Fraud? AGAIN?!
How can this be? How can this happen twice in less than three months to the SAME person? Fuck, fuck, FUCK! Really?! What are the odds? I'd like to know, because surely I'm setting a record!
Yesterday when I was leaving work, I listened to a voicemail from MBNA telling me there was suspicious activity on my credit card and to please call them back. But I had plans after work, and couldn't call until this morning. Which I did. At 6:15 a.m. And, fuck.
I started out thinking it was all a mistake. A good, cautious mistake. Like when I moved to Florida and bought furniture and MBNA called to make sure it was really me making those purchases. Because initially on this morning's phone call the guy started out saying that what they found suspicious was that my billing address and shipping address were different for one purchase. And that was fine. I recently HAD ordered something for a friend, and had it shipped to her address. I was just about to explain that to him and was already thinking of going back to sleep for another hour.
But no, I did NOT order $600 worth of clothes from an IRISH MENS AND BOYS CLOTHING STORE (located in Pelham*, of all places)!
If you didn't know me, you'd think I was one of those ditzy girls, who repeatedly accidentally leaves her ATM card in the ATM machine when getting money. The type who doesn't lock her front door, invites everyone in, lets random people sleep on the couch, forgets to take her credit card back from store clerks, and has never balanced a checkbook.
I AM NOT THAT GIRL.
Again, I am CAREFUL with my money, my privacy. I'm the girl who doesn't hesitate to turn around and glare at you when you're standing too closely behind me at the ATM, or anywhere I'm entering my PIN number. I'm the girl who doesn't let store merchants walk away with my credit card (the only exception is waitstaff in restaurants). I'm never shy about saying "Whoa, where ya goin'? Can I have my card back please?"
MBNA thinks my credit card number was compromised online - someone lifted it from a legitimate online purchase I made. They canceled my card and are issuing a new one to me. I won't be required to pay for any charges I don't recognize. But fuck. I understand this was a total fluke, that could have happened to anyone, but still. It burns. Where is being careful getting me? I am just so bummed out about this. And although I have no plans to buy a car or house or anything else that would require credit in the near future, a tiny voice in the back of my head is asking me how all this shit is affecting my credit score. I'm not liking that the answer I'm giving myself is I don't know.
I doubt this will stop me from ordering things online. However, I probably will start checking my credit card account weekly now. Fuck.
*Pelham is in New York.
Yesterday when I was leaving work, I listened to a voicemail from MBNA telling me there was suspicious activity on my credit card and to please call them back. But I had plans after work, and couldn't call until this morning. Which I did. At 6:15 a.m. And, fuck.
I started out thinking it was all a mistake. A good, cautious mistake. Like when I moved to Florida and bought furniture and MBNA called to make sure it was really me making those purchases. Because initially on this morning's phone call the guy started out saying that what they found suspicious was that my billing address and shipping address were different for one purchase. And that was fine. I recently HAD ordered something for a friend, and had it shipped to her address. I was just about to explain that to him and was already thinking of going back to sleep for another hour.
But no, I did NOT order $600 worth of clothes from an IRISH MENS AND BOYS CLOTHING STORE (located in Pelham*, of all places)!
If you didn't know me, you'd think I was one of those ditzy girls, who repeatedly accidentally leaves her ATM card in the ATM machine when getting money. The type who doesn't lock her front door, invites everyone in, lets random people sleep on the couch, forgets to take her credit card back from store clerks, and has never balanced a checkbook.
I AM NOT THAT GIRL.
Again, I am CAREFUL with my money, my privacy. I'm the girl who doesn't hesitate to turn around and glare at you when you're standing too closely behind me at the ATM, or anywhere I'm entering my PIN number. I'm the girl who doesn't let store merchants walk away with my credit card (the only exception is waitstaff in restaurants). I'm never shy about saying "Whoa, where ya goin'? Can I have my card back please?"
