I thought I would share this, in case it happens to anyone else...
My credit card number was stolen. I have no idea how they obtained the number- it could have been through a credit card generator (a computer program which generates legitimate credit card numbers is very easy to download) or (most likely) someone stole my details at a sale point where I used my card.
I feel secure that the charges will be reversed, although of course the credit card company is making me sign all kinds of paperwork verifying that indeed, this was fraud (even though they recognized it as fraud and called to alert me of the fraud in the first place).
However, although I would never participate in a fraudulent scheme myself, sly crimes such as this fascinate me, and I knew there was a reason they made the specific purchases that they made.
The fraudsters did a couple of interesting things- one, they used my card to donate $18 to the ASPCA. I thought this was rather altruistic and Robin Hood-like of the thieves- stealing from my credit card and giving to poor, needy animals. As I researched, I discovered that credit card thieves often use the stolen numbers to make a small donation to charity, because this will verify that the credit card number works without alerting the owner that someone is using their card. Banks rarely flag donations to charity as fraud.
With my number, the thieves also purchased memberships to Prosecure, a merchandise discount club. And then, all this stuff started arriving at my door- business cards from Vistaprint with nonsense printed on them, several pairs of shoes from Shoedazzle. I was baffled- why would someone enroll me in a discount club? Why would someone order all this stuff using my card number, and have it delivered to me? I felt nothing but dread and confusion when the UPS man walked up the driveway, smiling, put the packages on my doorstep, and cheerily bid me happy holidays. I wondered when it would end, if my identity had been stolen, and how much time I would have to spend unraveling this mess.
This morning, the answer dawned on me- their purchases fit a pattern. I'd clicked on, but never completed, those free i-Pad giveaway links before- where they want you to sign up for a membership club or make purchases from various online retailers in order to receive the "free" iPad. I realized this is probably what the thief or thieves did- sign up for goods or services in order to be eligible for the "free" prize. I assume the site where they signed up for the giveaway/contest doesn't verify the address to receive the goods or the prizes, so that is how they are getting away with it.
Probably the thief doesn't think they are doing anything wrong- in a way, it's a win-win for everyone except the credit card-issuing bank. I get random free crap on my doorstep, they get their free iPad- and the banks get bailed out when they get screwed, so who cares about them anyhow?
I was a little bit freaked out that whoever did this knew my name and address- so just to be on the safe side and avoid any chance of identity theft, I put a freeze on my account with all 3 of the credit bureaus. I can't see myself needing any more credit in the near future. Putting a security freeze on your credit is very easy to do and only takes a minute or two- just go to the websites of Experian, Transunion, and Equifax, fill out the information, and pay $10 to each for the freeze, which is from what I understand indefinite. They give you a PIN number, or you can create one on your own, to reverse the credit freeze if necessary.
Anyways, just a heads-up over the holidays- keep an eye on your credit accounts. Go online and check them frequently.
My credit card number was stolen. I have no idea how they obtained the number- it could have been through a credit card generator (a computer program which generates legitimate credit card numbers is very easy to download) or (most likely) someone stole my details at a sale point where I used my card.
I feel secure that the charges will be reversed, although of course the credit card company is making me sign all kinds of paperwork verifying that indeed, this was fraud (even though they recognized it as fraud and called to alert me of the fraud in the first place).
However, although I would never participate in a fraudulent scheme myself, sly crimes such as this fascinate me, and I knew there was a reason they made the specific purchases that they made.
The fraudsters did a couple of interesting things- one, they used my card to donate $18 to the ASPCA. I thought this was rather altruistic and Robin Hood-like of the thieves- stealing from my credit card and giving to poor, needy animals. As I researched, I discovered that credit card thieves often use the stolen numbers to make a small donation to charity, because this will verify that the credit card number works without alerting the owner that someone is using their card. Banks rarely flag donations to charity as fraud.
With my number, the thieves also purchased memberships to Prosecure, a merchandise discount club. And then, all this stuff started arriving at my door- business cards from Vistaprint with nonsense printed on them, several pairs of shoes from Shoedazzle. I was baffled- why would someone enroll me in a discount club? Why would someone order all this stuff using my card number, and have it delivered to me? I felt nothing but dread and confusion when the UPS man walked up the driveway, smiling, put the packages on my doorstep, and cheerily bid me happy holidays. I wondered when it would end, if my identity had been stolen, and how much time I would have to spend unraveling this mess.
This morning, the answer dawned on me- their purchases fit a pattern. I'd clicked on, but never completed, those free i-Pad giveaway links before- where they want you to sign up for a membership club or make purchases from various online retailers in order to receive the "free" iPad. I realized this is probably what the thief or thieves did- sign up for goods or services in order to be eligible for the "free" prize. I assume the site where they signed up for the giveaway/contest doesn't verify the address to receive the goods or the prizes, so that is how they are getting away with it.
Probably the thief doesn't think they are doing anything wrong- in a way, it's a win-win for everyone except the credit card-issuing bank. I get random free crap on my doorstep, they get their free iPad- and the banks get bailed out when they get screwed, so who cares about them anyhow?
I was a little bit freaked out that whoever did this knew my name and address- so just to be on the safe side and avoid any chance of identity theft, I put a freeze on my account with all 3 of the credit bureaus. I can't see myself needing any more credit in the near future. Putting a security freeze on your credit is very easy to do and only takes a minute or two- just go to the websites of Experian, Transunion, and Equifax, fill out the information, and pay $10 to each for the freeze, which is from what I understand indefinite. They give you a PIN number, or you can create one on your own, to reverse the credit freeze if necessary.
Anyways, just a heads-up over the holidays- keep an eye on your credit accounts. Go online and check them frequently.