Fraudulent Credit Card Activity
 

:censored: My wife and I have been using major credit cards for fifty years and in all that time only ever had one card compromised. Since moving here three years ago one of our cards including today has had to be shut down for fraudulent activity twice. We only ever use it locally and once in a while in Orlando or Ocala, but do use it for most everything we buy including on-line purchases.
I'm curious if any one else has experienced this situation since moving. Maybe it's just a societal thing that just caught up with us, but it is very annoying. Fortunately, we monitor our statements on line almost on a daily basis and would recommend based on our experience that everyone else do so as well.

Fraudulent Credit Card Activity
 

I used to travel as part of my job. I experienced more credit card fraud traveling than I have since I moved to TV. You do have to watch out for card skimmers at some gas stations around here though. And the internet is rife with fraud. One thing I did was to set up my credit cards to text/email me when I am not present when a card is used. This is especially good when using a card on line. If your card is used, and it was not you, you'll find out almost immediately.


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It really is helpful to set your cc accounts up online, because then you can sign up for email notifications. I know exactly when transactions are charged to both our Visa and Amex. My husband laughs that I track him through credit card notifications from the liquor store to Winn-Dixie to leaving for home.

I once managed to stop a $2000 fraud charge by calling Visa immediately after receiving the notification. They called the store, which hadn't sent the merchandise yet, and stopped the purchase. For some reason that kept us from having to shut the card down, which was good because we were getting ready to travel.

We haven't had more fraud on our accounts since moving to TV than we had during travel or living inn Michigan or PA. Off topic, I wonder if TV attracts more scam artists because it's a retirement community.

I went online and set up an "ALERT" to notify me by email anytime a transaction is made for more than 5 dollars. So, I get an instant email from the bank for almost all of my transactions. I get a lot of emails, but I just delete them. It's very easy and convenient. I do this for my credit card, my checking account and my investment accounts.

Sometimes cards are canceled and reissued without a fraud perpetrated. We used a card recently twice at the same place on the same day and that threw up a red flag. Our card was canceled and reissued in spite of us calling and reassuring the bank it was us using the card. We agreed with their better safe than sorry stance. Text or email alert on card use is the way to go.
I might add, thieves can obtain card numbers with hand held skimmers in restaurants, stores, etc. And they have technology to drive through neighborhoods, hack into WiFi accounts, and steal personal data. It's not always the server(s) doing the stealing, though sometimes it is.

I once had a card get compromised within an hour of activating it.
It turns out that they don't need to steal your card number, just guess it.
In some overseas areas they generate thousands of potentially valid card numbers and test them by having a computer program try to make a 99 cent charge on iTunes or some other software download. When they find one that works, they'll run some charges through at $49.99 which doesn't require a signature, and hope that you don't notice.

I also get an instant alert when I use my credit card. A few months ago I was standing in my house when I got an alert that $200 was charged at a store in Gainsville. I immediately called the CC company. When I was talking to them I got an alert for a $6 charge at a fast food restaurant. I was holding my credit card in my hand. They immediately canceled my card.
I find it interesting that they create a credit card.... they're not just using your CC# to make an online purchase.

Yes 3 times in 4 years on 2 different credit cards.

Beware of gas stations directly off of I=75, especially the Sunoco near Bushnell and in the Villages--the Murphy Oil across from Walmart-I had a card skimmed at both of them

When ever we travel we used the shell cards we get from Publix, we save them for traveling only.

So do we. We typically pay in cash, but when traveling and especially at night, cash at a gas station is a PITA!

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