*VENT* so I just got royally screwed

i<3mytitan · 08-25-2006, 12:29 AM

Well, I was checking my checking online statement, and guess what I found? Nothing out of the ordinary, just about $600 in bogus charges! These all occured yesterday, at a local mall (Brea, CA). Mind you, my wife and I were at foot locker at that mall on Tuesday, and did not use our card all day yesterday. Luckily, we were able to catch it early,and the bank just asked us to fill out a fraud form and then they'll credit us back the money.

S*** like this really piss me the f*** off. We both work hard for the money we earn and the things we buy. Yet lazy bastards out there would rather take shortcuts and steal someone else's hard earned money/cars/clothes/etc because they're too pathetic to do something on their own to earn it.

OK, thats enough venting. Thanks a lot

TOK · 08-25-2006, 04:57 AM

My wife had charges racked up on a credit card because someone got a hold of those checks"they mail you that go right on the balance of your card. I think the check limit was $1000, and someone filled out the check for $900, forged my wifes name and cashed it.

The credit card company verified that it wasn't my wifes signature on the check, then ate the charges. There was a condo style mailbox where I was living at the time (like 35 mailboxes in a big enclosure), and we were always getting someone elses mail. We figured a scumbag neighbor got our mail and took advantage of the situation. The mailman AND the bank that cashed the check both screwed the pooch on that one.

CFowler · 08-25-2006, 05:57 AM

Samething happend to me. They got me for over $2000 out of my checking account using my Visa Check card. My bank worked hard and credited my money back the next day. Then they went after the companies that the charges went through. Mostly internet realted stuff. In the end I got a new card and all my money back but it still pissed me off. These days you just have to be ultra careful.

i<3mytitan · 08-25-2006, 07:15 AM

Yeah, I know. I always thought I was careful. On the back of my card, i both signed it AND wrote in small letters "See ID". Only thing I can think of is they lifted the CC number off the receipt and/or card reader. Who knows? Butat least my bank will credit the money back after the fraud form is filled out. But I'm also thinking of filing a complaint with the respective companies that made the sales.

TitanEngineer · 08-25-2006, 07:21 AM

That sucks man, My dad had someone buy a car on his credit about 3 years ago, He has put a his credit in a lock since.

**Carbeaux** · 08-25-2006, 07:38 AM

Your lucky it was just fruadulent use of your debit card or checking account info. What Engineer is talking about is identity theft, and MUCH worse and harder to clear up. It's not fun, but just file the Reg E disputes, and your bank takes care of the rest for you. You can only be so careful. You never really know who the person is that you're handing your debit card to at the store, any store.

top20cc · 08-25-2006, 07:57 AM

Ahhh the good ole days. When people dont care about earning diddly-squat and want it from you. Incase you guys didt see my other thread, I am a victim of Identity Theft in a bad bad way. Bout 75k worth. Thats fine I will do what I can to get it fixed. Good luck and I hope everything goes easy for you and your wife.

**ArmyAviation** · 08-25-2006, 09:04 AM

As a police officer I see this all the time. I take alot of police reports for people who were robed or their credit cards were used. When they get a police report #'s their bank will credit all the funds back. The retailers will not get paid by the credit companies. The retailers should of checked the ID of the person who is purchasing. I had one case that a women's credit card was stolen while she was at a restruant, the thief then went to a Safeway and bought $1000 worth of $100 Safeway gift cards. Now who goes to the grocery store and spends $1000? The stupid sales clerk didnt even check the id of the person. I talked to the clerk and told her manager to take it out of her paycheck so safeway wouldnt eat the charge.

**P's Titan** · 08-25-2006, 09:20 AM

you my friend fell victim to what the new big crime wave is, it's huge here in So Cali. I've been hit, striaght out of a ATM. My good friend has been hit 3 times in the past year. Two at a ATM and once at a Circuit City.

Would you by chace have BoA?

On a side note, recently 2 people at a local CU were busted for stealing members info. I wonder what the % is for crooks working at a bank. I mean that is a easy a$$ way to get someone's info, make a card and go splurge.

baseballfanz · 08-25-2006, 09:21 AM

Sounds to me someone at the Foot Locker is involved if that's the only place you used it at. Good thing you caught it early.

**gadget74** · 08-25-2006, 09:34 AM

I just sat through a lecture about identity theft yesterday.
1 in 3 people will be victims of ID theft and the avg take from a theft is $93k!
The only way you can protect yourself is credit monotoring, and that isn't a gauranty!

They are cracking down on companies that "lose" ID info also! They can face up to $1.25 mil in fines and up to 20 yrs jail time!

This crap is getting out of hand quickly!

Course.........i also learned how to make an extra $100k next year pretty easily!

j/k......i'd be the one lucky a**hole that got caught!!!

**P's Titan** · 08-25-2006, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballfanz

Sounds to me someone at the Foot Locker is involved if that's the only place you used it at.

coule be but I doubt it, can't imangine it being a "next day" hit. Just happened to be that he was there. The people that do these hit dozens of people a day. The guys that did mine use the same ATM in the SFV that my friend got hit at twice. Not sure how they got it but did. The crooks usually don't use a stolen card in the direct area it was compromised at. We started doing our own investigating and broke it down to 2 ATMS that we both have used together.

Just a thought...

I<3my... I would file a police report if you have not done so yet. They can get with what ever place(s) the crime occured and hope to get pictures. You may reconize the bastard.

rcantu · 08-25-2006, 02:51 PM

It happened to me a month after I bought my truck. I got a call from americas tire in hemet about someone trying to pick up some wheels I ordered. I was like wtf. Then I got a bestbuy card in the mail. Also from the apple store. Seems like someone took my info from the dealer and filled out applications. Turns out to be about 11k in charges but I refuted them and all ok.

Just a PITA

i<3mytitan · 08-25-2006, 08:04 PM

well, just got off the phone with the bank and the police department. Going to file a report at my local PD department, then going to the bank to file my fraud affidavit. They said they would credit us all the money back while they investigate the incident. However, we just received word that as of right now, the total charges are around $950, give or take $100. We're also going to the store where it occurred at, to figure out exactly how/why they allowed someone to ring up an order using only a 16 digit CC number, without asking for identification. If they don't give me a satisfactory answer, i'm thinking of going to the local media, to bring out awareness. I wouldn't want someone to get into this trouble, possibly even worse than we are

And to all the others who had horror stories about ID theft, I could only imagine how I'd feel in a situation similar to that. Hope all worked out in the end though.

JOHN

**Carbeaux** · 08-25-2006, 09:10 PM

As ecmyela says, this happens all the time. The media already knows about it, it's just not news anymore. I read your post about your identity theft Top20, and you're in for a long haul to right your situation. It can be done, but it will take time, patience, and I'm sorry to say, money. Stay the course though.