Credit Card scams

[Guest guest]

This is a new one.

People sure stay busy trying to cheat us, don't they?

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.

Hmm, " 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 whooping

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.

Funny enough, 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 are 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,

" assuming " 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 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

dialling.

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 then gave me back 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,

oblivious to what was really going on.

It then dawned on me: the only thing there 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 off well, because had we not had the

same kind of

phone, I probably would never have known what happened.

Needless to say, I immediately cancelled that card as I

was walking out of the pizza parlour.

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

times.

Whenever you are using your credit card 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 thing on there.

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! JUST BE AWARE

_____________

[Guest guest]

another reason to go to the bank and get cash!!!

I said dollar bills - because they cannot be stolen.

And, yes I really watch to make sure a picture of me is not being taken. But whats a woman to do??

thea

 

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