[pooh]

There has been discussion by a number of posters about unauthorized use of their credit cards. Some cards have alert programs that will inform you when your card is used. Whenever my card is used, an e-mail message is sent to me. Works well. Not sure if this is available with all cards, but if it is for yours, could be worth checking out.

[missypie]

my AMEX card was used for several luxury vacations. NOT US! AMEX denied these and called us ASAP. We now have a new card.

[asianthree]

i use amx for that reason i know they are watching my account and if something goes wrong they fix it

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Citi monitors their card usage big-time, trying to prevent fraud. Anytime we take an out-of-town trip, we call them to let them know our schedule and locales. If we don't, there's high likelihood they'll shut the cards off when they start to notice the different-than-normal pattern. It's happened to us before so I always give them a call before we head out of town.

Bill

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Bill-n-Brillo

Citi monitors their card usage big-time, trying to prevent fraud. Anytime we take an out-of-town trip, we call them to let them know our schedule and locales. If we don't, there's high likelihood they'll shut the cards off when they start to notice the different-than-normal pattern. It's happened to us before so I always give them a call before we head out of town. Bill

We're traveling to Spain in Sept. I hadn't thought about notifying our credit card company. Thanks for the suggestion.

[uujudy]

Discover Card's fraud department notified me today that someone tried to use my card at Dick's Sporting Goods in Utah. Hahahah. Poor embarrassed Honeyboy had to use another card for his purchase.

[buzzy]

We have two Bank of America cards. I have turned on "card not present" alerts, to get email notification. It is very interesting to see our on-line purchases, prescription refills, and such. So, I would expect to get timely notification of fraudulent use.

[2BNTV]

So I'm reading this thread and saying what a good idea to call my credit card to verify this feature is available. I was informed this feature was already in place. Life is good.

[buzzy]

Originally Posted by buzzy

We have two Bank of America cards. I have turned on "card not present" alerts, to get email notification. It is very interesting to see our on-line purchases, prescription refills, and such. So, I would expect to get timely notification of fraudulent use.

One just came in for a magazine renewal that I put the card number on

[batman911]

After my recent visit to TV my card was compromised. I was in the office early (4:30AM) and alerts started poping up in my email about charges to my card. Started with $1.00 at some online store. Then a little more at Netflix. First they test the card number with a small amount to see if it works. Then they get bold and go for it all. I immediately called the bank fraud department and shut down the card so they got nothing. I hope they paid a lot of money for that card number. I suspect the card number was collected at a restaurant in TV. I will not name the business since I have no proof, only suspicions.

[Virtual Geezer]

The credit card alert was mentioned a few months ago here on TOTV so I decided to check with my bank to see if the alert was available. They said yes and I went online and signed up. It has been working great but I don't always have my phone on so I get the alerts the next time the phone is turned on. Well today I had the phone on and decided to stop and get gas for the truck. I swiped the card and before I could connect the hose to the tank and select the grade of gas I wanted the phone was alerting me to a new e-mail. I checked and the alert was for the transaction that I was just starting. Now that was fast.

VG

[villager]

Great Information! I just set up alerts on our accounts. Thank you!

[Rbgold]

Another thing to make sure to do if traveling aboard with a debit card is to notify your bank of your impending trip. We use PNC and were told that this could prevent your account from being frozen if they aren't able to contact you while abroad or traveling a distance from your home base.

[Sable99]

This happened to my 88 year old Mother just last week! Bank of America called her to see if we were moving to Texas. Someone had called them and said they had lost their card (which was really Mom's card) and wanted a new card sent to Texas!! BoA told us it came to their attention because the people said they were deaf and Mom didn't have a deaf alert on her account! The weird thing is this was a card that was still on the bank's original paperwork, in a safe place and had never been activated.

I also always call my credit card company when we travel out of the country.

[Pturner]

I do notify my card companies of travel, but did not know about the email alert feature. I'll check into it and sign up if available. Thanks, Pooh.

I wish more restaurants would go to hand-held scanners for wait staff taking your payment. It would accomplish two things:

• Server wouldn't have to bring the check, collect the card, take the card to the register to process, then bring the card and check back, saving time for both server and patron. T
• Help prevent theft by allowing the card to stay within sight of the patron at all times. It doesn't help the restaurants business for staff to steal credit card information. Not only do they lose patrons, but if/when staff is caught, they have to hire and train another new employee.