M
Mookie
Guest
I obtained an email from work. Here is a good info about how to protect your Credit Card!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SCENE 1. This is a new one. A friend went to the local gym and placed
his belongings in the locker. After the workout and a shower, he came
out, saw the 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 was 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 report the card
missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them. 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
down 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, "assuming" 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
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
themThift
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SCENE 1. This is a new one. A friend went to the local gym and placed
his belongings in the locker. After the workout and a shower, he came
out, saw the 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 was 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 report the card
missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them. 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
down 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, "assuming" 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
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
themThift
