Credit Card Early Warning Fraud Calls uptick???

[ultrarunner]

Maybe it's just me...

Anyone else getting an uptick of calls to verify purchases?

This morning's (New Year's Day) early wake up call was from Discover about a $9.45 charge from December 27th made at a lunch place across the street from work that I visit maybe twice a month...

Last night I was buying ice cream for the family and a $17 charge was declined... called the company when I got home and they said all was good...

The day before I used another card to fill up the gas tanks of three cars before the new added carbon gasoline tax goes into effect and that credit card company called too...

Maybe it's just because of the Holidays or maybe something is going on in the world of credit cards?

Funny thing is all the charges or attempted charges are from establishments I frequent...

 

[two_bit_score]

Aren't you glad Big Brother has your back?

 

[doxford jim]

I would be wary of fraud and would be glad that the credit card company is being vigilant on your behalf. I have had charges against my account that I knew nothing about. A call to the credit card company and the charges were checked and denied.
Yes, I do think that attempted credit card fraud is increasing and I wouldn't put it past an employee trying to increase his/her business commission or whatever they use to boost their income. Not too many people I trust with my money these days - even the banks try it on once in a while too.

 

[Bird]

Nope, haven't gotten any calls lately. I think they're supposed to notify me anytime a charge of $300 or more is made, and they used to call, but the last year or so they've just sent an e-mail.

Several years ago, I charged over a thousand at a hospital and they called my cell phone before I got out of the building.:laughing:

And very rarely am I asked for ID when using a credit card, but yesterday the clerk at Bed, Bath and Beyond asked for ID for a $21.64 purchase.

 

[two_bit_score]

Chase Bank has a system where they will send a text message to your phone at the time of a transaction. So you can get a text from Chase before you get out of the cafe.

 

[ultrarunner]

Have not been asked for ID since I can't remember when...

Buying gas 3 times in a 24 hour period seems to always set off red flags... sometimes with multiple vehicles... they all approach empty at the same time.

Lots of folks were topping off yesterday with the new carbon fuel tax going into effect today... some say anywhere from 15 cents to 75 cents more per gallon...

I think I will give my Discover Card a break for awhile... 3 calls in 12 hours over a less than $10 charge and a less than $20 charge.

Don't own a cell... have one for work which is monitored that it is used for only work... and somedays... that can be 10 or more calls... just about all of my co-workers turned in the clunky company cells and just use their personal phones...

My gripe with cell phones is they simply don't work in my little corner of the city... so why have one.

Have noticed just about everyone wants your cell number and get several requests each year from credit card companies to update my information by adding my cell...

Nothing to update... same home phone number since 1969... and it's a rotary dial too!... which plays havoc with all the press 1 and press two robocalls...

 

[two_bit_score]

Real pain is when you have several recurring charges set up for auto pay on your card and that company cancels/reissues a new card number because of a security breach and all the recurring payments have to be reset with the new number.

 

[ultrarunner]

Real pain is when you have several recurring charges set up for auto pay on your card and that company cancels/reissues a new card number because of a security breach and all the recurring payments have to be reset with the new number.

I had to go through this twice... only shopped Target one time and that was enough and then again with Home Depot...

 

[dmccarty]

No uptick in CC card calls to verify purchases.

I did get a call months ago after the Target break in when the wifey had gone shopping in a city we normally do not go to. Key word normally. The city is still within 30-60 minutes drive, like the places we usually go to, but I got a call about her trying to use the CC. What I found funny about the call is that a found very obvious fraudulent charges on that same card from NY state, for far more money that in the local charge, and I was NOT called. Go figure. The CC company quickly removed the charges but it seemed like they knew this company was a problem which begs the question why did not I NOT get a call? :confused3:

What really ticks me off is having to present ID to the bank teller to deposit money..... If I go to the ATM machine I can withdrawal money without a photo ID but I have to prove who I am to make a deposit? :confused3:

Later,
Dan

 

[ultrarunner]

On mom's last trip to Germany... she called her credit card company to advise the dates and countries she would be visiting... she had only one card an ATT Visa or Master... don't know which one and it also doubled as a calling card.

Anyway... I checked her messages at her home and there was a Fraud Alert call on her answering machine two days after she left that said her card was blocked and she needed to contact them immediately with a case number.

I called from her phone and they would not discuss anything with me... told them to read their files as she told them she was traveling... did no good and she couldn't use her calling card.

To make a long story short... she had a great trip and ended up borrowing some cash from someone else on the trip...

When she came home she immediately called the AT&T to cancel... they offered just about everything to keep her... she asked the person on the phone if he thought her to be an idiot because only an idiot would put themselves in that situation again... I cancelled my ATT card too.

Now she is a authorized user on two of my cards...

I still hear my Depression era Grandmother railing against charge plates as she called credit cards.... she paid cash and on rare occasions wrote a check... even celebrating a family banquet she brought four $100 bills with her to pay the bill... if she only would know now that businesses here in Oakland California no longer accept $100 bills!