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Three days after purchasing a pocket holster online from "Cheaper Than Dirt", my bank contacted me regarding a fraud alert on my credit card.

Several unauthorized charges from vendors I didn't recognize appeared on my account, and thanks to the speedy action of my bank (way to go Bank of America! ) it was discovered quickly and stopped.

In fairness to "Cheaper Than Dirt", I have no evidence that this is where the problem originated, however I find it highly suspect in light of my recent account history.

YMMV, but I think I'm done shopping online there.

That's the good thing about being poor. They can't take the money I don't have.

On another note, my daughter recently received a call from her bank
asking if she had just purchased three big screen TV's in New York.

I was once the proud owner of $140 of Malaysian porn. Not recognizing the company name on the statement I looked it up...at work...at a very conservative christian university....

While I was on the phone with the fraud person they were trying to charge my card again and the fraud investigator was watching it happen in real time. All was taken care of quickly and luckily no one say what flashed on my screen. I have never hit the close window macro so fast in my life.

TxKimberMan wrote:Three days after purchasing a pocket holster online from "Cheaper Than Dirt", my bank contacted me regarding a fraud alert on my credit card.

Several unauthorized charges from vendors I didn't recognize appeared on my account, and thanks to the speedy action of my bank (way to go Bank of America! ) it was discovered quickly and stopped.

In fairness to "Cheaper Than Dirt", I have no evidence that this is where the problem originated, however I find it highly suspect in light of my recent account history.

YMMV, but I think I'm done shopping online there.

CTD is a big company, one that counts on great customer relations. They also offer guarantees about shopping online (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/Guarantee.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). If you suspect there's a problem on their end, call them and ask for whoever handles fraudulent charges (800-421-8047). They would take this stuff VERY seriously, as their reputation depends on it (not to mention they can be legally held responsible by the banks if the fraud was internal)

IMO, it is highly unlikely your CTD purchase is where it happened. It is much more likely it happened at an ATM, restaurant, convenience store, or gas pump.

CTD is a reputable company with too much to lose.

I have my cards set up to send me an email for every transaction over $1.00. This allows me to keep an eye on things in near real time, since my email also comes in to my Blackberry.

This morning I had to use my debit card to pay for parking across the street from Baylor College of Dentistry (I had some dental surgery today). Before I got across the street, I had an email informing me of that $5.00 transaction.

TKM,

You might have another option that I would recommend. I have a BOA card and have the ability to create a "shop safe" number. It's a alias number tied to your credit card, which can only be used once and you determine the amount needed. For example, you if you have ammo you need to buy, go to check out, see your total, and then create a number for just a few cents or dollars over that amount. Once your purchase is complete, the number used is no longer available, that way if someone does try to use it, so sorry it's no good.

I use this feature for all my transaction where I'm not in person. A great way to do business on line and your credit card number is not exposed. See if you have that capability with your card, I highly recommend it!

TxA wrote:TKM,

You might have another option that I would recommend. I have a BOA card and have the ability to create a "shop safe" number. It's a alias number tied to your credit card, which can only be used once and you determine the amount needed. For example, you if you have ammo you need to buy, go to check out, see your total, and then create a number for just a few cents or dollars over that amount. Once your purchase is complete, the number used is no longer available, that way if someone does try to use it, so sorry it's no good.

I use this feature for all my transaction where I'm not in person. A great way to do business on line and your credit card number is not exposed. See if you have that capability with your card, I highly recommend it!

I remembered reading about this, and suggested to my wife that we should do this for future online purchases...she thinks that it will be a "hassle" to do this every time....I'm working on her.

Thanks for the suggestion, I agree this is the way to go!

Pawpaw wrote:IMO, it is highly unlikely your CTD purchase is where it happened. It is much more likely it happened at an ATM, restaurant, convenience store, or gas pump.

