FW: FW: Tips for credit card use./ BEWARE

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas:

Though the subject does not belong to the mission statement of "Sri Ranga

Sri", it has been received from Sri R. Rajagopalan Swami (Eyetex) who is a

member of the Board of Advisory Consultants of SDDS and SRS and is well

intentioned to guard

your interests. Please read through the same and caution your friends also.

Moderator

======================================================

 

>RR <rr

>andavan

>andavan

>CC: r_sv

> FW: Tips for credit card use./ BEWARE

>Thu, 31 Mar 2005 07:30:43 -0600

R Rajagopal

New 76 Old 82 Dr.Ranga Road

Mylapore, Chennai 600004

India

Ph 91 44 2499 6561 - (H)

Ph 91 44 5210 7529 - (H)

Ph 91 44 2249 1971 - (Factory)

Mobile 91 94440 57848

 

 

 

--------

"Dhanasekaran, Radhakrish S.R." <sdhanase

"Ram Kumar G" <grkonweb, "ram"

<ram, "ravi" <ravi, "Ravi,

Mallika ." <rmallika, "rr" <rr,

"Suresh" <Suresh, "Suresh Nimbalkar"

<sbnimbalkar, "raj sekar pillai"

<rajsekarpillai

FW: Tips for credit card use./ BEWARE

30/03/05 17:09

 

 

Someone sent me this and it sounds so true.

 

 

 

SCENE 1

 

A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in the locker.

 

After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and

thought to himself, "Funny, I thought I locked the locker. Hmmmmm."

 

He dressed and just flipped the wallet to make sure all was in order.

Everything looked okay -- all cards were in place.

 

A few weeks later his credit card bill came -- a whopping bill of $14,000!

He called the credit card company and started yelling at them, saying that

he did not make the transactions. Customer care personnel verified that

there was no mistake in the system and asked if his card had been stolen.

 

"No," he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled out the credit card, and

yep - you guessed it -- a switch had been made. An expired similar credit

card from the same bank was in the wallet. The thief broke into his locker

at the gym and switched cards.

 

Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not report the card

missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them. How much did

he have to pay for items he did not buy? $9,000!

 

Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped? Small amounts

rarely trigger a "warning bell" with some credit card companies. It just so

happens that all the small amounts added up to big one!

 

SCENE 2

 

A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card. The bill

for the meal came, he signed it, and the waitress folded the receipt and

passed the credit card along. Usually, he would just take it and place it

in his wallet or pocket. This time though, he actually took a look at the

card and, lo and behold, it was the expired card of another person.

 

He called the waitress and she looked perplexed. She took it back,

apologized, and hurried back to the counter under the watchful eye of the

man. All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave the wrong

expired card to the counter cashier, and the counter cashier immediately

looked down and took out the real card. No exchange of words nothing! She

took it and came back to the man with an apology.

 

Verdict: Make sure the credit cards in your wallet at yours. Check the

name on the card every time you sign for something and/or the card is taken

away for even a short period of time. Many people just take back the credit

card without even looking at it, thinking that it has to be theirs.

 

FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH TIME

IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!

 

SCENE 3

 

Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I had

called in. I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is linked

directly to my checking account. The young man behind the counter took my

card, swiped it, then laid it flat on the counter as he waited for the

approval, which is pretty standard procedure.

 

While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialing. I noticed

the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing seemed out of the

ordinary. Then I heard a click that sounded like my phone sounds when I take

a picture.

 

He gave me my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he was still

pressing buttons. Meanwhile, I'm thinking: I wonder what he is taking a

picture of. It then dawned on me: the only thing there was was my credit

card, so now I'm paying close attention to what he is doing. He set his

phone on the counter, leaving it open. About five seconds later, I heard the

chime that tells you that the picture has been saved. Now I'm standing

there struggling with the fact that this boy just took a picture of my

credit card. Yes, he played it well, because had we not had the same kind of

phone, I probably would never have known what happened. Needless to say, I

immediately canceled that card as I was walking out of the pizza parlor.

 

All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times. Whenever

you are using your credit cards, take caution and don't be careless. Notice

who is standing near you and what they are doing when you use your card. Be

aware of phones because many have a camera phone these days. When you are

in a restaurant and the waiter/waitress brings your card and receipt for you

to sign, make sure you scratch the number off.

 

Some restaurants are using only the last four digits, but a lot of them are

still putting the whole number on the receipt. I have already been a victim

of credit card fraud and believe me, it is not fun. The truth is that they

can get you even when you are careful, but don't make it easy for them.

 

FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN THINK OF. LET'S GET THE WORD OUT!