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I had the pleasure of opening my credit card statement yesterday only to find over $9000 in fraudulent charges made to a company in Houston. I am working on sorting this out with the credit card company. I tried to contact the business to let them know they were a victim also, but no one ever answers the phone. I'm getting the feeling the company is not real.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone in Houston might be able to take a drive past this place to see if it is actually a legitimate business (this location is supposedly their warehouse according to the website). The company is located near the intersection of Richmond Ave and S. Shepherd Dr., just a few blocks North of the 59 Expressway (according to google maps). If anyone travels in this area and would be willing to take a look, please send me a PM and I'll give you the exact address and details (I don't want to give the company bad PR if they were a victim as well).

Dave

I'll be in that area in about 2-3 hours. PMing you now.

PM sent.

$9,000

The rest of us (I) might like to know the name of the company so we can be looking for it on our (my) statement.

Let us know what you find out.

-Cain

Just a coincidence?

I just got hit last week for 677.xx on my debit card that I did not authorize. The business was supposedly an airline called Compagine National (French Airline). I was alerted to the charge and canceled the card and waited to see if it would actually post in the next few days.

While I was waiting, there was a number associated with the charge and I called it (in Houston). I got a male and when asked if this was Compagine National, I was told that they had not had that office for over 2 years and it was now the Dept. of Homeland Security!

Anyway, the charge dropped off my account after 3-4 days without posting, but immediately dropping off, another charge for a slightly lesser amount (only cents less) actually posted to my account under the name of "RAM VAD MAROE". There was no contact information at all available on this one! Well, had to go down to the Bank and dispute this one and am waiting now to get the money back from the Bank.

I want to post a tip for anyone that shops online.

Use a credit card and NOT a DEBIT card online..never, never use a debit card online. Your bank account can get wiped out in a hurry, but when you use a credit card you at least have time to disupt the charges; with a debit card you don't get that luxury(time).

-Cain

CainA wrote:I want to post a tip for anyone that shops online.

Use a credit card and NOT a DEBIT card online..never, never use a debit card online. Your bank account can get wiped out in a hurry, but when you use a credit card you at least have time to disupt the charges; with a debit card you don't get that luxury(time).

-Cain

A debit card does not work like a debit card online.
A debit card works like a credit card online and is protected the same as a credit card.

The only way a debit card could be used immediately as a debit card is from actual use at point of sale (with PIN).

AEA wrote:

CainA wrote:I want to post a tip for anyone that shops online.

Use a credit card and NOT a DEBIT card online..never, never use a debit card online. Your bank account can get wiped out in a hurry, but when you use a credit card you at least have time to disupt the charges; with a debit card you don't get that luxury(time).

-Cain

A debit card does not work like a debit card online.
A debit card works like a credit card online and is protected the same as a credit card.

The only way a debit card could be used immediately as a debit card is from actual use at point of sale (with PIN).

To further this, your Visa or Mastercard Debit card is given the SAME protection from Visa and MC as ANY credit card. That means that you ARE NOT responsible for fraudulent charges.

Recently I used my debit card to check in to a hotel. When got to the room it was less than satisfactory, so I asked for a different room. The new room was worse, so I went to the desk and told them I was leaving and please refund my card. They refused, so the next day I called my banks customer service, explained the situation, and within 2 days the money was back in my account. Exactly the same process as with a credit card.

dcphoto wrote:To further this, your Visa or Mastercard Debit card is given the SAME protection from Visa and MC as ANY credit card. That means that you ARE NOT responsible for fraudulent charges.

The question is how long will it take to recover money if there was a fraudulent charge? In your situation, it happened quickly, because you acted immediately. With fraudulent charges, sometimes you don't find out for a while, and by then it's too late - your checking account is empty. And then I'm curious how long it would take Visa or whoever to "refresh" your checking acct?

But I, too, use a Visa Check Card for online purchases, although I keep telling myself that I've got to change this habit.

From the VISA website:

Visa’s cardholder protection policy requires all financial institutions issuing Visa products to extend provisional credit for losses from unauthorized card use within 5 business days of notification of the loss.

http://usa.visa.com/personal/security/v ... ility.html

Take note that this protection does NOT cover transactions using your PIN number. You are only protected by VISA when you use your debit card as a credit card. If the fraud happens with a PIN number then it will depend on your banks policy.

dcphoto wrote:From the VISA website:

Visa’s cardholder protection policy requires all financial institutions issuing Visa products to extend provisional credit for losses from unauthorized card use within 5 business days of notification of the loss.

http://usa.visa.com/personal/security/v ... ility.html

The key is to use the debit card like a credit card. If you use it at a point of sale, select Credit when you slide the card. It will then process through the same system as a credit card. If you use it as a debit card, and enter your PIN, you do not necessarily receive the same protections.

I received a Provisional Credit posted to my account last night for the fraudulent charge. This was within 5 days of my filing a dispute for the charge.

I had a similar experience a couple of weeks ago, though only for $25. The supposed charge was from CRAIGSLIST.CA. I called the bank, and had a provisional refund within 3 business days. I simply had to fill out some paperwork for the dispute, and send it back to them.

Take it from the banker; use your CC on line NEVER debit.

The protections in place are not the issue (yes more or less the same). It’s that the debit is tied to your bank account. If they clean you out, the money is GONE and stays gone while you dispute. So if you have bill or checks you have written tuff luck. Now the bank will probably make it right but not same day. There will be a delay in your funds. What if the check bounces before you know the damage? You’ll get fees on the other end.

And lots of banks procedure will be to close your account and re-open another,,, this will mess up all your auto everything.

Any one who thinks a debit card is ok online because it has the same protections….has never dealt with cleaning up a fraud.

It just opens a lot of headaches that are avoided with a CC.

To take it a step forward, I suggest you use a dedicated CC, one you only use online so it’s easy to see fraud.