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Reprecussions of buying stuff online...

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psychkub
Posts: 1788 - Karma: 16
So I'm an avid online shopper; whether it be backcountry.com or any of its subsidiaries, jibij, amazon.com whatever. I've always believed in online safety because nothing bad has ever happened to me until now.

I dunno where or how, but my credit card number got stolen and over the course of the last couple of days I got robbed of $951.18 on charges to AIR FRANCE.

I called my bank and closed that card and they'll be sending me a fraud packet to fill out and get the charges reversed.

I don't think I will be buying anything online for quite some time.

Be careful out there!
Mar 20 2009 11:30AM
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timmi
Posts: 12874 - Karma: 3,460
damn man that really sucks. hopefully you get that cash back.
i dont really buy stuff online too often.
Mar 20 2009 11:32AM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
somebody stole my company credit card number and racked up a few grand worth of itunes purchases in about a day. it's annoying but you'll get it back.
Mar 20 2009 11:40AM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,364
that sucks pretty hard, good luck gettin it straightened out
Mar 20 2009 11:55AM
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Squid.
Posts: 1904 - Karma: 23
Which site?
Mar 20 2009 12:02PM
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Bagels
Posts: 1022 - Karma: 1,306
Just because you shop online, does not mean they took your credit card information from a website.  There are numerous scams at gas stations, fast food joints, etc... just about anyone you hand your credit card to can get the information in about 2 seconds if you aren't paying attention.
Mar 20 2009 1:02PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
Thats why I use a temporary credit card # from paypal for any sketchy places
Mar 20 2009 1:04PM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
I do buy something online and I live in Michigan, someone from Penn spend $500 at a Sunoco gas station last summer... I took 2 months to get my money back.
Best of luck to ya!
Mar 20 2009 1:07PM
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sconniestyle
Posts: 3945 - Karma: 26

this is a good point.

many times, the credit card security on places like bc.com and amazon, serious internet retailers, is so secure that it is much easier for people to get the info different ways.

those ways could include a scanner on an atm or card machine at a store/gas pump, a clerk simply memorizing the info, a coworker/friend/etc. copying the info, and i saw somewhere this week that experts are just discovering  the ezpass stuff where you just waive your visa above the card machine (like at mcdonalds) is able to be intercepted.

i'd go back on your bank statements for the 48/72 hours or so before the air france ticket was ordered, try and see if any of those places were out of the ordinary, and then call and talk to the manager if you feel like investigating further.

Mar 20 2009 1:20PM
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psychkub
Posts: 1788 - Karma: 16
^ good idea on that.

To the guy above, you're right too regarding the website's security being better than buying stuff at gas stations and stuff. I'm just a bit phased by it because it's kind of an invasion of privacy, ya know?

And yes, in speaking with the bank I should be able to get everything returned and have the fees reversed.

I did speak with AIR FRANCE and apparently what's going on is that there are some people in AFRICA running some type of hacking scam where they get someone's airline miles and use them to get free airline tickets and then they use another individuals credit card to pay for the taxes. AIR FRANCE's fraud department caught the scam and has reversed some of my charges.

Either way, shit is shaaaaaaaaady.
Mar 20 2009 1:30PM
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Bagels
Posts: 1022 - Karma: 1,306
One thing I've done to prevent identity theft.  Scratch out the 3 digit number on the back and memorize it.  If they don't get that number right, the credit card company will automatically call you to warn you about an unauthorized purchase.  Works for me.
Mar 20 2009 1:54PM
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Loges
Posts: 1928 - Karma: 21
thats a good idea.

I just got sent a notice that my credit card's info may have been compromised so theyre sending me a new one. I mean i use my card for basically all my purchases cause I hate to carry cash around with me.