MBNA thinks my credit card number was compromised online - someone lifted it from a legitimate online purchase I made. They canceled my card and are issuing a new one to me. I won't be required to pay for any charges I don't recognize. But fuck. I understand this was a total fluke, that could have happened to anyone, but still. It burns. Where is being careful getting me? I am just so bummed out about this. And although I have no plans to buy a car or house or anything else that would require credit in the near future, a tiny voice in the back of my head is asking me how all this shit is affecting my credit score. I'm not liking that the answer I'm giving myself is I don't know.
I doubt this will stop me from ordering things online. However, I probably will start checking my credit card account weekly now. Fuck.
*Pelham is in New York.
posted by Green at 7/19/2006 07:01:00 AM
6 Comments:
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/
This is the site where you can request a copy of your credit report. You can request one free copy every year from each credit reporting company. I usually try to do it around my birthday, just as a reminder. They also have information and links to information on protecting your personal information, fraud alerts, etc.
It's called "Annual Credit Report," not "Free Credit Report." I've heard that credit card companies have been offering "free credit reports" in order to get you to use their credit monitoring and other services. People sign up to get the credit report, thinking that's all it is. Then they find out the "trial period" is over and they are paying for services they didn't realize they signed up for to begin with.
Sorry you have to go through this. Good luck in clearing up any damage it did.
Sorry to hear. You might want to check the security measures the online stores you're using are taking, and check to ensure that your computer has a firewall installed on it (particularly important if you connect to the Internet wirelessly!!). And then of course there are the usual measures you've probably been told, like not to send your info by email. You'll also want to watch for anyone calling you and reading off your credit card # to you and asking for your 3-digit verification number off the card - that's like giving them your bank PIN. Even if they've obtained your card#, they can't do jack without the PIN.
I hope this is the last of your troubles for awhile - keep a close eye on your purchases (and praise MBNA for doing so too!) -- and if you manage to figure out HOW these guys obtained your card#, send an email to that online retailer and ABSOLUTELY ROAST THEM for not having sufficient security measures in place.
Cheers! from a financial services company employee ;)
Yeah, this just happened to me, too. Totally sucks. I'm sorry.
I heard Michael Finney on ABC Ch 7 here in SF mention that there are 3 or 4 credit reporting compamies and they are required by law to give you a credit report once a year if asked. So you can use one every 3-4 months for free.
I check directly with my credit cards almost daily (mostly so I won't forget my passwords)
I believe Mr. Finney has a web site that probably would give you the info or you can call.
I once had a charge for $400 worth of roses from a SF florist on Valentine's day that wsn't mine. If they had made it $100 or so I would have just thought it was my Alzheimer's kicking in...as it was I had to ask "Honey, did I buy you A LOT of roses?" I then called the florist and found out they were delivered to an address in SF "From Steve"
Had my card changed and no problems since. But definetly check your credit report.
DH has had his business AmEx number used twice. Both times happened after online purchases made following a lengthy dormant card use period, so he knows someone lifted if online.
This is EXACTLY what I do not use my debit card to make online purchases - do not want to give anyone a direct line into my cash flow.
Sorry you're having to deal with this - again.
If you are using a computer that is used by others, be sure to clear your cookies, temporary files, etc., after making an online purchase.
It's easiest if you use Firefox, because a single keystroke combination (Ctl-Shift-Del) clears EVERYTHING at once.
But if you have to use Internet Explorer, do ALL of the following: (1) Tools > Internet Options. (2) Click "Delete Cookies" and confirm with "OK". (3) Click "Delete Files" and confirm with "OK". (This stage can take up to a minute or so if you have a lot of temp files. Stare at the hourglass and ponder.) (4) Click on "Clear History" and confirm with "Yes." (5) Click on the "Content" tab and then click on the "AutoComplete" button. Click "Clear Forms" and confirm with "OK." (6) Click on "Clear Passwords" and confirm with "OK." If anyone else ever uses your computer, then you need to do this no matter how good your firewall is.
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