Credit Card Fraud

[lulu836]

Since I started vaping a couple of years ago I have opened a new credit card just for vaping supplies etc. Today I received the third call I've received about someone in a totally different country trying to use my newest card. All three times the charges were refused and the account closed so no loss to me. What really disturbs me is that the cards were used ONLY by me to order vaping supplies from ECF suggested sites and once in a while Pay Pal. I read somewhere that the numbers are probably acquired through a random number generator. I could ascribe to that theory if it only happened once but today is the third time in 24 months on 3 different cards. In all my years (and there are a considerable number of years) using credit cards for gasoline, travelling, clothing, furniture just whatever I've NEVER run into this problem. I did not try to become "verified" until a couple of months ago because at that time the only way to be approved was to disclose my banking information to PayPal. There was no way I was gonna do that but then I saw that the NetID had been added and they at least didn't want an open door to my checking account. What if I had given PayPal my banking information? I already know the answer...........SOL. There's a leak somewhere and it needs to be found and plugged!

 

[mwdenko]

I've had two cards stolen this month. These vape stores need to lock it down...

 

[Randyrtx]

I had to replace my card today, for the second time in six months. That first time, I wised up and created a separate account to use only for online purchases, and it is only funded just before I make a purchase.

I only purchase from a few vendors, so it's gotta be one of them (not "them", but the card processing service they use). My bank's fraud department has a small sample to work with in my case, so maybe they can track it down.

 

[ScottP]

I have been compiling a list of potential vendors, in the hopes of finding the ones most in common. Once I have this I plan on contacting the vendors to see who they use for processing. Since there are only a few processors that allow eCig companies, it could end up being just one processor that a few different vendors have in common. If I can narrow it down to that point and show the evidence to the vendors, and the FBI maybe we can get this fixed or at least get the vendors to change processors.

So please list which vendors you have ordered from since this started happening. If you don't feel comfortable doing it here you can send me a PM.

 

[Tebo]

more and more cc alerts are popping up around vapeing lately, sucks

 

[wv2win]

My card number just got stolen yesterday for the second time in 2 months. And it was only used for vaping supplies. This time it was two different suppliers I have used many times before without a problem. This leads me to believe that it is the credit card processing companies that these suppliers are using. Being very small business, I suspect they are using the cheapest CC processing firms available and those firms have lousy security.

From this point forward, I will only be using the "Virtual Numbers" safety process provided by citi card. You create your own number that can only be used either one time or only at one particular company and no others. It's a free service and charges to your account just like it was your regular credit card number.

 

[ScottP]

My card number just got stolen yesterday for the second time in 2 months. And it was only used for vaping supplies. This time it was two different suppliers I have used many times before without a problem. This leads me to believe that it is the credit card processing companies that these suppliers are using. Being very small business, I suspect they are using the cheapest CC processing firms available and those firms have lousy security.

From this point forward, I will only be using the "Virtual Numbers" safety process provided by citi card. You create your own number that can only be used either one time or only at one particular company and no others. It's a free service and charges to your account just like it was your regular credit card number.

Once again i would like to know the complete list of vapor vendors you have used the card with. For the reasons way check my post above.

 

[Hippieangst]

I think we can hopefully rule out PayPal. As an active seller on eBay and through PayPal directly, I never say any account information on my end except for the contact email address and the shipping address. The funds were magically added to my balance. So far, fingers crossed, no theft of my card numbers and I was playing loose this last month. I did just report my card lost the other day just to be safe. I'm about to look into a separate prepaid card just for vape purchases...which will probably help with my budget as well.

Since I started vaping a couple of years ago I have opened a new credit card just for vaping supplies etc.


Today I received the third call I've received about someone in a totally different country trying to use my newest card. All three times the charges were refused and the account closed so no loss to me. What really disturbs me is that the cards were used ONLY by me to order vaping supplies from ECF suggested sites and once in a while Pay Pal. I read somewhere that the numbers are probably acquired through a random number generator. I could ascribe to that theory if it only happened once but today is the third time in 24 months on 3 different cards. In all my years (and there are a considerable number of years) using credit cards for gasoline, travelling, clothing, furniture just whatever I've NEVER run into this problem. I did not try to become "verified" until a couple of months ago because at that time the only way to be approved was to disclose my banking information to PayPal. There was no way I was gonna do that but then I saw that the NetID had been added and they at least didn't want an open door to my checking account. What if I had given PayPal my banking information? I already know the answer...........SOL. There's a leak somewhere and it needs to be found and plugged!

 

[Heavyrocker]

Use HYPERWALLET.

 

[StarDose]

You also need to realize you are using a CC online, a simple Trojan on your device can copy your every action and CC numbers would be.the easiest to pick out. FB has had allot of Trojans going around and all it takes is one click of a link or one time to a website to get one even off FB. No computer or mobile device is safe from them. It won't get stolen by a Trojan everytime you use your card if you have one on your device due to how they work. Basically after you have used your card on an infected device the info is stored. Then you need to be online when someone is scanning for Trojans and happen upon yours along with many others most likely. After that its just a matter of time until your file is looked thru and then try to use your card.