I guess you just gotta be more careful who/where your buying stuff from, but you never know till it's too late.
Mar 20 2009 2:03PM
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fragglemuffin
Posts: 3312 - Karma: 444
hmmm im starting to think some airline companies are doing dirty shit....my bro got $700 stolen from him by CBU air or something like that out of some S. American country...apparently CBU air has been stealing tons of credit card info and has had many fraud charges filed against them...maybe AIRFRANCE is in the same boat on that one?
Mar 20 2009 2:13PM
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seemeski
Posts: 4210 - Karma: 124
I don't know my new address very well, so I mailed my new Biggie tee somewhere down the street :(
Mar 20 2009 2:47PM
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Loges
Posts: 1928 - Karma: 21
yea there was some news article thing about how corrupt some airline employees are, stealing thousands of dollars worth of stuff from people's luggage. Sooo messed up.
Mar 20 2009 2:49PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
Rarely does that 3 digit number have to be used for online purchases
Mar 20 2009 4:25PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
FOrtunately 90% of CC companies will have some fraud protection policies in place these days, so it's very rare for you not to get your money back

A good countermeasure is to set your daily limit around $1000 so that someone can't take you to the cleaners
Mar 20 2009 4:26PM
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Paulage
Posts: 521 - Karma: 102

this is true.

i had my debit card whiped clean...
it doesnt meen it was online, it literally takes one swipe to have ur info stored or wired to someone and then they can clean you out.

its a pain but dont fret dude, banks are actaully super solid with that shit and i got my skrilla back in 1 week.

Mar 20 2009 6:37PM
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sack
Posts: 4881 - Karma: 147

I don't usually buy online because I find with the shipping it's usually cheaper to buy it in-store at a sale. Luckily my card is maxed out now, so if they tried the scam it would probably be rejected haha... :( I'll have to watch for that though

Has anyone found the new PIN and chip feature in visa cards is more secure? I don't have one yet

Mar 20 2009 7:17PM
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hartig
Posts: 8192 - Karma: 10
cash is where its at
the only time i use plastic is if i'm out of paper
Mar 20 2009 7:18PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
my credit card # got stolen once at a restaurant and there was a charge for 800 bucks at a target in like illinois
i guess some restaurants have machines that can jack your #
Mar 20 2009 7:20PM
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Meh42
Posts: 2431 - Karma: 14
if any of you read wired they had a great article on credit card number jacking about 6 months ago.

also, if you're sure your number was compromised through online shopping instead of some kind of real world sketchiness, i would reformat your computer or at least get some kind of anti-spyware immediately.  the likelihood of your number getting jacked mid transaction with a well known site is much, much lower than the possibility you have a keylogger on your computer
Mar 20 2009 7:42PM
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Marissa.M
Posts: 450 - Karma: 61
Wow, I'm sorry to hear that happened. I don't understand why people have to be like that. The same thing happened to my parents years ago. Some dick charged around $2,000 in plane tickets to Spain and it took a while to get that money back by luckily they did. But just be very careful. Make sure the sites you are buying from are legit sites and not some bogus sites. They should have contact numbers, email addresses, locations that they are based out of, and strong policies. If any of these things are lacking, it can be dangerous. So really make sure you know where or who you are buying from. Read reviews on the person if they are a private seller on amazon or ebay. Hope it all works out.
Mar 20 2009 7:58PM
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factory81
Posts: 3967 - Karma: 63
I am not trying to say this is a good idea, or that you should do it.

But an ex-girlfriend of mine would scam credit card companies by going to the mall, buy like $18 worth of shit at a store, then start going BUCK WILD with the card, then...she would go sit on a bench and call the card company and tell them her card has been stolen. and then continue to buy shit until the car is declined.


The bank would remove the charges, she never got in trouble.

It is amazing how stupid banks are.

With that being said, online fraud happens. I work at an ISP. We deal with tons of credit cards, I can only imagine it just takes someone getting creative like my ex.

She never got caught, but that was then, and now things are different. (maybe hell i don't know).
Mar 21 2009 12:41PM
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skithebert
Posts: 2163 - Karma: 16
so if somebody bought a plane ticket with that credit card wouldn't the airline be able to track down who it was?  i mean unless they're a terrorist and have all fake ids and shit they probably were dumb enough to use all their real information.  seems like that would be the thing to do?
Mar 21 2009 12:47PM
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Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
yeah man, i would keep away from really sketchy sights, but amazon, bc, and those sites are definitely theft proof...
Mar 21 2009 12:51PM
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Alkyy
Posts: 2839 - Karma: 149
I watched my mom almost get ripped off last night.  Someone called claming to be from visa, knew a few things about the account enough to get her trusting that it was someone legit from the company, they asked for her CC number and a few other things, she didnt give the number because she thought it was a little odd.  right after she called visa.  They said no one had called about any changes in the last month...
Mar 21 2009 1:09PM
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