Credit Card Security--

Many of us at NPN use credit cards in the course of our photography activities. I had an incident that I want to relate here to serve as a cautionary note.

I was reviewing one of my credit card statements yesterday and discovered that someone had purchased a plane ticket in Moscow for a flight to Peking (Beijing)! The amount was significant.

I immediately contacted the card issuer's fraud division. They put a stop on the card, and will remove the charge. Next, I checked my credit report for anything unusual. Fortunately, all was OK there.

After doing those things, I sent e-mails to the vendors with whom I do business on that account and advised them the card had been compromised and subsequently stopped.

I was lucky.

I have no idea how this miscreant obtained my card number, and I may never know. Hopefully, the perpetrator(s) will be brought to justice.(note that the physical card was not lost or stolen)

My reason for posting this is to say that vigilance is an absolute requirement! Be careful with whom you do business, carefully monitor all accounts, be watchful for odd behavior both on-line and in a physical store or shop, immediately report any abnormal occurrences, and keep an eye on your credit report.

There are those people out there who want something for nothing--don't let it be you who they got it from!

--P

So true, so true! I've been very fortunate that I've never had a problem such as this, but that's just due to pure dumb luck for my wife and I make a bunch of purchases on the internet, etc. The one saving grace is that we don't use credit cards, only debit cards, so I guess the amount of damage would be somewhat limited by the amount on hand in the account.

I don't know about anyone else, but it's making us use our credit cards less and less. Which means we buy less and less online.

I'm wondering if there will come a "crisis point" for both credit card companies and online retailers, a point at which scams, threats and theft become dampers on commerce. And their income, of course. Perhaps right now our woes are just an inconvenience for them, but I bet the day comes when it hurts the big boys and finally becomes a CRISIS.

I had a similiar experience about two months ago when our credit card fraud division phoned to verify a purchase made earlier in the day in Beijing, China for $380. When I told them it was not a proper charge they immediately cancelled the card and issued a new one. This is three times they have contacted us to question charges that send up a red flag on their end. All three times they have cancelled the purchase and issued new cards to us. A pain in the butt, but I'm glad they are vigilent.

I've had experiences similar to Merle's and I'm surprised your credit card company didn't contact you immediately after the charger was entered. We always make it a point to contact our CC company when traveling abroad so they know when and where we might be using the card, and likewise when and where we will NOT be using it.

I have set a limit on my card, so if any charge exceeds that, it is questioned and I am called. I chose $300, which sometimes makes things very inconvenient as I have to pre-authorize any charges above that ** I ** intend to make. On the other hand, it also makes me think twice about buying things that may not necessarily be "needed." !
I also notify them any time I am travelling, and there will be more charges for gas, out of country things, etc than usual.
They have been extremely cooperative.
I've also been lucky so far.

On this topic - we seem to have to have a CARD for everything we do today - for "discounts", "points", "special member deals", etc - I just hate it. I need a Sherpa. The supermarket, drug store, bank, hardware store, AAA, RN License, etc. I have to carry about 25 to get even simple daily things done.

BE SURE to copy every card and ID and everything else in your wallet or purse and keep it in a readily-accessible, safe place - in case your wallet or purse is stolen. I couldn't even begin to remember all the cards I'd have to replace if this occured. The copies (front and back) will also have the Customer Service # you'd need to call.

Sandy

There was an article on the local TV station where they went out and bought a program and attachment thing for a net book. They then went around a crowded area, I can't remember whether it was a mall of the airport, and waved the net book by people. They then showed it to them and asked them it it was their credit card number and information. If you have a credit card or debit card that you can wave by a register instead of scanning, they can be read this way. Unfortunately, you credit card company just issues these and doesn't say anything. They aren't concerned, but you should be. This "feature" goes by several names, I believe that Blink and bounce are two. You can line you wallet with aluminum foil or get a credit card protector , I got mine at AAA. There are also other ways that will help. This is how some crooks get your credit/debit card numbers.

Fred, unbelievable!! Thanks for the heads-up!
Thanks, Preston, for starting this thread!
Sandy

This program is offered through Experian and believe it to be much more trustworthy than Life Lock.Protect My Id

Note that the Experian program offers a 10% discount to those 55 and older..
Sandy

We set up a separate account at our credit union behind a debit card that we use for any on-line purchases and for fuel, since those seem to be the biggest dangers. I keep a maximum of $250 in the account and if I want to make a larger purchase I can transfer the money easily enough from another account. It's saved us once when someone got the card information.

What a good idea, Dennis. Thanks!