Credit Card Fraud
So I got a letter from my bank yesterday, informing me that my account is overdrawn. This was strange because I rarely use this account. I primarily use cash for all my purchases, but occasionally use this account when I need to upload funds to paypal, write checks that I know won't be cashed immediately, etc. So I call up the bank to find out what the deal is and someone made a $10 purchase with my card to Digital Books. There was a phone number listed with it. I called the number and got an automated message saying I had reached the support line for Digital Books and to leave a message for a return call. There was also a URL listed in the message, leading me to digital-reading.com. I checked them out on the web to see if it's a place I've made purchases on before or ?? Turns out they aren't much of an online commerce place, they sell digital books how-to books: becoming a millionaire, buy a bike, have a successful yard-sale, etc. Books that no one in their right mind would buy, and the whole site/automated support line totally sounds like a front end for a scammer. So I followed up with my bank and filed a fraud alert on the purchase. I canceled the card, and put a lock on the account until the investigation is complete. The investigation is supposed to take up to 30-60 days to complete, at which point I'll be reimbursed for the money and fees. So fortunately I didn't keep a bunch of money in that account. It seems the $10 was a feeler purchase, so see if the card was valid and a transaction could be completed. In the end this will be a slight annoyance. But it's really hitting home the fact that EVERYONE is susceptible to this kind of fraud. I'll be keeping a closer eye on all my accounts in the future, not that I already don't. You should do the same!
Labels: credit card, fraud, frustration, irritation, rant, scammers
