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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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CREDIT CARD FRAUD? IDENTITY THEFT? (long)
Hi There!
i got a letter in the mail from my best buy credit card people (HSBC) stating that i was "behind" on my payments.
I had a very low balance and sometimes had to make no payments per month, so this caught my by surprise. I login to look at my account and four days after i made my last purchase in the amount of 150.50 there was a 76.76 purchase, followed by a 2500.00 purchase!
i purchased in levittown, the fraudulent purchase was in lawrence.
my less than 20.00 per month payment sky rocketed to 120.00 per month.
of course i called to report this. they will look into the fraudulent charges. it will take two to three billing cycles (two to three more 120.00 per month payments) to research it.
here's the kicker... i don't carry my credit cards on me. i use my license and enter my social security into the little tablet. so, nobody 'stole' my card, how'd they do this? the only thing i can think of is that it's an "inside job."
Is this really the way i should be paying the minimum payment? my mother says that because i am paying 120.00 per month that i am "accepting" the charge. i am calling the DA office today to report it (don't know why i am doing that...again Mom's advice).
FYI - best buy said that the "over payments" will be applied to my regular balance after they proved that the purchase was fraudulent.
any insight on how to handle this?
sorry if i posted this on the wrong board.
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Posted 8/10/10 7:57 AM  |
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Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource | Long Island Weddings |
Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: CREDIT CARD FRAUD? IDENTITY THEFT? (long)
I think you are doing the right thing. You need to close the account and put a fraud alert on your credit. I have one through Equifax. $14.95/mo. Best investment ever. You will be alerted if someone tries to use your ss# or if you balance increases or decreases substantially.
sorry this happened to you. 
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| Posted 8/10/10 8:38 AM |
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Cheeks24
Living a dream
Member since 1/08 8589 total posts
Name:
Cheeks
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Re: CREDIT CARD FRAUD? IDENTITY THEFT? (long)
You can actually put a fraud alert on your credit for free. It only last several months. I had to do this when when of my school loans told me via bulk mail that accounts had been compromised. Really? Bulk mail? 
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| Posted 8/10/10 9:59 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: CREDIT CARD FRAUD? IDENTITY THEFT? (long)
Posted by Mici C
You can actually put a fraud alert on your credit for free. It only last several months. I had to do this when when of my school loans told me via bulk mail that accounts had been compromised. Really? Bulk mail?
it doesn't give you monitoring on all three credit reports and public record.
If you apply for credit it won't alert you.
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| Posted 8/10/10 10:32 AM |
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Mrs213
????????
Member since 2/09 18986 total posts
Name:
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Re: CREDIT CARD FRAUD? IDENTITY THEFT? (long)
You should absolutely report it to the DA - I would file a police report as well, anything over $1000 is a serious crime. I wouldn't pay them a dime but I do understand why you are doing it (you don't want a poor reflection on your credit score) Are you in Suffolk? Because the Suffolk County PD has an identity theft unit - I am sure you could call them and they could answer any questions for you
http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/police/IDTheft.htm
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| Posted 8/10/10 11:14 AM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: CREDIT CARD FRAUD? IDENTITY THEFT? (long)
Posted by rkoenke
here's the kicker... i don't carry my credit cards on me. i use my license and enter my social security into the little tablet. so, nobody 'stole' my card, how'd they do this? the only thing i can think of is that it's an "inside job."
Could happen a few ways. Inside job definitely a possibility. Some criminals just use random number generators to try to find an active card combination, and then they make a card when they know they have a working account number.
It's not identity theft though. Identity theft is when somebody uses your identity to open NEW accounts.
I wouldn't bother with the fraud stuff. I get fradulent charges on my credit cards at least once a year. Most recent happened two months ago. Some idiot decided to buy a bunch of items in NJ on my credit card. Home Depot. TJ Maxx. Marshalls. Gas. Guy really went on a nice spending spree.  And I had the card in my entire possession, so I would imagine he made his own card with my account number.
Bank actually called me to notify me. I disputed all the charges. They were promptly taken off. Best Buy CC underwriting may take longer though.
Message edited 8/10/2010 12:16:55 PM.
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| Posted 8/10/10 12:15 PM |
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DrMeg
Back home!
Member since 5/08 1858 total posts
Name:
Meg
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Re: CREDIT CARD FRAUD? IDENTITY THEFT? (long)
I am pretty sure they are supposed to suspend the charges while they investigate. So you shouldn't be paying them.
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| Posted 8/10/10 12:47 PM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: CREDIT CARD FRAUD? IDENTITY THEFT? (long)
Posted by DrMeg
I am pretty sure they are supposed to suspend the charges while they investigate. So you shouldn't be paying them.
This is true. Forgot to mention that.
You should call the bank up and tell them this.
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| Posted 8/10/10 12:55 PM |
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