Unauthorised Card Use

DumfriesDik

Senior member
 SW Scotland
I woke this morning to see that I a text message from my bank - Did I spend over £4000 in one transaction on the internet last night?

A quick call to the bank the payment not authorised and the card has been cancelled. Quite happy with the inconvenience of that than trying to get £4k back.

It's nice when the system works isn't it?

Phew
 
Yeah, anti-fraud systems are really very sophisticated nowadays. I once got a call asking if I was in Colombo in Sri Lanka trying to get cash out of an ATM when I was sitting at home on the sofa. My card had been cloned. I've also been contacted when they've spotted a transaction which seems to be out of pattern that's actually valid - usually by text, and it's been allowed to proceed when I confirm that it's me trying to make the payment.
 
Which you didn't actually buy ? People cloning cards will often put through at least one small transaction to test if the card is valid before hammering it. Certain transactions come in under alert thresholds, and to police them all just doesn't work for either the issuer or the card holder.
 
I'll second the excellent work of the banks (HSBC) fraud department, Mrs Marlon had a similar call from the bank over an attempted transaction at a motel in the States. Card was cancelled and account was secured. Impressive stuff.
 
Every time I try to access my Vodafone account on-line, they now send me a text with a security code that has to be used to sign in. Mrs. O has the same.

A few years ago someone accessed my account and ordered all manner of phones and tablets. Vodafone security called me to check and I confirmed it wasn't me. They were going to allow the delivery to be made and organised a sting operation. SE23 if I remember. I hope they got the scum bags but it didn't cost me a thing. I wonder if that is why I have to go via this texted code these days.
 
Amex have a great system that sends a notification to my phone every time I use it.
I think it's through the app.
Just comes up with the retailer and the amount within milliseconds of me using it
Eg - John Lewis £55.00
Why doesn't my Visa and MC not do the same?
Seems pretty simple enough and would stop anyone trying it more than once.
 
TopDMC said:
Amex have a great system that sends a notification to my phone every time I use it.
I think it's through the app.
Just comes up with the retailer and the amount within milliseconds of me using it
Eg - John Lewis £55.00
Why doesn't my Visa and MC not do the same?
Seems pretty simple enough and would stop anyone trying it more than once.

It's not Visa or MCs fault, it's the bank or financial company that issues it. I have Visa cards with Natiowide and I can set up alerts for when I withdraw or spend on them. I choose not to as I use my internet banking app several times a day but the tech is there is just finding a company that uses it. Saying that these are 'opt-in' services and may now be avalible with the companies you use, they've just not made you aware possibly.

It's a bit like ApplePay. That too also gives you a pop up from your bank to tell you that you've spent X in this place at this time. I get a text and a email too. Overkill
 
Denis O said:
Every time I try to access my Vodafone account on-line, they now send me a text with a security code that has to be used to sign in.
I have the exact same system on my PayPal account. The text normally comes through is seconds, and it's well worth it for the peace of mind.
 
I was in St Lucia a few years back and as usual hand over your credit card on arrival "for incidental charges" Before the hols were over got a call from Amex asking if I had spent over £1,000 researching my family tree in the UK.

Lets say it wasn't difficult to trace the culprit as he had left all his research on Ancestry website.

One tip, never hand over your credit card at a hotel reception on arrival. They then have your card, security code and a copy of your signature.
 
Back
Top Bottom