Pawpaw -

I see your point, however I don't use my credit card (generally) for the activities which you listed. I use a debit card for that.
By using a credit card online, you are only liable for a maximum of $50.00 in unauthorized charges if reported in a timely manner (and I've never had to pay the $50.00 either); with a debit card the sky (and your balance) is the limit.

I haven't used the credit card since before Christmas, and three days after my purchase at CTD is when things got interesting.

lkd wrote: CTD is a big company, one that counts on great customer relations. They also offer guarantees about shopping online (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/Guarantee.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). If you suspect there's a problem on their end, call them and ask for whoever handles fraudulent charges (800-421-8047). They would take this stuff VERY seriously, as their reputation depends on it (not to mention they can be legally held responsible by the banks if the fraud was internal)

If I still had money in this game, I would contact them. However my bank has taken care of everything. IF, and that's a big IF, I ever do business with CTD again, it will be with a one-time-use cc number, but I will probably just shop elsewhere.

Thanks for the info though.

TxKimberMan wrote:

Pawpaw wrote:IMO, it is highly unlikely your CTD purchase is where it happened. It is much more likely it happened at an ATM, restaurant, convenience store, or gas pump.

Pawpaw -

I see your point, however I don't use my credit card (generally) for the activities which you listed. I use a debit card for that.
By using a credit card online, you are only liable for a maximum of $50.00 in unauthorized charges if reported in a timely manner (and I've never had to pay the $50.00 either); with a debit card the sky (and your balance) is the limit.

I haven't used the credit card since before Christmas, and three days after my purchase at CTD is when things got interesting.

If a debit card is processed through the credit card system (an online purchase would be done this way), you have the same protections as if you were using a credit card.

CTD, like just about every merchant uses a third-party to process CC payments. Depending on the size of this processing company, they may also use another company to process payments. The card could have been compromised by any of them. Additionally, there is a chance that the bank that issued the card could have been compromised.

Just because the charges started 3 days after your CTD purchase doesn't mean that's where your number was stolen. Could have been stolen weeks or months earlier, and only just started being used, coincidentally to your purchase.

I've purchased many times from CTD, online and in person, and never had a problem.

As for ccard number fraudulent use - it happens. The companies are so familiar with it now that fixing it is relatively painless. I've been hit probably 5 or 6 (maybe more, but i don't want to exaggerate) times in the 20+ years I've been using credit cards. Fortunately for me, it has only been my credit card number that was stolen, and each time was easily resolved by a call to the issuing company (or sometimes from them to me - gotta love that... although it was shocking to be trying to pay for a just-finished root canal and find out my account was frozen due to fraudulent use - glad the office personnel were understanding). I know I sound rather glib about it, I don't know that I am. But ccard fraud has become a fact of modern life (a long time ago). I absolutely do what I can to reduce fraud, but I also try to be realistic, and not get upset about things I don't control. The part that really frosts me is that what this sort of fraud really means is that the overall cost to me goes up, because the selling vendor is out the money, and the BG got the goods, and I have to pay the markup that the vendor adds in order to cover the loss.

I almost got bit by credit card fraud


03/15/2011 I bought $2.66 of gasoline at a Shell Station on Hiway 281 on my way through Burnet, Texas "Pay at the Pump" (insert card in pump) that's ALL I bought.


Today 03/30/2011 I look at my credit card statement


charges for 03/15/2011

03/15/11 03/15/11
SHELL 57543674402 BURNET TX $ 2.66 Gasoline

03/15/11 03/15/11
US FUND FOR UNICEF NEW YORK NY $ 5.00 Services

03/15/11 03/15/11
AMAZON MKTPLACE PMTS AMZN.COM/BILLWA
NI1H0IR2AJP $ 999.99 Merchandise

Results Total = $ 1,007.65

Credit card company removing the fraudulent charges.
Closing account; issuing new card with new number.
I have to notify my Internet provider (recurring charges)

RPB,

It sounds like you got bit by a credit card "skimmer". You have to eye those CC readers very closely.

http://krebsonsecurity.com/2010/01/woul ... the-fraud/