Credit/Debit Card Fraud.

[Eleven19]

Third time in about three or four months I'm putting up with this. About three months ago it was my debit card, apparently cloned and used locally. Second time was nearly a month later just after I got a new card. Same deal, cloned and charged twice for 300 something bucks. New card, been careful where I use it, never out of my sight.

I've got a small limit Security card from PNC. (Its 250 dollars of my actual money that I borrow against to build credit, and its useful for online purchases and FFXIV and car insurance). Been using that instead, but I've had to resort to using it at a few places to pay for meals, meaning I gotta hand it over to somebody for five minutes while they charge it. I just got a charge on there for 75 bucks that wasn't me, at least its credit and not taken directly from my account this time.

Apparently there's a ring of thieves in this area or I just keep getting unlucky with it. One of my coworkers who lives in the area is simultaneously dealing with fraudulent charges as far away as California. We live in Michigan, all of mine have been local. We hang out a lot and I'm wondering if she and I could have gotten caught at the same place.

My questions are basically... Are there extra steps I can take with my card to prevent this sort of thing? I mean short of not using it, I don't know what options I have. I'm basically just going to go to the ATM every week and take out fifty dollars to use for the week. But this is getting ridiculous its not always that convenient. I'm got PNC bank, they've been great about getting rid of the fraudulent charges but its still a major problem.

[Gokku]

You obviously don't have any luck carry cash and get mugged

[Zetanio]

I mean short of not using it, I don't know what options I have. I'm basically just going to go to the ATM every week and take out fifty dollars to use for the week.

Good chance this is part of your problem too. ATM's are pretty simple to add a scanner strip too.

Buy stuff online with the card, if you're making a purchase in town just use cash. If you still get ripped, you need better internet security.

[Eleven19]

Good chance this is part of your problem too. ATM's are pretty simple to add a scanner strip too.

Buy stuff online with the card, if you're making a purchase in town just use cash. If you still get ripped, you need better internet security.

I thought about the ATM thing too, I mean I don't live far from the bank I could just go and withdrawal money. It blows my mind that I've never had an issue buying anything online with either card and then I buy a burger down the street and somebody is ripping me off at a home depot the next day.

[Zetanio]

I thought about the ATM thing too, I mean I don't live far from the bank I could just go and withdrawal money. It blows my mind that I've never had an issue buying anything online with either card and then I buy a burger down the street and somebody is ripping me off at a home depot the next day.

Living in NYC has taught me a lot about this. I've had every card cloned at least once. Carry cash, always. I use cards for taxis and major purchases only.

EDIT: Also, it teaches you that people are dicks.

[Pharaun]

Sounds like you just have shit luck. Personally I'm more paranoid about gas stations and ATMs than I am about regular merchants. These places have no direct supervision and can easily be compromised by adding a second card reader on top of the legitimate one. Some of these skimmers have gotten fairly sophisticated by creating intricate overlays and adding things like pinhole cameras aimed at keypads so the can steal PINs. Some are even being wifi equipped so the thieves don't even have to physically retrieve the unit, just download a file from a nearby location.

If a regular merchant get compromised it's most likely a software breach and not a physical one. So there's not really anything that you can personally do about that.

The only way to be truly safe is to go to your Financial Institution and withdraw cash in person, short of that never use unmanned terminals.

[Melena]

My friend visiting the bay area from LA just got his card compromised. Luckily it seems the wife and I avoided it so we have no clue where his got skimmed.

I know Wells Fargo has upgraded a lot of their ATM's where I don't see how someone could actually hook up a skimmer to it. A lot of gas stations also wrap their scanners with security tape so if you see the tape is cut, you don't use that pump.

[Eleven19]

Sounds like you just have shit luck. Personally I'm more paranoid about gas stations and ATMs than I am about regular merchants. These places have no direct supervision and can easily be compromised by adding a second card reader on top of the legitimate one. Some of these skimmers have gotten fairly sophisticated by creating intricate overlays and adding things like pinhole cameras aimed at keypads so the can steal PINs. Some are even being wifi equipped so the thieves don't even have to physically retrieve the unit, just download a file from a nearby location.

If a regular merchant get compromised it's most likely a software breach and not a physical one. So there's not really anything that you can personally do about that.

The only way to be truly safe is to go to your Financial Institution and withdraw cash in person, short of that never use unmanned terminals.

The whole gas station and ATM thing really has me frustrated, the level of sophistication that thieves have for this is really disheartening. Its like someplace, sometime, you're gunna get scammed. I will be taking your advice and simply withdrawing money from my bank as much as I can.

My friend visiting the bay area from LA just got his card compromised. Luckily it seems the wife and I avoided it so we have no clue where his got skimmed.

I know Wells Fargo has upgraded a lot of their ATM's where I don't see how someone could actually hook up a skimmer to it. A lot of gas stations also wrap their scanners with security tape so if you see the tape is cut, you don't use that pump.

I don't have a convenient ATM from PNC nearby, I've been using the Bank of America ones in a CVS up the road. No idea how PNC's security is with their ATMs compared to Wells Fargo though, have to look into that (And I suppose Bank of America too). I'll keep an eye out for the security tape. I just closed on a new apartment and I can't afford to be losing money with incoming bills to pay.

