Friday, December 12, 2014

Credit Card Scare

So I’m sitting in my hotel room here in Vegas a few days ago, working, when an email shows up, apparently from American Express.

The subject of the email was “Fraud Protection Alert” and it said that they recently refused to authorize a charge on my AmEx card, as they suspected fraud.  They asked me to confirm that I had recently attempted to make a purchase from “Stone Mountain Park Silver Dollar.”  It was a small charge, only $12.50.

I never heard of Stone Mountain Park Silver Dollar.  Clearly, this wasn’t me.  I started to access the website included in the email to dispute it, but then stopped myself.  I knew that it there are nefarious people out there sending out “phishing” emails to steal your identity and your credit card numbers.  It looked like it was from American Express.  But the crookes are really good at making it look like their scam emails are official.

In fact, I almost fell for one a few months back.  I got something that looked like it came from PayPal, telling me my account would be deactivated if I didn’t click the link they provided and update some of my personal information.  I actually started to log onto the site when I suspected something phishy.  I called the PayPal folks and was told they had sent me no such email.  Phew.  Just to be safe, I changed my password.

So rather than use the link provided, I got my AmEx card and started calling the number on the back.  Before I finished dialing, I got a call, took it, and it was a recorded announcement, presumably from AmEx, asking me about a charge.  Now I was pretty sure it was legit, but to be safe, I hung up and called AmEx directly.

Well, indeed, they had just declined two attempts to charge something from Stony Mountain Park Silver Dollar.  Since I had my credit card with me—and there’s only one card in my name—they had somehow gotten my card number.  I wonder how?

I also wondered why they suspected that it was not me using the card. My account is in good order and they rejected it not because I was over my credit limit, but because they suspected something was wrong.  I didn’t get an answer for that, but I think the source attempting to charge my card is somewhat suspect.

But...good job, AmEx, for catching this before it resulted in a massive headache for me.

Anyway, there was no alternative but to immediately cancel my card and send me a replacement with a new card number.  Fortunately, I have other credit cards I could use until the replacement card arrived.

Of course, I won’t be home for awhile, so I had them FedEx the replacement card to the hotel where I’m staying.  And in fact, it arrived here yesterday, and I’m good to go.

Still, it’s scary, and let this be a warning to all of you.

45 comments:

  1. I've had to cancel two cards the past two years. Most recently, someone charged overseas airlines tickets on my card. The CCC takes care of it, but its always a hassle . . . including updating all recurring billings with the new card number. Although, it does give you a great opportunity to finally cut ties to any online porn sites you may have grown tired of . . .

    Oh, and two months ago, I awoke to an email from SPG informing that my request to transfer 80,000 points to my Alaskan Airlines account had been processed. Um. If only I had had an Alaskan Airlines account.

    It's crazy how often these things happen. Not sure what you can do about it, other than just keep your wealth in cash . . . and keep said cash in your sock

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    1. I think there's much wisdom in that, now that I think about it.

      So I guess everyone who doesn't have all their money in cash, in a sock, is just dumb as f---.

      Delete
    2. PPP,

      Did they use your card solely for overseas tickets, or did that include tickets from Atlantic City to Las Vegas?

      Delete
    3. Hmmm.. not sure what's better/worse keeping cash in sock or setting up recurring billing on your credit card.

      Delete
    4. Well, dkh.....it seems like you have to pick your poison.

      Delete
  2. Does Amex have a Vegas location? If so, you might be able to pick up a replacement in person.

    They have all sorts of algorithms to check for fraudulent charges. Once, when I started using an Amex card in L.A. that had only been used previously in Oregon, the gas pump declined it and my cellphone rang almost immediately to verify it was me. Ten years ago, I got a call from Chase because a $10k charge came through that was somehow marked as "novelties"; it was to pay for my Dad's funeral (I guess that's a novelty in that it usually only happens once per person).

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    1. Never thought about picking it up, but it's a good suggestion. In this case, I was fine without the card for a couple of days and since they were sending it practically to my door without any cost to me, why not take advantage of that? If it was a day or two away from my leaving town, it might have been the right option.

      I do recall that back in the day, AmEx had locations in casinos, I think you used them on occasion, if I'm not mistaken. Of course, this was in the day when we all used Traveler's Checks. Seems like a lifetime ago.

      Weird tho that Chase wouldn't recognize a mortuary. Huh.

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  3. It's an annoyance all right! I've found AMEX to be very good about getting replacement cards ASAP. I hope it doesn't persist and it's isolated to just that one credit card.

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    1. Yeah, thanks. I should thoroughly check my other cards for false charges, I guess.

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  4. Hi Rob My solution to this problem is delete all E-Mails unless I know them personally. The result I now only open your E-Mails. Just kidding but you have to be very careful these days.

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    1. So if the bad guys get ahold of my email account and email you, you're screwed? :)

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  5. Your blog posts are entirely too long...

    Chris Wyatt
    Super Official & Legitimate Representative of American Expresso

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Irony of irony, this is one my very shortest posts!

