F**king Credit Card Thieves

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
07/15/2016 at 12:35 • Filed to: None

This morning, I got an e-receipt from Home Depot saying that somebody charged $1,000 to one of my credit cards. First off, how do you spend exactly $1,000 at Home Depot? Secondly, the CC company said that the number had been keyed in manually. How did the bad guys get the number? A stripper? I mean, a card stripper; I don’t use my CC for real strippers. That’s cash only so it can’t be tracked......never mind. Seriously, though, I hardly ever use this card. Perhaps I should go back and see where it has been used lately. This is the second time something like this has happened to me in a month. Somebody !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in June and tried to buy car parts with it. I’m still convinced it was one of you, I just can’t prove it.

DISCUSSION (37)

d15b > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 12:39

You might want to invest in one of those wallets that block RFID scanners and such.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 12:43

http://www.infoworld.com/article/302342…

Rico > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 12:44

You’ve probably been skimmed at some point. Maybe from a while back like when Target had their breach. Home Depot also had a breach in the past year I believe.

450X_FTW > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 12:45

I’ve had my ID stolen a few times now. For credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts, I have a text message notification sent to me every time a transaction takes place that is $1 or more. Crap gets annoying.

ttyymmnn > d15b
07/15/2016 at 12:46

See Chris_K_F’s post above. I’m sure it’s more a simple case of skimming. I also had a ton of AC work done in the house by what I thought was a reputable company. One of their employees could have snagged it. Especially since the charge was made at HD.

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 12:46

I don’t use my CC for real strippers.

These days, I wouldn’t be surprised if one didn’t pull out an iPhone/square reader from her G-string and swipe your card for a lap dance. :/

You could probably pick up an anonymous Visa gift card to do the job...or so I’ve heard...

Anyway, sucks about your card theft. At least it won’t cost you since it’s just a credit card.

ttyymmnn > 450X_FTW
07/15/2016 at 12:47

My wife had her SSN stolen and somebody filed a 1040EZ with it this year. What has hassle that was.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 12:51

They probably bought $1k worth of gift cards.

450X_FTW > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 12:54

Yeah i’ve heard when it gets involved with taxes, that’s the worst case, totally messes up everything.

MrDakka > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 12:55

You might want to invest in some identity theft protection especially since you have already been targeted once. Think of it like insurance but for online transactions.

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 13:00

This was what made me nervous this Spring when I used my card for a cab in LA. The driver’s reader didn’t work; so, he had to call it in manually to the dispatcher over the phone. She probably had it on speaker phone in the dispatch office. When I think of all the potentially sketchy characters who could have taken it down (thinking of Danny DeVito in the dispatcher’s cage at the garage), I’m lucky my number is still good.

Azrek > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 13:09

Do we have a time on the charge? Can HD review their security log to see when someone was at the register at this time? Then can see what they bought as $1000 has to be alot of crap.

ttyymmnn > Azrek
07/15/2016 at 13:14

No idea. The CC agent said, basically, we’re not paying and we’ll let HD figure it out.

The Dummy Gummy > 450X_FTW
07/15/2016 at 13:25

Can you not change the threshold? That is an insanely low threshold.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 13:25

I’ve had my identity stolen a couple of times; it gets old fast. Back in 2006, someone opened a bunch of bank accounts in MO. In 2013 someone filled a tax return in Ohio for me(I’ve never actually been in Ohio, although I may have flown over it once in 1998). In 2014, someone got state unemployment benefits in my name, opened a DISH network account and then let it go into collections in my name and then also took out a payday loan for a grand in my name. Strangely, they paid back the payday loan.

The bank accounts and tax returns were actually flagged and fixed by the bank and state tax office, respectively, on their own. I just got letters after the fact stating what happened and that they had fixed the issues. The payday loan and DISH network account were fairly easy to fix, at least in part. Removing the accounts and associated collection account were fairly easy, but removing the associated hard inquiries to my credit files took a couple of tries before the reporting agencies got it right.

The unemployment benefits were a pain to fix, involving a variety of police reports, documentation and sworn affidavits. They had actually initiated a fraud investigation into me as they noticed they were paying unemployment benefits to someone they thought was me while I was also a state employee at the same time. Initially, I got contacted as a suspect by a fraud investigator while at work. Then after they fixed it the first time, they forgot to tell their collection folks, who publicly recorded a lien against me. That one was a lot of fun to undo.

I was unlucky enough to not only be in the Home Depot and Target breaches, but to also be a part of not one, but two breaches by the VA. I also get to be one the millions who’s security clearance data is now held by the Chinese (and whoever else they have/will share it with and/or sell it to).

