Card Fraud

[Georgia Lass]

My hubby makes fun of me for doing my research, but after reading everything on this site about the CC Fraud, we have made every online purchase for our vaping supplies with Visa Gift cards. We go to the site we want to order from, put what we want into our "shopping cart" then we go to the store and get a gift card for that exact amount. We do have to pay a 6 dollar fee for the gift card each time we get a card, but we figure with the amount we are saving not buying regular cigarettes and the aggravation of not having to worry or fix any fraud issues on our debit or credit card.....the 6 bucks is worth it!!

 

[MikeA5]

If PayPal is no more secure than the CC processors then what is the benefit of using PayPal? Is it basically that by submitting your CC info to PayPal once, it is more secure than submitting your info to each individual vendor you may purchase from? In other words, by using Paypal to make transactions you are limiting your exposure to just one processor as opposed to many?

I'm just curious because I use PayPal on occasion and I was always under the impression that it was a more secure method of payment.

I agree with you 100%. I have been using PayPal now for several months when buying on line ecig supplies and never had a problem.
Just to clear up: I use sites accepting PayPal payment, I'm not talking about using my PayPal credit card at a site where you have to type in the credit card number. Previously when using my Discover CC for ecig purchases I had three seperate instances of fraud in two years and each time I needed to get a new CC, which is a big pain in the Azz.

 

[Katdarling]

I check all my accounts on a VERY regular basis, and I have been using Bank of America's Shop Safe with what appears to be great success. I use it for ecig and non-ecig purchases. It does make the online purchase process a bit slower, but I do feel safer using a set amount, virtual number credit card.

So far so good, and so, I recommend it. For now.

 

[bruiser]

I suppose everyone saw or heard, in the last couple of weeks, a big CC hacking ring was broken up. They had thousands and thousands of CC numbers as well as the info to use them. Of course it was an overseas ring, and they were getting numbers from all over the world.

 

[Stoneface]

I suppose everyone saw or heard, in the last couple of weeks, a big CC hacking ring was broken up. They had thousands and thousands of CC numbers as well as the info to use them. Of course it was an overseas ring, and they were getting numbers from all over the world.

I linked a story the day after it happened. They also apparently hacked more than one processing company...I was hoping to hear if that bust might have helped stop the continuing fraud we experience.

 

[skoony]

please do not do what he says.
only heaven knows where that link really go's.
regards
mike

Hi,

I just called my bank to learn that my debit card was recently blocked due to some fraudulent activity.

After some purchases from the Apple App Store and two reputable vaping vendors, there were three declined charges on my card:

Walmart.com - $600
Crystal Hotel - 2x $3.49

I'll name the vendors if I can get some hard evidence pointing to them, but at this time I do not want to make any accusations, and I've already written emails to them in the mean time.

For now, please fill out this form if you've suffered from fraud after purchasing from a vendor:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rlxmFudpl1SJhtPaes6Fby5WGqRbOcZSU9Lc-vJroJc/viewform

Please note your personal information will NOT be recorded. This is just to collect basic information.

Thanks much!

 

[Stoneface]

please do not do what he says.
only heaven knows where that link really go's.
regards
mike

Are you kidding???? Judge Dredd is a moderator of this forum who is trying to help the entire ECF community. I don't think you understand what this thread is about or the people standing behind it.

 

[Katdarling]

please do not do what he says.
only heaven knows where that link really go's.
regards
mike

mike, what are you talking about? Are you really concerned that an ECF moderator would have anything but positive motives for everyone's welfare? Agree with Stoneface... this is all about people helping people to find answers and remedies.

 

[SouthernBliss]

only heaven knows where that link really go's.

Well heaven, and no doubt the rest of the mod staff here as well as the site owners. You seriously think this didn't run through channels here somehow before the first post went live? And of course those of us who have filled out the form know.

 

[UntamedRose]

please do not do what he says.
only heaven knows where that link really go's.
regards
mike

it goes to a google document/form

 

[Pink Dolphin]

wow,after reading all this i went to go check my recent transactions...and what do you know,i got chraged $20 extra at the local shop 2 days ago...what should i do?they send out digital receipts but i never received one through text?and I usually never see the total of the price,they usually tell me what it is and just make me sign on the ipad.
$20 isnt a lot but i cant believe i didn't notice,im sure it isn't a mistake on their part either.

