What's new

Mystery Solved!! (at least one of them)

tkradtke

tkradtke

Professional Brainstormer
Joined
Dec 28, 2009
Messages
5,906
So, we have had a huge problem with credit card fraud for the past year-ish. Someone tries to make fraudulent charges on our account and we get all new cards on average every month and a half (sometimes in as little as 2 weeks). The last time it happened, the credit card company suggested that I use their service that generates a virtual account number for online transactions... the numbers are good for only one vendor and can be one use only. I have set up a few numbers for recurring charges (like netflix and my daughter's dance), but those can only be used for the vendor specified and have a max amount that can be charged.

Last night we got the call that there had been fraud attempts on our account, but they were trying to use one of our virtual numbers so nothing had been compromised (no new cards, no charges went though, etc.). They gave us the number that they had been trying to use and now we can pinpoint which site is the issue. Prior to this, we've had NO clue whatsoever as to where the issue was happening (an online site? an actual store we visit? the pay station at the parking garage?). Turns out that it's the online ordering site for the Mexican restaurant around the corner. My son has two jobs cleaning businesses on that block on Friday evening after school... occasionally, I'll have him text me when he's almost done, I'll place an online order for dinner and he'll pick it up on his way home. We do this about once every month and a half or so.

It feels so good to finally be able to pinpoint where the fraud is happening and to finally not have to get a whole new set of cards and set up all of my recurring charges again with a new number. It was also quite satisfying to know that when a site does get compromised, all they're getting is a useless number.

Has anyone else had experience with this? I'm totally sold on virtual numbers now!
 
That's cool to be able to track it down. I haven't used a service like that. Are you going to let the restaurant know? I'd be concerned that it's been a recurring problem, and originating from one place!
 
I've never heard of virtual numbers. Very cool. We use credit cards for everything and have only had an issue with fraud about 3 times over the last 25 years. I can't imagine having to deal with that so frequently!

So glad you figured out where the problem was. I'm sure there are others who are affected as well. I hope they're able to get the site secured and/or find the person responsible!
 
What credit card company issues virtual numbers? We've had problems occasionally with fraud and stolen numbers. So glad you were able to solve this. What a mess for you!
 
The virtual numbers really are cool... this particular card is with citibank, not sure which others offer this. I'm a huge fan of them now!

I'm going to go talk to the restaurant once we're back in town. It's not their particular site, but an order processing service/site for smaller businesses that they run their orders through (think a small time GrubHub).

The whole thing was maddening... we couldn't, for the life of us, figure out where the breach was happening. The CC company just kept saying that it was likely an online retailer like Amazon or an app like Uber. But no one else I knew was having issues like us and I know they all use Amazon and Uber. Since the last set of new cards in November, I've used virtual number exclusively for online ordering and it looks like it paid off!
 
That is so crazy!! I have never had this happen before, but my mom has lots of times! I am so glad you figured out where it was coming from!
 
The virtual number thing is such a great idea! We haven't had any issues yet *knock wood*, but that would be a great option to have. Glad you were able to figure things out! What a mess!
 
Someone charged on my Amex in China last week. New credit cards right before Christmas. At least the credit card company handled it immediately for me. I'll have to check into the virtual number thing.
 
we got hit one time, but our bank was like a dog with a bone, and we just sat and watched from the sidelines as they clear the mess up. I love our bank because of that, and it is funny because the local branch of the bank has the rudest people, and I don't EVER go in to it, but the online peeps, the tops!
 
My purse was stolen in April 2014, two months after we bought our house. Almost $1000 in less than an hour as I was able to get cards cancelled. Luckily, not responsible for any of it. But i have a watch/alert on my social because my card was in my purse.
 
Good grief, Tracie, that's quite a story! I'm so glad you got to the bottom of it. I'm curious how the restaurant will handle this internally.
 
What a nightmare! We have had our debit card number stolen twice. Both times I didn't know until I went to purchase groceries and my card was delined. :/ Embarrassing! They drained our account in about 30 minutes both times. All online purchases. Luckily, our bank is great, and we were able to get all of our money back in less than a week! They told me that they are pretty certain that it was stolen at a gas pump...both times. Now, I usually go to the clerk to pay instead of swiping at the pump. Glad you were finally able to pinpoint the source of the fraud! I've never heard of the virtual numbers. Definitely something to inquire about!
 
Back
Top