Beware- SCAM!

[nicky]

Why is it that everytime things are going smoothly in my life, something has to happen? On Saturday my husband was putting in our new living room windows when he received a text message: Your debit card has temporarily been suspended. please call to reactivate your card and pin, with a phone number listed. Well, men never listen (sorry guys, but all of us women know it's true!). I told Sean, "That's weird. I wouldn't call that number back. It just doesn't sound right. Call the customer service number on the back of your card and ask them what's going on." Well, he didn't. He called the number back and got a recording. It sounded just like the bank " Thank you for calling ... Bank. Please enter your 16 digit card number now" Which he did. "Please now enter your new pin" which he did. " Your new pin has now been activated. Thank you for addressing this matter. If you have any further problems please call again." Well, he said that he called the number on his card, just to avoid an arguement I'm sure. That night at 3am, there was a debit from his account-$1100.00! They wiped it out! So, in case anyone out there is as naive as him, BEWARE! He has since received 3 more text messages from the same place, but with different phone numbers to call back. We contacted the bank that said they will refund the money as soon as their investigation is complete, but it could take a couple of months. All the bank could tell by the debit was that the money was withdrawn in California. We also contacted the local police department, but they said there's nothing that they can do. "It happens all the time." We know 5 other people who also recieved the text messages. They all have Nextel phones also and are local to us. I hope they catch this person. I can only imagine how much money that they have scammed so far! It's enough to make me sick.:vomit: maybe next time he'll listen to me.

 

[ChinchillaSteve]

Ey! Men have their reasons

It's like ... umm women and parking. :lol:

 

[Rickman]

Even I would've been suspicious on that one!! Especially on a weekend! Banks don't use text messages to warn - they call!
There's gotta be a paper trail they can follow to nail that theft ring - hope they get them!!

 

[Brittney]

Wow, that's creepy.

Someone is using my debit card. I don't know how, but they are. They aren't using large amounts of money, but they are buying samples of diet pills, baby clothes and even a male enhancement product. Of course, it all gets shipped to my house and I'm just like wtf when I get it.

I went into the bank and asked about how my number and pin could have been stolen and the way she told me is a bit scary, and a reason why I never use it anymore.

She said that when you use your card at a gas station, or a store that doesn't have a secure computer, and that store gets robbed, the thief can easily access your number and pin, and use your number online to buy things.

The person who has my number must be an idiot. They buy things online, and of course, it gets shipped to my house since my address is the billing address for the card. You can change the address if different from the billing address, but that often times requires a phone call from the company to make sure you are actually buying it.

I'm in the process of tracking them down, and I already had my card shut off, so they can't buy anything else, but the places where they are buying things from just thinks it's me buying them, so I'm probably never going to find them. Though, the companies understand and are going to give me my money back. Total total it's only been about 200 bucks, and yes, that's still quite a bit, but I'll get it back.

And I agree, banks never text unless you have Chase and you sign up for the text feature which allows you to check your dollar amount. But still, they would never text and warn you.

 

[peachydays]

nicky, I'm sorry to hear about the texting scam. That's so weird that the police said they couldn't' do anything. You might want to try contacting your State Attorney General and seeing if they can help you get things resolved more quickly: http://www.oag.state.ny.us/resource_center/resource_center.html

Brittney, have you checked your credit report to see if they've stolen your identity?

Man, people really suck sometimes!

 

[nicky]

I just saw on the news tonight that people are also scamming others by putting trojans on their computers. Then when you do your online banking, they are stealing your info. they have also somehow made it so that the screen looks to be like your banks and it provides you with a false statement so you won't notice that they took your money. They are also withdrawing very small amounts at a time so that it is unnoticed by people.It's terrible that there is so much scum in the world. I just hope that they haven't taken some poor elderly person's money or something!

 

[nicky]

Oh yeah, Chinchillasteve: I don't have a problem parking like most women do. I have a problem with every aspect of driving. Not just parking! Get it right! LOL:neener:

 

[leer]

Oh wow, that's terrible! That is totally suspicious though, your husband should have known better. At least you get the money back though, even if it'll take a few months.

I refuse to pay with anything on my debit card, I only use it to withdraw money. Maybe that's just me being paranoid, but hey. You never know.