Credit Cards going "bad"

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

About once a year we have a credit card go bad. Most recently, I had one go bad on a card assigned to my wife, and she has not used the card in a year, and maybe once in the 5 years I've had the account. Really weird. It was attempted to be used was in South Africa.

This year I have had 2 others go bad. The fraud alerts from the banks seem to be working pretty well. So far, they've stopped the card as it was used. None were authorized.

Has anyone else noticed an upswing in cards going bad?

Ferraripete · Ferraripete's Garage

what are you talking about? they don't go "bad".

sc_rufctr · 07-30-2017, 06:04 PM

Do you mean the chip or the magnetic strip?

JackDidley · JackDidley's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Do you mean the chip or the magnetic strip?

I think he means some scammer has stolen the card numbers and tried to buy stuff.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Yes, someone stole the credit card number and attempted to use them.

JackDidley · JackDidley's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

Yes, someone stole the credit card number and attempted to use them.

It happens a lot. For me, 3 times in the last few years. Two times after a purchase from a particular business. I'd say they have employee problems.

Bill Douglas · 07-30-2017, 06:47 PM

It's a bit odd if that card, with it's own number, and used only about once in five years has a problem. It sounds like someone working for the bank is lifting CC details and selling them. Let the bank's fraud department know this. I used to work for a CC company and we were particuarly keen to hear of odd sets of circumstances such as this.

RKDinOKC · RKDinOKC's Garage

Usually my dog gets ahold of my wallet and cards before they are old enough to be frauded.

LakeCleElum · 07-30-2017, 08:54 PM

Happens once or twice a year for us.......Visa calls.....Charge to buy $500 in clothing in Rominia...Ur there......No......****, we cancel your card # and send you new cards......Now we say: "Ship Overnight" we use them all the time.......They do.....Then a big hassle of changing all out accounts like Amazon, Ebay, Etc......Been going this way the last 3 or 4 years............

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

^^
Same here. But it seems to have gotten better in the last year or so. I like it that my bank flags questionable charges, but it's a pain to buy anything from overseas. I have to call the bank first.

I seldom use my Visa card, only when I'm at a place that doesn't take Amex. I bought gas in Indiana with it - first time I'd used it in months. Hours later my bank called. "We have a charge for $300 at a clothing store in California. Is it legitimate?" I paid at the pump. Not sure how they got the number.

GWN7 · 07-30-2017, 10:59 PM

Never happened to me but someone tried to buy a washing machine in Poland with my son's card. CC company caught that one and phoned him to see if he was in Poland (he wasn't).

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

I have had my CC number used a few times for weird stuff. The CC company caught it and rejected it every time. The last one was they send me a text asking to approve or deny a purchase at Merle Norman. I have never set foot in a Merle Norman store and all I know is it a "womans" store of some sort. The CC company just sends me a new card via FedEx.

One time someone was trying to buy scuba gear in Italy. I have no idea how the number gets used since the card was in my wallet the entire time.

The fraud unit seems to know my purchases. I have made some rather LARGE purchases from Pelican and they went right through. I am the treasurer for the local Porsche club region. I get to handle the bill at restaurants for the annual Christmas Party. I have bought over two grand of food at some fancy restaurants. The club payed me back of course, but my CC company was happy to pay it. They flagged as fraud an attempted purchase at the Marcy's in NYC for 15 bucks as fraud, which it was. I have bought an entire GM 350 crate engine tires, a scissor lift, and some expensive computer gear on my card and it went through no problem.

legion · 07-31-2017, 06:06 AM

There are three ways that credit card information gets stolen:

1) From the card. Think skimmers.

2) By capturing a transaction in progress. I don't know that I've heard of this, but it is possible in theory.

3) By hacking a database of CC info. Think Target. Or Home Depot.

Any of the three source can end up being resold online to someone that creates a clone card or just tries to use your info for an online purchase.

ossiblue · 07-31-2017, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

There are three ways that credit card information gets stolen:

1) From the card. Think skimmers.

2) By capturing a transaction in progress. I don't know that I've heard of this, but it is possible in theory.

3) By hacking a database of CC info. Think Target. Or Home Depot.

Any of the three source can end up being resold online to someone that creates a clone card or just tries to use your info for an online purchase.

This^^, especially #3, is responsible for a lot of the comments in this thread, IMO. Those of you who keep your cards secure, rarely use them, and suddenly find charges made in far off places are likely the victims of hacked data bases. That information is "sold" on the dark net and sometimes doesn't appear until months/years later. Who knows where an on-line merchant stores your CC data and whether or not the server has been compromised? Let's not forget that Anthem Blue Cross, a huge insurer, was hacked and personal data was stolen. When is that shoe going to drop?

Best we all do what is being done. Stay vigilant, monitor your accounts, keep your cards secure, and expect someone will try to use your account information sometime soon.