 

[Princessdee]

Mike, I can only echo what Rose, SouthernBliss, KatDarling and StoneFace have said.

Do some reading before you post.

 

[iceman68]

I agree with you 100%. I have been using PayPal now for several months when buying on line ecig supplies and never had a problem.
Just to clear up: I use sites accepting PayPal payment, I'm not talking about using my PayPal credit card at a site where you have to type in the credit card number. Previously when using my Discover CC for ecig purchases I had three seperate instances of fraud in two years and each time I needed to get a new CC, which is a big pain in the Azz.

Discover has a Secure Account Number feature which I have been using ever since one of my CCs (not Discover) got hacked. It generates a random number you can use for on line purchases. And once a number is linked to a certain vendor it can only be used at that particular vendor. So far so good (fingers crossed).

 

[Stoneface]

wow,after reading all this i went to go check my recent transactions...and what do you know,i got chraged $20 extra at the local shop 2 days ago...what should i do?they send out digital receipts but i never received one through text?and I usually never see the total of the price,they usually tell me what it is and just make me sign on the ipad.
$20 isnt a lot but i cant believe i didn't notice,im sure it isn't a mistake on their part either.

Since it's a local shop, I would contact them about it...drop by in person if you can spare the time. That $20 belongs to you, and hopefully it was some sort of mistake instead of a deception.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Discover has a Secure Account Number feature which I have been using ever since one of my CCs (not Discover) got hacked. It generates a random number you can use for on line purchases. And once a number is linked to a certain vendor it can only be used at that particular vendor. So far so good (fingers crossed).

Thanks for posting about this. I personally think that is a fanTASTIC idea and that all banks should adopt a system like that.

 

[Amethyst_Star]

Someone attempted to use my Debit/CC# at Nordstorm's online, yesterday. It posted to my bank account, today, as a pending transaction. When I contacted Nordstorm's they said they had already detected that it was fraud and sent a reversal in to my bank. Had them fax the information to my bank so it would get there quicker and was refunded just now. Still had to have my card cancelled, though. I'm pretty sure it was an eCig vendor that was hacked, as I went to a couple that I have never used before just to get a "good deal." What a good deal that was! I did fill out the form, though, with both vendors, as I'm not sure which one it was. I think it was the most recent one, but who knows. The most recent one had a lock symbol on their checkout page, but I didn't see one on the other site, but their checkout wasn't working when I rechecked it. I almost always check for that lock symbol when I'm purchasing something, but it doesn't always mean it's 100% secure.

 

[jcco]

Someone hijacked my card too. My bank called me & cancelled the card. No harm done but it sure is scary.

 

[Xobeloot]

Just got this message from my bank:

We were notified by a payment processor that your debit card information may have been obtained by unauthorized individuals through non-bank systems. It's possible it was obtained through a retailer where you shopped or dined, or by other fraudulent activity. As a precaution, we're replacing it, and you'll receive your new card within 10 business days. To learn which debit card was affected, click My Messages at the top of this page.

No fraudulent activity that I can see, and their office is closed, so I was unable to determine what vendor reported this. Will update tomorrow.

 

[stevegmu]

If a site has prices that seem too cheap and they don't have all the security badges and certifications like the larger sites- which may cost a bit more, don't buy from them.
When I smoked, there's no chance I'd try to buy crazy cheap cigarettes from Russia, yet it seems vapers will do anything- even compromise credit cards, to save a buck. The dirt cheap sites are probably saving money on credit card processing and security.

 

[Rocketpunk]

All of these threads can be eliminated if they just thought of "pre-paid card". I know, life is nothing other than a school of hard knocks, but there are two things I stand behind: "Google/forum search" and then follow the advice.

Get a pre-paid card. Hackers can't bleed a turnip.

So many of these threads started lately. If it happened to you, I'm genuinely sorry. It happened to me, too. Got hacked from AVE's old system. They tried to take $200 from me, but I got it all back. Had to jump through some amazingly annoying hoops to do so.

If you're reading this, do yourself a favor and just get a prepaid card. Anything beyond that advice, it's your own fault.