[Azull]

If you have used the card in as few of places as you say it may be prudent to contact the local police and file a report. Without the authorities knowing there is a possible problem somewhere the problem will never get fixed.

[Raldo]

I know the title says Credit/Debit, but I don't see credit cards mentioned anywhere. Is there a reason why you're sticking with debit? Can you get a credit card? I'm under the impression that credit cards are generally easier to deal with when it comes to fraud. My Chase credit card has halted fraud on a couple of occasions, and called/texted me to confirm some of my own purchases to make sure they were legitimate. I know with credit cards, you can also refute/refund purchases that are not your own. I don't know if you get any of these features with a debit card.

That said, only go that route if you trust yourself not to misuse a credit card (i.e. make sure you pay the full statement balance off every month).

[Pharaun]

Debit cards have pretty much all the same protections as Credit cards with a few exceptions. It's just much more inconvenient when fraud happens on a debit card because it's taking cash right out of your account instead of being limited to a line of credit.

[Eleven19]

I know the title says Credit/Debit, but I don't see credit cards mentioned anywhere. Is there a reason why you're sticking with debit? Can you get a credit card? I'm under the impression that credit cards are generally easier to deal with when it comes to fraud. My Chase credit card has halted fraud on a couple of occasions, and called/texted me to confirm some of my own purchases to make sure they were legitimate. I know with credit cards, you can also refute/refund purchases that are not your own. I don't know if you get any of these features with a debit card.

That said, only go that route if you trust yourself not to misuse a credit card (i.e. make sure you pay the full statement balance off every month).

Sorry I should have clarified on the most recent issue. The card that was just compromised in the last week was my credit card. I've been trying to use it over the debit card when I need to run any card.

[Nephlite]

Are all the cards linked to the same account? Have you tried having the bank make you a whole new account?

This happened to me once and the only way I was able to stop the money from coming out was getting a whole new account (this was with NIH). Somehow they got access to all my info in the account like routing numbers, etc.

[Furionstormrage]

I'm a personal banker with Wells Fargo, I'll try to help as much as possible.

How do the fraudulent charges read on your statement? (ie Check Card Purchase, Recur Card Purchase, etc) and where did the charges take place (what store/merchant, locally or not)? If I'm reading your post right, it looks like you had 2 debit cards (different numbers I'm assuming) and one credit card compromised, is that correct?

Do you purchase anything at all online using either card? If so, from whom?

What exactly did PNC do in each instance? Did they issue a new card, did they do a Lost/Stolen Transfer for your checking account?

Feel free to PM me if you'd prefer to speak privately.

[Eleven19]

Are all the cards linked to the same account? Have you tried having the bank make you a whole new account?

This happened to me once and the only way I was able to stop the money from coming out was getting a whole new account (this was with NIH). Somehow they got access to all my info in the account like routing numbers, etc.

Both of the cards are PNC. The debit card is linked to my bank account. The credit card is linked to my account but its obviously not directly to my money.

I'm a personal banker with Wells Fargo, I'll try to help as much as possible.

How do the fraudulent charges read on your statement? (ie Check Card Purchase, Recur Card Purchase, etc) and where did the charges take place (what store/merchant, locally or not)? If I'm reading your post right, it looks like you had 2 debit cards (different numbers I'm assuming) and one credit card compromised, is that correct?

Do you purchase anything at all online using either card? If so, from whom?

What exactly did PNC do in each instance? Did they issue a new card, did they do a Lost/Stolen Transfer for your checking account?

Feel free to PM me if you'd prefer to speak privately.

Going to PM you in that case, thanks.

[Twilight Sky]

This is why I love Suntrust.. except when I need to book a flight. Gotta tell them ahead of time, or otherwise, the card gets flagged.

[Trigun]

Since we are on the subject last week I got a call on my cell phone saying I won a paid trip to Caicos.
In the same week my sister got a call on her cell phone saying her debit card is out of service which she doesnt even have.
A few days ago I also got a call from an unkown number that hung up after the first ring. Blocked it.
I think it's the scamming season or something.

[Fhloston]

Got my card cloned about 6 or so years back. I remember using a gas station ATM (which I normally didn't do, went to bank's ATM) on one occasion, and had the issue shortly after. Paying for lunch and card was declined. Called the bank and they asked me if I had been to Ohio recently. I'm in Texas. Some dickheads spent about $300 at a Whole Foods, then tried to charge another $200 at a Sports Authority (or some sports outlet). Week or so later I had a new card and didn't have to pay those charges. Recently had a new card sent to me because of all that craziness with Target.

I don't like carrying cash, but shit is starting to get out of hand. My bank flags a lot of shit though so I'll stick with debit for now.

[NynJa]

Is everyone whos had their shit frauded in the states? Honest question, because it seems like American CC protection only seems to kick in after potential fraud has taken place (or an inability to buy anything because its "too expensive, looks fraudulent"), and I believe in the states they dont use chip+PIN on credit cards, just the old "swipe and sign".

[Salodin]

No, I think we're getting chip+pin soon though. It's taking awhile because the companies just spent a lot of time trying to scare us with rf card thieves, meanwhile the companies themselves are letting our information be stolen off their servers.