Cattle Rack Rancher
Well-known member
CREDIT CARDS
>
>SCENE 1
>A friend went to the local gym and
>placed his belongings in the locker. After the workout and a shower, he came
>out, sawthe locker open, and thought to himself, "Funny, I thought I
>locked the:locker. Hmmmmm."
>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 as 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 eport the card
>missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to hem. 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 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 is 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, thinking 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 flat 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 dialing. 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
>canceled that card as I was walking out of the pizza parlor. All I am
>saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times. Whenever you are
>using your credit cards, 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.
>
>SCENE 1
>A friend went to the local gym and
>placed his belongings in the locker. After the workout and a shower, he came
>out, sawthe locker open, and thought to himself, "Funny, I thought I
>locked the:locker. Hmmmmm."
>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 as 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 eport the card
>missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to hem. 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 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 is 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, thinking 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 flat 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 dialing. 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
>canceled that card as I was walking out of the pizza parlor. All I am
>saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times. Whenever you are
>using your credit cards, 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.
