Thieving ******* hackers.

[johnallg]

I feel for ya Peter! We had an incident about 6 months ago where TJMaxx had their records hacked, and because we had used our VISA once there about 5 years earlier, they sent a letter saying any illegal activity would be covered and they were sending out new cards/new numbers immediately. Unfortunately I was too honest to go on a Rick buying spree and report it as illegal!

[wmthor]

About six weeks ago, I received a message from one of my MasterCards indicating a problem with the account. Instead of calling the number that was in the email, I call the number on the back of the card. Sure enough, I was told that I had used my card at a gas station, whose records had been hacked. While my card number had not been used, the account was replaced with one that had a different number. Furthermore, the new cards were overnighted to my house.

[jingle_jangle]

Very common in Brasil. I pay with cash at restaurants and gas stations when I visit there. Momma-in-law was approached by a gentleman at an ATM who engaged her in conversation (Brasilians love to talk to anyone; total strangers become friends that way...). While he had her engaged, a "friend" swapped a stolen card for hers, and she took the stolen one home in her purse. They, in turn, topped out her card and used it to swap for another in the same way the next day. And so on. It was three days before she noticed she had the wrong card.

[leftyguitars]

Regarding calling back the number on the text. I did call that number first but when asked for my identity details I told them that as far as I knew I could be calling anyone and refused to give them. They then said to call back on the number on the card, which I did.

[86kubicki]

There's a pilot project here in Canada to add a PIN component to credit cards:
http://www.itworldcanada.com/Pages/Docb ... sub=510433
It may not solve all the problems, but it should help.

[shamustwin]

On the other hand, once while in the Philippines trying to use my Amex, They wouldn't allow the store to make the charge.
I was on the phone with them for 10 minutes, and it took nearly half an hour to make the purchase. They were being proactive. I had to convince them I was me!

[rikk]

Man that stinks, Peter!! At least they contacted you early.... sometimes it turns into a real bunfight when you get the bill and query it. They're about to change VISA over here where card holders can opt for a pin number rather than signature verification. If you go for a pin you also take on full liability for bogus transactions - if you stay with a signature you retain your current limited liability.

That makes no sense. Why would anybody switch to the pin option?

[soundmasterg]

The credit card security won't get better until the companies that issue them decide to get serious about security.

If you're going overseas and want to use your card there, you can call before your trip to one of your credit card companies and let them know that you will be taking your card over to such and such a country so they know that there may be charges coming in on that card from x date to y date. Worked fine for me when I went to the philippines last year.

Greg