Hackers and Thieves

[mshockley]

I just had to have a little rant:

On Saturday afternoon while trying to purchase some items at my local drugstore, the cashier announces to me that my card has been declined! (Yes I have money in the account )

So today when I can contact the bank I am told that my account was flagged for fraudulent activity and all transactions were being declined. Apparently someone was trying to "swipe my card" in Italy!!!!

Now I would surely love to go to Italy, but alas, I am in Iowa for christ's sake, and I have the card in my possession. I have a family member who had just had major surgery and is laid up in the hospital, I'm running in 20 different directions all at once, and really don't need any hassles right now!

Soooooooooooo, I would just like to thank the hackers and thieves that have made my life a major inconvenience for the 2nd time in less than a year. I am the one who got to feel like a real jackass standing in line to buy something only to be told "sorry but your card is declined".................that right there really pisses me off.

I guess there's something to be said for this software the banks are using----something called Falcon--that can learn your buying habits and decides if someone has hacked your account, but seriously, the first time this happened someone was trying to use my account numbers to make online purchases...............but now they have somehow not only stolen the credit card number, but have figured out a way to make a fraudulent card!

I am now without the debit card for 7 days until I get the replacement.........which is also a pain in the ass.

So I guess I want to say to all the hackers and thieves who unfortunately will never see my little rant here------GET A F*@*ING JOB

Okay, end of rant..........

[Barbara V]

I feel your pain. I had my identity stolen 20 years ago, and still haven't gotten over it.

[Tzetsin]

Sorry this has happend to you. If it has happend twice this year, I'd suspect that your card is being double swiped somewhere local and being sold on the black market. Keep a good eye on your card whenever you are using it and if they dont have a chip machine, insist on swiping it yourself. if you dont have a chip card, get one.

I just want to say though that these people do have jobs. they just dont have jobs "in the system" and unfortunately, they make more than we do so its unlikely they'll stop any time soon.

[3bayjunkie]

do you have lifelock? id get it if i were you...

[IABoomer]

Ooh, this is curious. I checked a debit card balance today and found a transaction pending for today that looks like it came from a fuel station in the UK. Pretty amazing how I got an energy drink and some cash at a convenience store this morning in Des Moines, then somehow made it over to the UK to buy gas, then made it home this afternoon to meet my wife, all without having a passport.

[metallion58]

Somebody tried to steal my identity once...
After gaining 100 pounds and loosing most of his hairs, he gave it back.

[kcoppock]

Originally Posted by 3bayjunkie

do you have lifelock? id get it if i were you...

I'd disagree with that sentiment.

[Bruce A]

Oooh Michelle you are angry

This happened to my wife about two weeks ago. She purchased something on-line about a year ago and that same company decided that she needed some other product as well. It was only for $39.00 but luckilly, the bank picked it up and cancelled her card. So when in line at the grocery shop, she went through your experience. She had to wait about 5 days for her new card and another 5 for her pin number. In the meantime she kep borrowing my card and forgetting (ahem) to give it back. So all in all it was a major PITA. However Michelle, she did show some decorum when describing this issue to others LOL!

[SwissJon]

You know, the real PITA is that the police don't do anything.

I have a UK banks debit card that I ONLY use on the occasions I'm over there. Last year I was in the UK ONCE.. For a weekend.. I used the card ONCE.. In a cornershop to get some sandwiches, the resto f the time I used cash or my Swiss cards because I knew I didn't have money in the UK account.

And the card got cloned and £2000 was extracted.. This was picked up by the bank, and I got all the money back.. Thank God.

Now the thing is, since I only used the card one time in 12 months, and the clone happened the same week I was in the UK, I think we can all point and say this is where this happened. So I told the bank and the police, and they said they'd look into it.

Anyhow, I was back in the UK earlier this year. I was curious to see if the corner shop was still open, and it was, and not only that, the same b*****d that took my card before was behind the counter, smiling and taking some other customers card.

So much for the police being interested. You're on your own in this world.

[Bruce A]

Yeah but Jon - someone could have put a skimming device on his scanner. The baY%#ds are pretty clever!