Ask HN: What to do about potential credit card fraud.

#1

Post by kindly » Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 4:06 AM UTC

I received an email saying that I have bought something from store X. I did not buy it of course.

I have contacted company X about the potential fraud (they have not got back to me yet). I also asked for the password to be resent from X even though I did not make the account. I know, but probably shouldn't know, where they are sending the item.

It's getting sent to some dodgy looking unit in the US. I am from the UK by the way.

Should I do anything more about this?

Was it wrong for me to get access to the account on X?

Are there any good resources where you can find clear information about dealing with such issues?

I hope this appropriate here, I could not think of a community that would be as well informed.

PS I have checked my email account to see if anyone has logged in that was not me(they hadn't). I changed my password anyway. The security on X was bad so you did not need to confirm email.

Re: Ask HN: What to do about potential credit card fraud.

#2

Post by anigbrowl » Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 4:12 AM UTC

The retailer is not much wiser than you, all they do is enter the number to find out whether it's valid or not. Talk to your bank/card issuer, by calling the phone number printed on the back. They deal with this sort of thing all the time, and will probably straighten it out very quickly. If you run into difficulties, find a solicitor; investigating it yourself is likely to be a monumental waste of your time.

Re: Ask HN: What to do about potential credit card fraud.

#3

Post by Scott_MacGregor » Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 4:21 AM UTC

Call the bank that issued your card immediately, and tell them what happened. They will probably cancel the card number and send you new card. Give them all of the information you found out about the illicit user too. If you wait, the user may max out your credit limit and it will stay maxed out until the bank settles the disputed items.

Re: Ask HN: What to do about potential credit card fraud.

#4

Post by kindly » Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 4:25 AM UTC

anigbrowl wrote: post #2

The retailer is not much wiser than you, all they do is enter the number to find out whether it's valid or not. Talk to your bank/card issuer, by calling the phone number printed on the back. They deal with this sort of thing all the time, and will probably straighten it out very quickly. If you run into difficulties, find a solicitor; investigating it yourself is likely to be a monumental waste of your time.

It has nothing to do with my bank card. It was only the use of my email for some account. I had no account on X before this point. I imagine if they used my bank card they would use another email for the account on X and not inform me of what they have done.

I already checked with my bank to make sure no money has come out. That was the first thing I did.

Re: Ask HN: What to do about potential credit card fraud.

#5

Post by kindly » Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 4:29 AM UTC

Scott_MacGregor wrote: post #3

Call the bank that issued your card immediately, and tell them what happened. They will probably cancel the card number and send you new card. Give them all of the information you found out about the illicit user too. If you wait, the user may max out your credit limit and it will stay maxed out until the bank settles the disputed items.

That was the first thing I did. I do not think they have my card details. The bank thought that too. They just used my email address.

Re: Ask HN: What to do about potential credit card fraud.

#6

Post by patio11 » Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 4:31 AM UTC

It probably isn't credit card fraud if they didn't actually use your credit card. The most likely issue is

a) The merchant doesn't verify email addresses and

b) the customer put their email address in incorrectly

Just with a minute of checking I found a hundred accounts in my system going to yaho.com, aol.co, gmal.com, etc etc. Imagine the possibilities for fumble-fingering or misremembering the part before the at-sign.

I also asked for the password to be resent from X even though I did not make the account.

This is the very definition of "accessing a computer system without authorization", which you do not want to be caught doing.

Re: Ask HN: What to do about potential credit card fraud.

#7

Post by kindly » Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 4:38 AM UTC

patio11 wrote: post #6

It probably isn't credit card fraud if they didn't actually use your credit card . The most likely issue is a) The merchant doesn't verify email addresses and b) the customer put their email address in incorrectly Just with a minute of checking I found a hundred accounts in my system going to yaho.com, aol.co, gmal.com, etc etc. Imagine the possibilities for fumble-fingering or misremembering the part before the at-s…

>This is the very definition of "accessing a computer system without authorization", which you do not want to be caught doing.

I realised this after the fact. I do not know if there is anything I can do to make amends for this.

Re: Ask HN: What to do about potential credit card fraud.

#8

Post by anigbrowl » Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 5:38 AM UTC

kindly wrote: post #4

anigbrowl wrote: post #2

The retailer is not much wiser than you, all they do is enter the number to find out whether it's valid or not. Talk to your bank/card issuer, by calling the phone number printed on the back. They deal with this sort of thing all the time, and will probably straighten it out very quickly. If you run into difficulties, find a solicitor; investigating it yourself is likely to be a monumental waste of your time.

It has nothing to do with my bank card. It was only the use of my email for some account. I had no account on X before this point. I imagine if they used my bank card they would use another email for the account on X and not inform me of what they have done. I already checked with my bank to make sure no money has come out. That was the first thing I did.

Then why did your title say 'credit card fraud'? Where does the credit card come into the story?

Re: Ask HN: What to do about potential credit card fraud.

#9

Post by kindly » Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 5:51 AM UTC

anigbrowl wrote: post #8

kindly wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It has nothing to do with my bank card. It was only the use of my email for some account. I had no account on X before this point. I imagine if they used my bank card they would use another email for the account on X and not inform me of what they have done. I already checked with my bank to make sure no money has come out. That was the first thing I did.

Then why did your title say 'credit card fraud'? Where does the credit card come into the story?

I said "potential credit card fraud". Sorry for the confusion. The potential fraud is not being done to me. I just wanted to know what I should do if I suspected it.

Re: Ask HN: What to do about potential credit card fraud.

#10

Post by anigbrowl » Sat, Nov 20, 2010, 6:53 AM UTC

kindly wrote: post #9

anigbrowl wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then why did your title say 'credit card fraud'? Where does the credit card come into the story?

I said "potential credit card fraud". Sorry for the confusion. The potential fraud is not being done to me. I just wanted to know what I should do if I suspected it.

OK, that makes more sense. I guess it's hard to fully explain a situation in an Ask HN post.