Identity theft

[luvsandyshores]

Logged into my bank account today to check if my mortgage payment has been taken out yet (it's new, so I still get happy every time I see it on my bank statement) and I saw a pending charge for $500 to a hotel in Rockville, MD!  I immediately went to my bank and told them it is fraud, don't pay it, I have never made reservations there!  I told them that I had driven through MD about 3 weeks ago and stopped for gas, but that was it. 

All I can think of are the news stories about people putting things on the card swipers - I guess that must be what happened.  After the bank told me they'd flag the transaction and issue me a new debit card, I tracked down the hotel phone number and called them.  Their accountants have no record of my card being used, and suggested that maybe it was their sister hotel on the other side of town.  I called that hotel, and they also had no record of the transaction but I was told that if the charge was just made today, it wouldn't get to the accounting dept until tomorrow.  So the front desk checked and they couldn't find my card number in their system either.  So I called the first hotel again, thinking maybe that had been the correct hotel and the charge hadn't made it to accounting yet.  The girl at the desk put me on hold and left me there.  At this point I'm ready to let the hotel take the loss - I know my bank isn't going to honor the charge, so I won't be out any money.  I really wanted the person who has my card number to get in trouble, though! 

[llecs]

It happened to me twice. The first time my BofA card was cloned and an attempt was made to charge it at two Staten Island CVSs. Charge was declined both times. A few months later my Wachovia card was cloned and an attempt was made to charge it for the purchase of bed sheets at $500/set. That was also declined. Kudos to both CCCs for catching it. Both cards we used at one place in common, a local restaurant here. Who knows.

I suggest calling the police. I'd do so to catch the bad guys. Certainly do your research as you are doing, but the police have extra resources. Nothing may become of it, but at least it gets recorded. Also, there's also a chance that future charges might be attempted. Sounds like the bank is doing it's part, but always good to have a police report just in case. Finally, in the off-chance the card wasn't skimmed but your bank account was compromised, a police report would go a long way to unravel any charges the bank decide to clear, if any.

And as an ID theft victim, you get a free copy of your CRs from the CRAs.

[Anonymous]

It had happened to me once my card was charged three times are different locations the same day in South Carolina. I once drove to GA and used my Wachovia Debit card at one of the highway gas stations, may be the card was skimmed at that time (don't know really). The only reason why I used my debit card was I was in process of paying my CC off. Wachovia immediately refunded me the money, over draft fees and an investigation was initiated.

[RobertEG]

I, too, would suggest filing a police report.  You may not need it now, since the creditor is aware of the identity theft and wont be reporting the transaction, but a police report is the avenue provided by the FCRA for the consumer to take any action regarding identity theft, should any recurrence happen.  And is also gives law enforcement notice, which if also reported by others, may spur them to real action.

If another transaction is made against the card, the police report can be used to place an extended fraud alert in your CR, and additionally block the inclusion of that information in any credit report issued by the CRAs.  I would take that step now.

Additionally, should a transaction occur on another account where the creditor is not as helpful as your current creditor was, you can use the police report to compel the creditor, under the provisions of section 609(e), to provide you their business records relating to the unauthorized transaction.