HALP!!11! I'm being identity thefted!!!

[Erose999]

So I go to check my balance at my credit union's online banking website and I see a charge I don't remember making. and I look at the details and its from a Dunkin Donuts in Brooklyn, NY.

I'm in Athens, GA. I've been snowed in all week. I went out yesterday but I only used my card twice at local places.

The charges were all from the same block, except for one that was about 2 miles away:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=c+and+j+jamaican&daddr=8311+Flatlands+Avenue,+NY+11236-3505+to:Popeye%27s+Chicken+to:baskin+robins&geocode=FXJRbAIdOuqX-yGjR5QUTeY-mg%3BFZ4TbAIdYDWY-yGEibXgN-eLyw%3BFYwRbAIdlTOY-yFCEQykX8ZF8Q%3BFTsSbAIdoDSY-yG5VPfs14cwKw&gl=us&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=40.643235,-73.91833&sspn=0.039662,0.066175&ie=UTF8&z=15

A Dunkin' Donuts - $18
A deli - $60
Popeye's Chicken - $10
C and J Jamaican - $10

So far they've got me for maybe 5 charges, all at restaurants. Less than $100 total. I have more than enough in the account to cover it (unless they go crazy) so I'm not sweating it too bad.

I called Visa and canceled the card. Tried calling my credit union but no one is there because of the blizzard. Their automated service did call and ask to verify ONE of the charges, and I pressed "3" that I had not verified the charge.

When I call the Credit Union tomorrow I guess I can dispute the charges. Is there anything else I can do to ensure I don't get hit with these charges?

How does this even happen anyway? I've been snowed in all week and my debit card has never been out of my sight. Did they hack a server and get my info somehow? Was there some kind of mixup?

I am hoping this gets taken care of quickly. I've heard of this problem with the big banks before, but never credit unions.

[chrisa]

1. lol Popeye's chicken

If you're going to steal someone's money, at least go somewhere good. (j/k) ;)

[Erose999]

2. Who spends $60 at a deli anyway? Maybe if they're feeding a family I guess.

The other stuff seems like just normal purchases. Not like they have been on a shopping spree. So hopefully its just a mix up and theres not any fuckery going on.

[rbnyc]

12. A Brooklyn Deli is like a little market.

You can get all kinds of groceries and supplies.

[Uben]

3. You have reported the problem.....

.....somewhat promptly, so I don't think you are liable for any of the charges. You did exactly what you were supposed to do.

[Shagbark Hickory]

4. Don't panic!!!! This is probably NOT id theft. Someone is just using your card #.

Call your bank/union.
It doesn't matter the issuer, a card number is a card number is a card number.

[Erose999]

7. I wonder how they got my # though? could have been someone who handled the card, but I've never even

been to Brooklyn. Whoever it was would have had to get the # here in GA and then send it to someone in Brooklyn.

It could be some kind of electronic mixup, but how would that happen? Maybe they issued 2 cards with the same # or something? Its happened at 4 places in the same area, so its not like some clerk keyed it in wrong.

[Shagbark Hickory]

10. Its happened to my folks 3 times in the last two months.

Just as soon as they get a new one, another $2000 charge from walmart.

[Shagbark Hickory]

11. They trade CC numbers on the internet., BTW.

And you'd be better off, as you are about to find out, using a credit card instead of a debit card.
The protections you get with a credit card are much better. If you don't use the card for anything but for the ATM, then have them give you just an ATM card without a VISA or MC logo on it.

[handmade34]

5. happened to me

right now all you can do is alert the bank and credit companies asap! Same here - I had my card in hand but the number had been compromised and often workers at convenience stores and the like will work with the people that have gotten their hands on the numbers... no need for the card. All of my money was returned but it took a few months... I hope you get things straightened sooner

[Erose999]

6. I try to use cash at sketchy places, but I guess that could happen anywhere.

The charges don't seem like they've been on a shopping spree though.

[renate]

8. ditto the "don't panic"

This has happened to us at least three times. I don't like Citibank any more, but we've had their card for a couple of decades so we still use it, and they've caught it promptly each time and it's been fairly painless, except for having to update the card number for automatic payments for cable, etc.

Don't worry. It's an inconvenience and it's not fair, but you'll be just fine. (I think the most you could be liable for is $50, legally; we didn't have to pay a thing.)

[TroglodyteScholar]

9. How do we know you're really you?

Huh?

[Maine-ah]

13. this happened to me last August with my small town bank

bastards got about $800 out of me from my check card. Go to your banks website, the information you need is probably posted right there. I had my money back in 2 weeks, plus I filed with the sheriff's department because the purchases were plane tickets, which the airline confirmed had been used, though they wouldn't help me further than that...wouldn't even arrest the person on the other end when they landed because they "can't give out that information due to security" wtf...

anyway, as long as you report it to your bank with in 24 hours of discovering the problem you should be just fine. Print your statement and highlight all the charges that were unauthorized and bring it to your bank in the morning.

[Cleita]

14. I got identity thefted at a credit union.

The good news is that they took care of it very swiftly and to my satisfaction. Just give them as much information as you have.

[louis-t]

15. Just to be safe, if you have a checking or savings account

you might want to get new account numbers. Credit card fraud is one thing. Identity theft is Hell on Earth.

[Erose999]

16. UPDATE: talked to the credit union today

Charges will be refunded soon. They said the charges were "swipes" meaning that the card was actually swiped. So apparently someone made a duplicate of my card somehow?

Anyway, the card is canceled and a new card is on the way. Drew out some operating cash to get me by until the new card comes.

[melm00se]

18. once someone has your card number

all you need is one of these:

http://www.tyner.com/magnetic/msr_card_writer.htm

for a whopping $300 and away you go.

not overly difficult to do...it's not like it used to be when mag stripe encoders would cost in the thousands of dollars

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. This has happened to me a couple times. I bank at BOA.

And they have immediately removed the charges every time and issued me a new debit card.

This and the way they handled my stolen checkbook are the reasons I've stayed with BOA.