FW: Tips for credit card use./ BEWARE

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"Suresh Nimbalkar" <sbnimbalkar, "raj sekar pillai"

<rajsekarpillaiFW: Tips for credit card

use./ BEWARE30/03/05 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!