Credit Card/ ID theft Sucks!

[GI-John]

Over the last 3 weeks, some dumb f### overseas has used my CC to purchase everything from trips to Australia to coins....over 3 grand worth of crap!

Citibank is aware, and are issuing new cards.
I've put a fraud alert on all 3 credit reporting agencies.
I'm closely monitoring all accounts.

What else would y'all recommend that I do to lessen the impact of this, and what have you done/wish you would have done. This is the second time it has happened to me (first time was back in 91) and it's getting old.

Thanks!

John

[ECKSJAY]

Change to a bank that denies extensive, sudden purchases and contacts you...

That's what I'd do. My wife is in the banking biz and she's asking why/how those amounts were charged without being flagged. :(

[RichP]

I had my amex carbon stolen at a hertz rental place at baton rouge airport back in 84, got a call from amex wanting to verify a shipping address for $30,000 worth of jewelery from a jewelry store in new orleans to an address in Oklahoma. From then on every time I used it I had to talk to an amex rep who would ask me a few questions we had agreed to ahead of time or the rep would ask the ticket agent 'how big is he' and she'd answer 'huge' and that would suffice but they tracked my travel for about 3 years. I was spending about $20-30,000 a month on tickets, hotels and rental cars so they knew what city I was in. As for credit cards, we only have one now and our debit cards are not connected to our other accounts.

[RTicUL8]

Good link on the subject of credit theft:

http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/index.html

[Darky]

I had someone buy $200 worth of stuff off a Target charge card I didn't have...file a police report as well so that its documented with them as well. Plus it'll help them in case there's more cases similar to yours...

[rockwerks]

credit theft sucks and many get your info from a place few think of

when you check into a motel and they give you that card that opens the door. It holds all your check in info on the magnetic strip, credit card info, address, lisence plate # etc. always take those with you when you check out, never leave them behind

[ECKSJAY]

when you check into a motel and they give you that card that opens the door. It holds all your check in info on the magnetic strip, credit card info, address, lisence plate # etc. always take those with you when you check out, never leave them behind

You have a source for this information? I have years of experience in physical security and the most info our card systems ever held on the magnetic strip was the card number, which is either granted or denied access based on the central computer's information. Ours were all 'active' cards, but wouldn't work unless the main computer told them to.

[rockwerks]

You have a source for this information? I have years of experience in physical security and the most info our card systems ever held on the magnetic strip was the card number, which is either granted or denied access based on the central computer's information. Ours were all 'active' cards, but wouldn't work unless the main computer told them to.

info was on ABC. some do some dont back a few years it was pretty prevelant that your check in info was transfered to the card. some still do so when you shop at the in hotel store etc all you do is hand em the card

snopes says this (http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/hotelkey.asp)

[Rev Den]

All the card says is "Open door to room XXX and entrance doors for X number of hours." NOTHING else....watch them encode a card sometimes...I do....4 nights a week, 50 weeks a year.

Rev

[rockwerks]

All the card says is "Open door to room XXX and entrance doors for X number of hours." NOTHING else....watch them encode a card sometimes...I do....4 nights a week, 50 weeks a year.

Rev

what chain to you stay at?

[Rev Den]

what chain to you stay at?

In order of frequency:
Hilton
Choice
Stoney Creek
Holiday Inn
Marriott
Travelodge
Raddison

Rev

[rockwerks]

In order of frequency:
Hilton
Choice
Stoney Creek
Holiday Inn
Marriott
Travelodge
Raddison

Rev

Hell I figured you to be a motel 6 kinda guy......LOL

[w_howey]

Over the last 3 weeks, some dumb f### overseas has used my CC to purchase everything from trips to Australia to coins....over 3 grand worth of crap!

Citibank is aware, and are issuing new cards.
I've put a fraud alert on all 3 credit reporting agencies.
I'm closely monitoring all accounts.

What else would y'all recommend that I do to lessen the impact of this, and what have you done/wish you would have done. This is the second time it has happened to me (first time was back in 91) and it's getting old.

Thanks!

John


Wow, and to think Cititbank keeps holding up my purchases on my account as 'unusual'

[JohnJohn]

John, that sucks

I have been in the lending business for over 10 years and see this kind of stuff all the time.

Do these:

1) Not only notify the credit file of the fraud but post a note on your cre3dit that everyone that extends you credit must call you before approving the loan. use your home phone number and make sure you update it if you ever move. The three credit reporting agencies will now what you mean when you call them.

2) Now that you have a fraud alert on your file make sure EVERY time you apply for credit or someone pulls you credit they use the same name EVERY TIME. For example: John B. Doe, Jon Doe, John Dough, John Doe, J B Doe, etc. Always complete your name on any credit app exactly the same way. If possible look over the persons shoulder when they enter the info to pull your credit. I know it sounds funny but with the fraud alert pretty much anything will then setoff what is called true name fraud.

3) Don't buy anything online that does not ask you for the 3 digit code on the back of your card. This will eventually force more retailers to use this form of authentication. Not everyone uses it. This way only someone WITH the card in their hand can use it.

PM me if you have any questions

[skierbri10]

Over the last 3 weeks, some dumb f### overseas has used my CC to purchase everything from trips to Australia to coins....over 3 grand worth of crap!

Citibank is aware, and are issuing new cards.
I've put a fraud alert on all 3 credit reporting agencies.
I'm closely monitoring all accounts.

What else would y'all recommend that I do to lessen the impact of this, and what have you done/wish you would have done. This is the second time it has happened to me (first time was back in 91) and it's getting old.

Thanks!

John

You can ruin your credit like I did.:dunno:

[Glenn B]

You can ruin your credit like I did.:dunno:

Interesting, yet un-productive idea. :)

[HaleYes]

Hell I figured you to be a motel 6 kinda guy......LOL

He probably is a motel 6 kindda guy when he's footing the bill. I've only met Rev once so I may be wong...:laugh3:

[red91]

In order of frequency:
Hilton
Choice
Stoney Creek
Holiday Inn
Marriott
Travelodge
Raddison
Nancy's Fly By Night
The No-Tell Motel
The Hellhole by the Watering Hole
Rev

you forgot a couple Rev ;)

[azdesertrhino]

Over the last 3 weeks, some dumb f### overseas has used my CC to purchase everything from trips to Australia to coins....over 3 grand worth of crap!

What else would y'all recommend Thanks!

John

Push for legislation that it should be legal to hunt 'em!! Oh, sorry, just kidding, he/she probably had a bad childhood and can't be held responsible. My bad!!!