How do these morons get the numbers, and how are they allowed to buy with only the number. I got a call from my bank Monday, about some fraudulent charges that they thought were not from me. My bank will not pay the vendor that sold the items, which were gift cards at a Walmart in Maryland. I suppose I will just go back to carrying cash, but I work in some of the worst areas in St Louis. So, I don't like to carry a bunch of money.
This is the third time it has happened to us, but at least our bank holds the vendor liable. The problem is that it tied up money for a few days. There has to be a way to catch these thieves, then hang em high!

Skimmers at gas stations and such is one way.

The banks have a certain sequence of numbers that are constant. So basically what they need to do is get a few digits that aren't and put in an expiration date and walla. they have a CC with you as the lein holder.

I once had my numbers stolen. They tried to buy a high priced "escort" using it. My CC company caught it pretty quick. The conversation with the CC girl was pretty interesting.
"Ummm sir have you been in Houston lately?"

"Uhhhh No why?"

" Well ummm someone tried to use your card to purchase ummmm well sir they tried to purchase an escort. We blocked the charge."

"Wait You're telling me that someone tried to buy a hooker with my card and you guys blocked it?"

"Yes sir"

"That's fantastic.... I wonder how many people can say their CC company CB'ed a scammer?"

Rule number one: Don't use debit cards. If you want to use plastic, use credit cards, they're much easier to dispute. Many times it can be difficult or impossible to recoup money that has been stolen out of a checking (debit) account.

Thats awesome. I am just glad that I get my money back.

Afraid it will get worse before it gets better! Hopefully we will get a handle on these scammers and GOVERNMENT hackers before it is to late.

Now days it almost seems like you have to pay a service , so you can keep what is yours. I am going to retire in 3-4 years, and I don't want to get wiped out. Credit and debit cards are handy while traveling, so I'll keep both for now. That could change in the future!

I've been hit with identity theft twice in the past year or so. Once for around a couple grand and once for around six hundred. I got my money back but it was a real pain.

The bank told me there was no way of knowing who hit me or how and it costs them more money to pursue it than it does to take the hit and write it off. I wanted a name and an address so I could go punch someone in the face but it didn't go my way.

This last time, they got me for $670.00, and it was all on gift cards. I wish the culprits name and address could be posted, for the pleasure of others. Lol

Really puts into perspective how much banks make to write off these losses.


I work with this on a regular basis and their default has always been to reissue. But in my cases it's someone that has cashed a check but says they've never received it.

Identify theft like this has gotten out of hand. Why rob a bank? You almost certainly WILL be caught, when you can simply do what they did to you (and me too) and probably get away with it a few times, then, when the gig is up, trash the card, get another one. Honestly, it doesn't seem like they're held accountable very often. My grandmother is almost 90. Last year, two pieces of dung grabbed her purse. They went on a "tank up everyone you know's car and Taco Bell binge" until they were caught a week later (the card was deactivated quickly). They barely got a slap on the wrist. No prison time, nothing. Ridiculous.



Need to start putting these pieces of dung where they belong, alive or not. Until then, it's going to continue happening every single day.

my solution would be to tell vendors who take the cards at in person store they can recoup up to 100 dollars of their loss with information leading to an arrest.
cash money for good surveillance video and you will see everyplace that can putting in a good camera at point of sale.



how they get your info , so many ways had skimmers at a local gas station here , they had a camera that watched you enter your pin also , go out to eat the waitress can take a quick picture of your card front and back and they have everything they need for online purchases.

postal police would be great since if they have ti shipped I think it would count as mail fraud the regular driver pulls up asks you to sign for the package and the USPS cop makes the arrest that would be great.


but right now I don't think enough places put a priority on it

my aunt was a VP for a small bank in my home town my aunt and uncle stopped getting mail for a few days , thought it was odd went to the post office to find out their mail had been forwarded , some people had taken out several credit cards in their name and run up about 10K in purchases.they thought ahead to have the mail forwarded to keep them from finding out the cards were taken out.

online order with store pick up is going to make this worse , you show up with just an order confirmation number in some cases to pick up the stuff.

Our society treats thieves like endangered species. Then need to be dealt with as an invasive species.
My bank said that the caught it, and they do not pay the vendor, which this time is a walmart in Md.

Had my debit card charged around 4-500 on iTunes. I don't use iTunes and I was overseas visiting family at the time of the charges. Apple was good about it they flagged the charges immediately and refunded the money to my account.

Have a buddy that just got a call today. The foreigner said that they were the IRS and he owed 4300.00 and that he needed to pay up now because there was a warrant for his arrest and he is looking at 5 years in prison. He is 76 years old and it scared him to death. Thankfully he didn't give them any information.

Wifes debit information was used at a Dollar General someplace in Missouri for over $800 dollars. I would think that $800 of purchases at a dollar general at one time would raise a red flag with the cashier. None of it was gift cards as they require cash for gift cards.

mainstream ways they get your card info; skimmers, hacking, and I think it's called a rfdi reader (the person with it just needs to be close to you and it automatically reads and saves all of your cards info from the magnetic strip.

I had some lady use my ssn for work. IRS showed up saying in owe $2500 in back taxes. That was a fun process top clear up.

Waggler is correct. Avoid debit cards if you can.

My bank will not accept any out of state charges unless I call them and let them know where Ill be. And when I will return.

I know that because I have forgotten to contact them and had my purchase not accepted with that card. They lock down my card until they hear from me.

As mentioned, CC are good at working with you in the event of stealing.

At least mine are.

It must be difficult at those large gas stations with a lot of people , while traveling.

What a pain.

I have only used debit cards for the last 5 years or so, and I just never really wanted one. I guess I will go back to cash, and keep a credit card for traveling. I have a wallet that is supposed to be scanner proof, but it won't help when the card is out! I could not even prove that the wallet works.
On another note, where we are working is not in the best area! We have people all day long asking for handouts, and we send em packin. I won't willingly hand my money to a twenty something, healthy, turd, lazy bum. We watch at least 20 dope deals a day, right in plain sight. So, none of us carry much cash with us. We do carry hot lead injectors though!

Just curious what you might need cash for on a daily basis ?? I'll bet I haven't used cash 5 times in the last year.. Everything is credit card for me. Much safer !