Credit card/ID theft: Be careful!

[techreef]

Sorry to be a downer, but this just happened to me. I've been doing quite a bit of online shopping while setting up my tank, and somebody working at one of the vendors took my credit card number and went on a spending rampage. Due to the communal nature of this hobby, we deal with vendors both huge and small (1-3 people). I've done business with something like 9 different vendors and hobbyists in the last 2 months, so it's going to be difficult in nailing down who did this to me. I won't give more details about it, as I would really like to find this person (in a dark alley). I've only used my credit card to buy stuff for my tank, so I know it's a aquatics-related vendor.

Be careful people! Make sure you keep an eye on your monthly statements. Now I also have to check my credit report for the next year or two to make sure this thief doesn't open new accounts that mail directly to him/her using my info (he has my mailing address and phone number from when I submitted my info online to buy something).

 

[inkblue]

i wouLD reaLLy like to knoW who did tHis... i couLd be buYing from tHis individuaL

sorry to heaR about this.

 

[House of Laughter]

techreef,

Sorry to hear about this and MAN! What a downer

If you need additional help in that alley, LMK - I could use the release

House

 

[techreef]

inkblue, I hear you. if I or my credit card company figure out which vendor did this, I will definitely let y'all know. they don't deserve to be in business. i do investigations professionally for my job, so I plan on looking into this as much as possible.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I agree with ink it could be someone we might order from online as well. If you don't wanna post in public could you send it to us in PM's? Thanks

 

[House of Laughter]

I love forensic accounting - get em !

H

 

[techreef]

thanks House. having somebody named "House" in the alley w/ me would definitely be a good thing! ha! They don't have to know you're linked to HOF...

 

[inkblue]

good :thanks: i deSpise peopLe who get oFF on taKing others' hard earned money !

 

[aaron23]

wow sorry that this had to happen to you. Could you name all of the the vendors which you had dealt with?
Aaron

 

[inkblue]

I agree with ink it could be someone we might order from online as well. If you don't wanna post in public could you send it to us in PM's? Thanks

sCrew that... poSt the baStard and lEt him do the perP waLk wHy hidE a criminaL

 

[techreef]

I just found out about this this AM, so give me a little time to get things organized. I don't want to unnecessarily smear all the terrific vendors that I've bought from, so I'd like to at least narrow things down to a few suspects. I may then PM that list to you guys. But I'm hesitant to hurt anybody innocent. No need for one jerk to ruin things for other vendors doing the right thing.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

sCrew that... poSt the baStard and lEt him do the perP waLk wHy hidE a criminaL

i think there are legal reasons why he can't post it publicly. i may be wrong

 

[aaron23]

why cant he post suspected ...... businesses its just what he thinks. I bet it would be fine if it was done through pm.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Scarf once he has proof there is nothing saying he can't tell people who it is. I think he is using god judgement in waiting to find out who the culprit is first and not posting a list of who it could be but waiting for who it is.

He might want to keep it private for a few days just because he might not want the moron to run and hide.

 

[DEEPWATER]

Sry to hear that Tech reef
One of the reason i got into the business is becuase of all the fishy things ppl do ,I do hope you find them and do what has to be done ,in the legal route .Put them behind bars ,crime never pays ,also im sure if they did this to you they did it to others

good luck

Ronen

 

[vanceny]

Yea, goodluck to you. I'm sure all of us here at MR would like to know. Keep us posted.

 

[House of Laughter]

Tell us what you know, not what you think.

tech - good luck with your forensics

House

 

[Pedro]

Been there done that. I was a victim myself. You have to put an alert on your credit report, so that means you need to contact all three. Once the alert is on, they have to call you direct before any other accounts are approved. Also they might require a police report, as in my case.

Unfortunately, most of the time the police dept doesn't bother, that's what insurance is for. Unless it goes over $10,000, at which point the FBI can get involved.

I hope you catch this SOB, hope he goes to Jail. Keep in mind that by you going after him, you are also protecting the next guy in line.

Best of luck. Keep us updated.

 

[techreef]

Thanks everyone. Of course I'll let everyone know what I find out so no one else gets screwed. Pedro, do you mean that I need to call one of the three credit report agencies? (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax) I've already notified the CC company involved. Could you clarify that? Thanks!

 

[Falco]

I had my CC # stolen/used 2 weeks ago too. I keep my limit low on this card so when I got a call from the CC company asking if I was making $16,000 worth of purchases in the past week I had them cancel the card.

Most if not all of my purchases online are for aquarium related products but I have a feeling someone intercepted the CC info rather than an employee of a company using my info. But then again ya never know!