 

[PONKAW]

I had to replace my card today, for the second time in six months. That first time, I wised up and created a separate account to use only for online purchases, and it is only funded just before I make a purchase.

Wasn't going to post on the subject this time... but it is starting to look like some sort of epidemic.
Last week I had to replace my daily debit card for the second time in 11 months (3rd in 18 mos) Just happened to look at my online account early Saturday and was able to cancel the card quickly. Obscure crap too... a hat from zappo online in Vegas was $50 and $650 worth of transistors from an electronics supply co. in NY. huh?
I called both companies early on Tuesday (memorial weekend). Zappos said their computer recognized the Miami address and froze the order... The guy at the electronics business was awesome and able to stop the shipment just before it left their warehouse, and was able to reverse the funds back to my account. I didn't have to file and affidavit with the bank this time.
SO I'm done... I ordered a pre-pay I'm going to use for vaping only and will keep very little of a balance on it.

I too believe it is the low quality CC processors the vape stores use.
It's really a shame there are so many thieves out there...really scum of the earth.

 

[ScottP]

Wasn't going to post on the subject this time... but it is starting to look like some sort of epidemic.
Last week I had to replace my daily debit card for the second time in 11 months (3rd in 18 mos) Just happened to look at my online account early Saturday and was able to cancel the card quickly. Obscure crap too... a hat from zappo online in Vegas was $50 and $650 worth of transistors from an electronics supply co. in NY. huh?
I called both companies early on Tuesday (memorial weekend). Zappos said their computer recognized the Miami address and froze the order... The guy at the electronics business was awesome and able to stop the shipment just before it left their warehouse, and was able to reverse the funds back to my account. I didn't have to file and affidavit with the bank this time.
SO I'm done... I ordered a pre-pay I'm going to use for vaping only and will keep very little of a balance on it.

I too believe it is the low quality CC processors the vape stores use.
It's really a shame there are so many thieves out there...really scum of the earth.

Please let me know which vendors you have used. To know why I am asking, please see my post earlier in this thread.

 

[dmbryan]

I heard on the news tonight that a large cc stealing ring was busted today. Maybe it will slow down some of the fraud, but I bet there on tons of them out there.

 

[CityLights]

I got a call from my card issuer today, that they blocked my card due to suspicious charges. They said one of the fraud purchases was done online, ..so the crooks had the back 3 digit number off my card. In the past 8 months, there is only 2 places I can think of I've used this card online where I entered my back PIN of the card, both are top ecig suppliers in the US. All other uses of this card have been through PayPal or direct with the contact chip.

The first small charge was to a Ivy Hotel in NC. The second Large charge was to Zain Bahrain in the Middle East (I think it's a cell phone company) and a 3rd was declined as this activity flag my card. The charges were from Wednesday and Thursday June 5/6.

I gotta love my Canadian credit card company as they picked up quickly I wasn't traveling around the globe and blocked the card and called me right away Going over my bill they they asked it I had purchased from the 2 ecig companies skipping over some of my other legit purchases, made me wounder if they're onto the source of the data breach.

 

[craighwk]

Got my card tapped yesterday for a large amount of clothing purchases in South America. It was lead by a small $5 charge in southern cali.

Thankfully the credit union is quick to fix the issue. What are the odds that so many e-cig buyers are getting hit at the same time if it was just random fraud? Pretty sure there's something going on at (some) vendors payment systems.

 

[congaman]

They got me on one credit card for $175 (5 small charges ). Two days later my check card was declined by a vendor. My bank told me they had canceled my check card because of a suspicious charge (Peruvian Airlines). Canceled both cards. The $175 charges are being investigated.

 

[Strigoi]

I got a call from one of my CC companies today. The last thing I used the card for was getting liquid from MBV. Someone in Casablanca, Morocco did a charge for $3.xx at some hotel. They cancelled the card right away and are sending a new one. The last time this happened was back in Oct/Nov. It only takes a few minutes to get the problem remedied so it's not a huge deal to me. Waiting for a new card in the mail does kind of suck though.

I've had my card number stolen probably 5 times from ordering e-cig stuff over the years.

Remember, it's not the vendors that are stealing the numbers. It's someone from the company that they use to process the CC info. Vendors don't get enough of the CC info to do anything with it. I had a discussion with Andrew at CCV about this after having my number stolen one time.

 

[congaman]

Yep, same here Strigoi. I think I might get in touch with them to give them a heads up! Nice folks and I really enjoy their juices. Not sure if it had anything to do with them, but I'm positive they would like to know just in case.

 

[Strigoi]

I just sent them an email.

 

[KerryK]

Can't you just use prepaids?