Credit monitoring and security freezes on my reports have become a way of life. Security freezes have been the only thing that has stopped the problem, but they’re a bit of a pain in the ass to deal with. Any credit related move I make has to be planned in advance, and any account opened undergoes manual processing and increased scrutiny, which takes time. No instant approval for me. Identity theft is the gift that keeps on giving, and part of me has been disappointed so far. My alter ego(s) have not done anything cool, or even interesting. If you’re going to steal my identify, at least do something cool with it like buying a race horse, or a 10-year old Maserati.

ttyymmnn > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
07/15/2016 at 13:44

Damn. If it weren’t for bad luck, you’d have no luck at all. I wish these lazy bastards would just go out and get a job, rather than stealing from hardworking people.

450X_FTW > The Dummy Gummy
07/15/2016 at 13:49

It can be whatever amount you want it to be. I just set it to $1 so that way I’m notified of every transaction.

The Dummy Gummy > 450X_FTW
07/15/2016 at 13:58

Yikes, that’s overkill. More power to you though.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 13:59

Indeed. I suspect that my info keeps churning around the nether-regions of the dark webs and occasionally someone new buys it.

jimz > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 14:00

How did the bad guys get the number? A stripper? I mean, a card stripper; I don’t use my CC for real strippers. That’s cash only so it can’t be tracked

was it at a Home Depot you’ve actually been to? sounds like an inside job, e.g. a cashier took down your number. I don’t think there’s any way to do a Card Not Present (CNP) sale other than on an actual terminal. I’m pretty sure the U-Scans won’t allow it.

450X_FTW > The Dummy Gummy
07/15/2016 at 14:06

To be honest, it’s maybe 10-15 text messages a month. Just a notification that say the amount and location. My identity has been stolen too many times, gets really annoying have to deal with all the different accounts, new cards, etc.

The Dummy Gummy > 450X_FTW
07/15/2016 at 14:23

Many times? haha what the heck? how does it keep happening?

E92M3 > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 15:09

What happens a lot of times is you pay at a restaurant with your CC, and the server takes a photo with their phone of your card, when they go to the back to process your payment. Then they give that info to an out of state friend, so as to not easily be traced. The out of state friend uses the info to make an online purchase (cause you can just type the info in). They’ll have it shipped to an address near them (often an apartment across the hall), and watch tracking. Because they know the delivery schedule of UPS/Fedex in their complex (ex:between 2-3pm everyday) Once it’s “out for delivery”, they’ll wait for it to be delivered, and take it off the neighbors doorstep.

This has happened to me twice after paying for a meal out. Now, I go to the ATM, and use cash only at restaurants. Basically don’t let your CC leave your sight.

450X_FTW > The Dummy Gummy
07/15/2016 at 15:13

Not so much full identity theft, but few years ago someone had my credit card number and tried to charge $3000 to a hotel room in France, last year someone tried to file for unemployment in my name, that was the biggest hassle yet, then last week a charge for $153 showed up on my checking account to pay an AMEX credit card bill. I don’t even have an AMEX. Turns out they also tried to do a money transfer out of my checking account too. Luckily I have my account setup so that it blocks transfer to any outside bank accounts.

The Dummy Gummy > 450X_FTW
07/15/2016 at 15:20

Smart. I feel your pain. I had someone steal my ebay/paypal account years ago and most recently my bank debit card. I almost never pay with my bank debit card, but had to do so recently because I’m terrible with my wallet. Someone tried to set up one of those food services, for auto delivery monthly. Probably the dumbest thief ever ha.

Another tip that happened to my cousin, but I’ve used his experience is to call your mobile provider and have them lock your account so your sim can’t be transferred to another phone without you authorizing it. The premise is they steal your phone sim and then reset all your email passwords which lets them into your other accounts (via 2 step authorization).

450X_FTW > The Dummy Gummy
07/15/2016 at 15:21

That’s a good thing to know too. I’m the worst hacker ever, because even if I had someone else’s social security number, I wouldn’t know what to do with it

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 15:43

It was probably your brother.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
07/15/2016 at 15:43

That sucks. A guy I know who was the most paranoid person ever, VPN and all of that, had his stolen.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 15:45

Nah. Stuff happens.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > E92M3
07/15/2016 at 15:46

Good advice. But how do you know about all the rest...?

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
07/15/2016 at 15:48

Probably. Can't trust that guy.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 15:52

I wouldn’t.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn
07/15/2016 at 15:53

How did that radiator thing turn out?

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
07/15/2016 at 16:02

Fine. Under $900. Van is chill now.

E92M3 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
07/15/2016 at 17:12

I had a friend that worked for Mastercard, and he explained it to me, after I asked him what they do to catch these CC theives. While it’s not impossible, most police departments just aren’t willing to help.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > E92M3
07/15/2016 at 18:35

I’ve always imagined that the CC companies just considered this a cost of doing business.

E92M3 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
07/15/2016 at 21:04

In a way it is. They only get caught when the cops want to catch them. He told me one story of a home invasion, where the thieves beat the home owners and made off with their credit card among other things. The detective called MC, and wanted the card to stay active, and to be alerted if the card gets used. Soon after the thieves used it at a McDonalds, stayed there to eat, and just long enough to be apprehended. If it wasn’t violent (say they just snatched a purse), nothing would of been done.