Hey everybody. For those of you who don't know me so well, my dad is a retired law enforcement officer. He called me this morning to warn me about a new scam---one that happened to him last night. For those of you who don't know me as well, please know this is not a spam email and I am just trying to keep this from happening to everyone else I know. This is also not a scare tactic to keep you from doing your holiday shopping or some crazy hex I am trying to put on the retail world. My dad has spent the majority of today trying to "right" how he was "wronged" and asked me to share this with anyone I know.
The scam happens after you use your debit or credit card in a store, gas station, or at any other business where your card is swiped through a machine--I know, this is basically anywhere you spend money. The theives attach a electronic box to the machine and capture all of your information...your card number, your pin if you use it, your name, expiration, etc. They then take that electronic box and download the information to a computer where they are able to make an identical looking credit/debit card. They then go to the store or wherever and have a good time at your monetary expense. When they go to Wal-Mart, the trend is to buy only a few dollars worth of merchandise and then buy $200 gift cards. At least this is what happened to my dad. They did this at 4 different Wal-Mart stores in Texas. My dad drives trucks for Wal-Mart and has also been working with the corporate office to help them solve who did this. By his bank records, he knows the exact date and time down to the second when these transactions took place. WalMart is working with him on thier surveilance videos. Thats all I can say for now. However, they also know that this scam is not only happening in the Arkansas/Texas area. It is happening all over. By my dad's words, there are federal agencies involved in the largert investigation at hand. Currently, there isn't really a way to fully protect yourself from this, other than not using any debit or credit cards. Most of us are too inconvenienced by that option. So, just be sure to check your bank accounts frequently and pay attention to the charges. I really hope that this doesn't happen to any of you, because according to my dad...its a royal pain! If you check your account and notice any oddities, contact the bank or credit card company immediately so that other fraudulant charges are not allowed onto your account!
If you have questions, feel free to send me a message. Again, this isn't spam or something I heard about in an email or online. This really happened to my dad.
That really sucks. I just went through a similar pain in the ass recently where someone got my card number and used it to get a cash advance. The cc company actually caught it and rectified the situation pretty quickly. Makes me worry that it could happen again at any time because I have no idea how they got the number.
People are making fake covers for atm machines that are exactly the same. Anyone would be fooled. The covers are only a few inches thich and read you card, see your pin, everything.
When these things are in stores and such, almost always the clerk is getting paid off. Often its a $5000 flat fee for them to put the stuff in.. Clerks are often never charged with this happens as they just deny anything.
I am not sure if Wal-Mart can determine exactly which check out line sold the card, but they can scan their camera footage to try to narrow it down....so hopefully they can figure it all out.
However, I realize its a lot of manpower and work for in the effort to recover what are small amounts of cash to them (but huge to our bank accounts). Especially when they know someone can still walk in the next day and do it all over again!
Not a heck of a lot you can do about the credit card aspect of things, apart from not giving tellers a hard time because you haven't signed the back of the card. If tellers didn't get crapped on everytime they tried to enforce this policy with customers they would be more likely to actually enforce it.
Debit cards, cover your PIN, although this wouldn't help much in "Frank's" scenario, your information is useless without it.
In addition I would caution people at cash machines to make sure the transaction completes and the machine resets before you walk away.
I was in line once and the woman infront of me just left after getting her cash. I was left next in line standing there with the machine asking me, "Would you like to preform another transaction?" I stared at the machine and was like the hell. I pushed "no" and did my transaction. When completed it asked, "Would you like to preform another transaction?", just as it had with the woman's account, curious I pressed, "Yes". It asked, "Chequing, Savings?" Holy crap I thought if I had been a dishonest sort I could have pressed yes on the woman's account and drained it.
I have noticed that machine no longer does this, but as far as I know it did not do this before either.
Og.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
Blog entry: November 1, 2009, Pancakes LiveSTRONG daily plate log
In addition I would caution people at cash machines to make sure the transaction completes and the machine resets before you walk away.
I was in line once and the woman infront of me just left after getting her cash. I was left next in line standing there with the machine asking me, "Would you like to preform another transaction?" I stared at the machine and was like the hell. I pushed "no" and did my transaction. When completed it asked, "Would you like to preform another transaction?", just as it had with the woman's account, curious I pressed, "Yes". It asked, "Chequing, Savings?" Holy crap I thought if I had been a dishonest sort I could have pressed yes on the woman's account and drained it.
I have noticed that machine no longer does this, but as far as I know it did not do this before either.
Og.
I came across a machine like this before. When I was asked if I wanted another transaction I pressed yes to see what happened. Before it would do anything it wanted me to swipe my card again. I figured that was some sort of precaution in case you left without the machine resetting.
All my credit cards are unsigned and are printed on the signature line with the words, "Ask for I.D."
It's amazing how often no one asks, but if it is used illegally, that is the store's responsibility and not mine.
My card company calls me if anything is suspicious and on one occasion I had them change the account number and send me new cards. Forunately they caught a small purchase and they covered the cost.
Read your agreements carefully. Many companies will place a limit on your liability if your card is misused.
__________________ In Fitness & Friendship, MAHLER
______________________________ __________________________ There is no light at the end of the tunnel. You carry the light with you.
I am not sure if Wal-Mart can determine exactly which check out line sold the card, but they can scan their camera footage to try to narrow it down....so hopefully they can figure it all out.
However, I realize its a lot of manpower and work for in the effort to recover what are small amounts of cash to them (but huge to our bank accounts). Especially when they know someone can still walk in the next day and do it all over again!
Yup they can....each check out has a camera and their systems allow them to monitor each transaction on each individual check stand.
My wife had her purse stolen while visiting her mom in the hospital a couple years ago and the police with the help of Wal-mart got footage of the culprits....bastards bought cigarettes.
__________________
Take care of your lawn
and
the grass will be greener on your side of the fence
I dont have any of my CC's signed either.. Im 19 years old.. and have only been asked for id once or twice (I use it many times per week too). Kind of scary really.
All my credit cards are unsigned and are printed on the signature line with the words, "Ask for I.D."
It's amazing how often no one asks, but if it is used illegally, that is the store's responsibility and not mine.
My card company calls me if anything is suspicious and on one occasion I had them change the account number and send me new cards. Forunately they caught a small purchase and they covered the cost.
Read your agreements carefully. Many companies will place a limit on your liability if your card is misused.
the store can deny you use of your card for that. Our contract we had with Visa required a signature.
Frankly it wasn't worth the pain of telling the customer they can't use their card if it is unsigned, always causes a HUGE FUCKING DEAL with them.
Not worth the amount they pay me to deal with customers like that.
I firmly believe they should at least have photo ID, the signature system does not work.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
Blog entry: November 1, 2009, Pancakes LiveSTRONG daily plate log
A scam that happened to my dad
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