@gingerflower wrote:My thought is how do these Scambags get your info to make a charge? SMH...
That's what I'd like to know! Sure, it's super easy (I say this as a retired programmer) to generate a file of 16-digit numbers, formatted appropriately for the type of card they are (Visa, MC, etc.), and then try using them online--some would end up being valid numbers. But what about the expiration dates? and CVV codes?! I know that when *I* use one of my cards online, I have to provide its expiration date and, almost always these days, its CVV code, too. So how do these people do it?
The odds of programmatically generating valid credit card numbers PLUS valid expiration dates PLUS valid CVV codes has got to be like a zillion to one. So I'm at a loss as to how they do it. Perhaps someone who has some insight will chime in.
@ladybug2016 wrote:Sorry @SoCalGardener , and everyone else dealing with fraudsters. They make me sick!
Just wanted to chime in to share what I've been dealing with. I applied and was approved for a few cards in May. One being my 2nd from State Dept. I received the others but they are slow so I didn't think anything when it didn't arrive. I logged in to check my other card with them, saw the new card info and 2 pending charges. Immediately I called their fraud department, filed a police report and called the Postal Service Inspectors to file a claim. The card was used 5 hours from where I live (used in person) so I'm hoping they will follow up and get camera footage and catch the person as they spent around $700. USPS said it's probably an inside job since that piece of mail was never scanned into the Informed Delivery service. I keep a close eye on that so I never knew the card was on the way. Also I found out a lot of cards come from a PO Box in Omaha, NE, so I guess people know that when they see those envelopes. Sounds like someone processing mail hours from my home pulled it out of the mail system and stole it. I bet this happens a lot.
Now the CU issued a new card number, sent FedEx BUT have now reported my new card to the credit bureaus with the fraudulent balance. I hope I don't end up having to pay the charges as I've done everything I can to help. I was told not to call the store they used it at, but seems like someone could get the camera footage and find out who it was. Though I know I wouldn't know them, someone would.
UGH!
So everyone keep keeping a close eye on your accounts to help minimize the trouble this stuff can cause.
It's really important to get that video footage before it gets overwritten--if it hasn't already. Can't the police help? They should be able to request it.
Several years ago some really stupid scumbags opened a bunch of CCs in my name. How stupid were they? They put THEIR address in the second line of the address field on the Amex Platinum application!! No kidding, so when I unexpectedly received an Amex Platinum card and took a good look at it, I saw THEIR ADDRESS righ there under mine!! Oh, we also had video footage from when they used one of my cards at a hotel!!!!! And guess what?
None of that was enough to charge them.
My city's police department worked in conjunction with the LAPD and the LA Sheriff (because of the locations involved), but they all ended up deciding they didn't have enough to prosecute. I don't get it. I didn't get it at the time and I still don't, but, whatever... I hope you have better luck. It infuriates me that scumbags think they're entitled to YOUR credit.
@SOGGIE wrote:Sorry to learn about this fraudulent activity. No doubt, this is concerning. I am going to have to set all of my alerts for purchases to the lowest allowable amount. I often wondered if these types of violations have a connection to the employees who create and ship new and replacement credit cards (inside job). Also, I think I should probably use my debit card a lot less and put most transactions on my credit cards.
Because of credit/financial problems in the past, I developed this belief system of using my debit card to pay for everything. I've done a complete turnabout in recent years. I used to think that, for example, groceries and gas should never, ever be charged, only paid for in cash. I thought that putting necessities on credit was a dangerous, foolish thing to do. Now I know better! 
I still firmly believe in having enough money in the bank to pay all my debt off on a moment's notice, but I charge virtually EVERYTHING these days. When you use CCs to pay for things, you have protection not provided when using debit cards. As long as you're paying in full every month for the necessities you charged, you're not any worse off than paying in cash to begin with--plus, since all my cards are rewards cards, I get CB for buying those things!
Offhand I can't recall which card(s) this applies to, but at least one of mine sets a limit on how small a charge you can receive alerts for, and that stinks. I want to be notified if ONE CENT gets charged, but this one card I can't think of right now has a $100 minimum. They should change that.
Definitely do set alerts on all your accounts, for the smallest acceptable amount. It's not a guarantee or anything that you won't be hit by fraud, but at least you'll have a heads-up if it should happen.
Interesting thought about employees and fraud. Unless there's a big, well-publicized bust, I guess we'll never know.
