Watch out for the thieves!! (Credit Cards in general)

Member Name: janharper

Product:	Credit Cards in general
Date:	27/10/06 (157 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Useful for making purchases without using cash

Disadvantages: Subject to abuse and fraud

Every day we hear stories of identity theft and credit card fraud but some how we never really expect it to happen to us. Here is a cautionary tale about the need for extra vigilance with credit card details.

I have a Capital One card and I have always kept it squeaky clean and used it properly, so you can imagine my surprise at being contacted by the company.

They asked all the usual security questions and I called them back to verify that it was Capital One calling me. Let’s face it, if someone calls you saying they are from your bank, or Credit Card Company and asks for personal details to verify your identity, you really do need to check their authenticity too.

I was asked when I had last used my credit card and I remembered that I had used it to purchase shoes at a local outlet about three weeks earlier. I certainly hadn’t used it since as I tend to use a Switch Card for most transactions.

Then they reeled off half a dozen internet transactions made on the card two days previously. These were all payments made for purchases from non UK companies and I hadn't even heard of any of them.

The unusual activity on my account had been picked up by their fraud department. Which is a good thing!

I was totally shocked that this could happen.

I was asked if I had my card in my possession, which I had, and then I was asked to destroy it. They told me that I would be given a new account with a new card and that my ‘proper’ balance would be shown on my account.

I was asked if I had lost anything with personal details on it and I couldn’t think of anything.

I now have to fill in a form declaring that those transactions on my account were fraudulent so that the company can try to trace who used my card details.

The card has never been used over the internet to make a purchase. I only use it when I’m present. So, it is not a case of someone, somehow, getting my details from the web.

I have been reading up on the subject and apparently 1 in 3 dustbins contain full banking details, or a full credit card number. Makes you think, doesn’t it?

I have now invested in a shredder and anything that contains any kind of personal details will be shredded before it goes into the bin. I really have the feeling that this could be where the information came from.

It’s a horrible feeling that someone has taken my personal details and tried to steal from me by using my credit card.

I don’t have to pay back the defrauded money but that’s not the point. I still feel very vulnerable anywhere I might want to use my credit card.

The trouble is that credit cards were never designed to be used over the internet and although there is new security coming in all the time, there still isn’t a foolproof way of safeguarding your details.

The advice from Capital One is to shred everything before placing it in the dustbin and to use Paypal on the internet whenever possible. They also said that particular caution should be used when dealing with smaller websites to make sure that there is proper security on the site before putting in card details.

They did say that large sites like Amazon are very security conscious but others might not be.

So, be careful what you put into your bin and where you use your credit card details. I never thought this could happen to me and it has.


Don’t let it happen to you!

Summary: Subject to fraud if you are not very careful.