using a skimmer at your mailbox or worse....en route.

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 23:07:58 GMT

@DaveInAZ wrote:
I don't have any experience with fraud on a Cap One card, but from other posts here Cap One is known to "forward" charges from an old card to a new one, thinking they're doing you a favor in case you forgot to stop recurring charges on the old card. Call Capital One, they should be able to tell you if that's the case and if so block any & all attempts to charge the old card.

No one has to "see" your card, they just get the # & expiration date electronically. It could well be an inside job but if so more likely with the company that actually prints the card and not Cap One, or a hack into that card printing company.

I've never charged anything with Online Subscription Store with any card, so it was not a recurring charge. That's what Cap1 was initially trying to tell me, that I subscribed and I needed to dispute it with the merchant. I told them it was fraud, all they had to do was look at my charge history and see there had never been any transaction with Online Subscription Store. Eventually I got them to close the card down and reissue a new one, as well as block all future charges from this merchant.

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 23:09:32 GMT

@KLEXH25 wrote:
Wow. I assume the card number is different from the first one, right? I honestly don’t know how anyone could have that card number. What does Capital One say?

Yes the card number is totally different. Cap1 insinuated I made the charge and tried getting me to dispute it with the merchant first. I said no can do since it was fraudulent.

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 23:11:31 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Heard that software exists today where fraudsters can run card numbers randomly and go after a few to obtain goods and services. Know it happened to me on a card that was new and never used but, charges showed up. I was dumbfounded! Nothing is really safe. Good luck on getting out of the circle that is trying to use and abuse your credit!!!

This seems like a very plausible explanation, thanks for sharing. I've had at least 10 different cards get hacked over the past 2 years. It's getting worse each day.

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 23:14:35 GMT

@GApeachy wrote:
Maybe someone is using a skimmer at your mailbox or worse....en route.

Can skimmers read the card through a sealed envelope? If so, that's another very plausible explanation, and a rather scary one. 3-4 of my cards were definitely skimmed at gas stations, because in those instances they were sock drawer cards and the same day I used them at the pump, random charges appeared on the other side of town. Nowadays I feel extremely uneasy every single time I use one of my cards for anything.

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 06:24:46 GMT

There is a credit card loophole when it comes to subscription services... when a new card is issued, the old credit card number will still work for subscription charges, even in the case of fraud. This is not an issuer feature, it’s actually a feature of the card network. I went through this mess with a Spotify subscription that I couldn’t cancel. I called and disputed the charge, new card was issued, the charge showed up along with my Netflix charge the next month. I called Capital One and they explained to me that mastercard will automatically allow any recurring subscription charges and that they would have to put a block, I believe it was for a maximum of 6 months.

Fortunately I was able to figure out which email address I used and get the subscription canceled so I never had to deal with it again. Even if you freeze your card in an app, charges billed as recurring charges will still go through despite anything else being flat out denied. It’s a stupid loophole and it favors merchants who do shady things. Unfortunately you might be in for a fight on this one.

As for a credit card being skimmed in the mail, I would be shocked if it’s possible to do with the card still in the envelope. The more likely scenario is your card got out in some breach and you’re running into a shady merchant processor that is running charges through as recurring subscription charges to get around the fact that a fraud dispute would shut the card down.

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

GApeachy — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 11:30:18 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

As for a credit card being skimmed in the mail, I would be shocked if it’s possible to do with the card still in the envelope.

@Octopus

(RFID Skimming) .....that's why they make RFID wallets, sleeves, purses, etc.

Here's an interesting article: (copy and paste)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2948212/Will-victim-digital-pickpockets-Hacker-reveals-easy-steal-credit-card-numbers-air-SECONDS.html

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 16:35:39 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
There is a credit card loophole when it comes to subscription services... when a new card is issued, the old credit card number will still work for subscription charges, even in the case of fraud. This is not an issuer feature, it’s actually a feature of the card network. I went through this mess with a Spotify subscription that I couldn’t cancel. I called and disputed the charge, new card was issued, the charge showed up along with my Netflix charge the next month. I called Capital One and they explained to me that mastercard will automatically allow any recurring subscription charges and that they would have to put a block, I believe it was for a maximum of 6 months.

Fortunately I was able to figure out which email address I used and get the subscription canceled so I never had to deal with it again. Even if you freeze your card in an app, charges billed as recurring charges will still go through despite anything else being flat out denied. It’s a stupid loophole and it favors merchants who do shady things. Unfortunately you might be in for a fight on this one.

As for a credit card being skimmed in the mail, I would be shocked if it’s possible to do with the card still in the envelope. The more likely scenario is your card got out in some breach and you’re running into a shady merchant processor that is running charges through as recurring subscription charges to get around the fact that a fraud dispute would shut the card down.

This would only make sense if I subscribed to this merchant's services to begin with. I've never visited their website before, much less subscribed to their service. Cap1 put a block for 15 months on this merchant, which means I need to check again in 15 months to see if they're still trying to fraudulently charge my card.

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 18:20:33 GMT

@GApeachy wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:

As for a credit card being skimmed in the mail, I would be shocked if it’s possible to do with the card still in the envelope.

@Anonymous

(RFID Skimming) .....that's why they make RFID wallets, sleeves, purses, etc.

Here's an interesting article: (copy and paste)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2948212/Will-victim-digital-pickpockets-Hacker-reveals-easy-steal-credit-card-numbers-air-SECONDS.html

Yeah, Daily Mail is nothing but clickbait. The reality is that it’s highly improbable that someone is wasting their time trying to do this.

https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/07/04/535518514/there-are-plenty-of-rfid-blocking-products-but-do-you-need-them

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3243089/the-truth-about-rfid-credit-card-fraud.html

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 18:22:38 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
There is a credit card loophole when it comes to subscription services... when a new card is issued, the old credit card number will still work for subscription charges, even in the case of fraud. This is not an issuer feature, it’s actually a feature of the card network. I went through this mess with a Spotify subscription that I couldn’t cancel. I called and disputed the charge, new card was issued, the charge showed up along with my Netflix charge the next month. I called Capital One and they explained to me that mastercard will automatically allow any recurring subscription charges and that they would have to put a block, I believe it was for a maximum of 6 months.

Fortunately I was able to figure out which email address I used and get the subscription canceled so I never had to deal with it again. Even if you freeze your card in an app, charges billed as recurring charges will still go through despite anything else being flat out denied. It’s a stupid loophole and it favors merchants who do shady things. Unfortunately you might be in for a fight on this one.

As for a credit card being skimmed in the mail, I would be shocked if it’s possible to do with the card still in the envelope. The more likely scenario is your card got out in some breach and you’re running into a shady merchant processor that is running charges through as recurring subscription charges to get around the fact that a fraud dispute would shut the card down.
This would only make sense if I subscribed to this merchant's services to begin with. I've never visited their website before, much less subscribed to their service. Cap1 put a block for 15 months on this merchant, which means I need to check again in 15 months to see if they're still trying to fraudulently charge my card.

I agree with you but subscription services can be billed starting with a pending charge coded as a subscription. It’s one of the most ridiculous loopholes in credit cards.

I also don’t know how that post up above got so messed up, sorry lol.

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 19:54:04 GMT

Sorry about all of the hassle that you're going through. If you have been compromised 10 times in 2 years then you should consider changing your name to fraud magnet...lol.

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Anonymous — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 12:41:57 GMT

I think what @Saeren means is that an attempt to establish a subscription service was successful at some point on your old card, whether it was initiated by you or not. So the network sees the previous history and automatically forwards all future activity to the new card.
Even with the charge being fraudulent, you may still have to contact the online subscription store yourself to get that ball rolling. Sadly, when trying to prove fraud charges or identity theft, the victim ends up having to do a lot of the legwork themselves.
Good luck to you!

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

GApeachy — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 12:49:57 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I think what @Saeren means is that an attempt to establish a subscription service was successful at some point on your old card, whether it was initiated by you or not. So the network sees the previous history and automatically forwards all future activity to the new card.
Even with the charge being fraudulent, you may still have to contact the online subscription store yourself to get that ball rolling. Sadly, when trying to prove fraud charges or identity theft, the victim ends up having to do a lot of the legwork themselves.
Good luck to you!

That makes sense. Sad you have to do so much investigating to stop thieves, they will always be one step ahead it seems.

Good luck OP!

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

DaveInAZ — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 21:07:14 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Heard that software exists today where fraudsters can run card numbers randomly and go after a few to obtain goods and services. Know it happened to me on a card that was new and never used but, charges showed up. I was dumbfounded! Nothing is really safe. Good luck on getting out of the circle that is trying to use and abuse your credit!!!
This seems like a very plausible explanation, thanks for sharing. I've had at least 10 different cards get hacked over the past 2 years. It's getting worse each day.

If you've had 10 different cards hacked over the past 2 years you have a serious problem going on with you. I've had 1 card compromised ever, about 5 years ago, Citi caught it right way. Gas station skimmers are one thing, and use a pump closest to store, they target pumps farthest away where cashiers are less likely to see them at work. But do you have others in your household with access to your mail? It can be someone you least suspect, my little sister did that to my dad years ago, snagged a CC out of his mail and racked up huge charges on it and was cleaver enough to snag the monthly bills, my dad didn't catch on until they finally called him about his late payments.

Re: Cap1 Repeatedly Getting Hit with Fraudulent Charges - Possible Inside Job?

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 18:14:15 GMT

No one has access to my mail or cards except myself. I have one au card I share with a family member that has not been hacked, they live in a different state. At least half of the hacks were via gas station skimmers, I'm sure of that because the fraudulent charges would happen within 24-48 hours of me using a gas pump. The other 5 are a mystery.

I should point out that at no time was there ever a successful or attempted pending charge/authorization on my old card number by the online subscription service. The only time they ever attempted such a thing was on the new card which had not yet been activated.