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  6. short post. another guest post?? credit card scare topic?? next blog topic idea "they got Rob's order wrong at in-out burger"

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    1. I'mma only gonna be doing short posts when I'm Vegas. Yeah, try to hold me to that.

      And remember, what happens in Vegas ends up on my blog.

      I would have done a 17 page rant if In-N-Out had screwed up my order but they got 100% correct!

      No comment on the Tina Fey bra/cleavage pic?

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    2. i was just wondering y Tina Fey?? is she a spokeperson 4 AMEX??? sooooory not a fan of her boobies/acting not a hater just like switerzland( i cant spell and 2 lazy to google it) but on a side note( nothing to do will this post) but i saw the movie" Wolf of Wall Street" last night WOW BOOOBIES!!!!!!!!! idk what was wolf about it but i am howliiiing about those boobies. u see

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    3. Yes, Tina Fey is all over television doing commercials for American Express; that is the connection. Surprised you haven't seen them.

      So you're saying that Leonardo DiCaprio shows his boobies in Wolf of Wall Street?

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    4. LOL i see what u did ,sir. he was shirtless alot

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    5. also he was straddling the right way tooooooooooo

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    6. There is no right way to straddle, as far as I'm concerned.

      OK, ok...actually there is. But it has nothing to do with poker.

      Delete
  7. I had the same thing happen to me about three weeks ago. It also was American Express, with a purchase in New Jersey. The card was swiped, too, not just a stolen number used online. They issued a new card and offered to overnight it to me. I declined that, and got it two or three days later.

    Comment on a cleavage pic on your blog? Are you kidding me?

    ReplyDelete
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    1. MOJO, that comment on a cleavage pic comment was just for anger. He usually gives a letter grade to the cleavage pics.

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    2. I just meant that you often have cleavage pics, so not unusual or worthy of a comment. Didn't come across that way, I guess.

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    3. I figure Tina Fey to more of a "B" if you know what I mean.

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  8. i think i was dumb as f---- for carrying the $4000 around on me after taking it out of my wynn safety deposit box and closing it, otherwise no way in hell could i have lost more than 1 $1000 atm withdrawal plus whatever cash i had. instead i started the day with $16,800 and ended the day with about $12,800 after paying my plane fare and fri nite and sat nights hotel for $237 and i wont even get to my hotel til like 3am.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. You dropped $4k in one day?!?!?!? That's epic! How the heck do you drop a mortgage payment like that?

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    2. Can you say Degen............That's how.

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    3. @PM that is how the Pros do it,sir. he seems to b coming to east coast .mayb u can teach him how to drive??? LOL

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    4. Tony, I was so sorry to hear of you losing $3200 at VBJ yesterday. that's just awful. I really don't understand how anyone can lose so much money on Video Poker in one day--I mean, how do you do that? It would seem even at the highest level of play, $3200 would last days at Video poker. So, so sorry.

      I really do wish you the best of luck in your newest location. I sincerely hope that you can finally conquer all your demons and make a go of it. It will take more self-discipline than you have ever shown, I hope you can somehow find it. Good luck, Tony.

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    5. me too. NOT!!!!!!. plz baby jesus .let the STUpid Unger piss off the wrong afro american, if u do this baby jesus i will sustain from smoking the reefer/taco bell till 2015. ty amen

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    6. And this is why I'm done with Tone Loc. He came over to YOUR BLOG Rob and hijacked it! Betcha he doesn't think it worthwhile to go see his mother and son for Christmas too!

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    7. Tone Luc? A rapper is trying to hijack my blog??? Never gonna happen.

      Delete
    8. @AC STUpid Unger will b working aka donking durnig the holidays

      Delete
  9. If you give your card to a waiter in any restaurant, they could take it in the back out of site, take a pic with there phone and send your card # with security code, to anywhere in the world immediately. Happened to me at Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, FL. recently. Next day i had charges on my Amex card from Brazil. Good luck and try not to let your card out of sight.

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    1. Good tip, Anony....but I only eat in those fancy restaurants where the waiter is also the cashier, and he or she always takes your card in the back room. What to do, what to do?

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  10. My oldest card has just a $500 limit. That's the one I use whenever I have to give the card to somebody else--when it's out of my physical control, like in a restaurant. I know that I'm not responsible for fraudulent charges, but (1) I want any thieves to get rewarded as little as possible, and (2) I don't put any recurring charges on that one, so it's minimal hassle to replace if compromised.

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    1. That's a great idea, Grump. I guess I should have turned down all those credit limit increases they always gave me back in the day.

      What's interesting in this case is that I had only used my AmEx card once in the past several months....and it was for professional services the day before I left L.A. It never left my sight.

      Delete
  11. "professional services" hee-hee, ho-ho; is that what they call it these days?
    Happy upcoming holidays Mr Poker.

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    1. Get your mind out of the gutter, Anony.....it was actually for a root canal. I would have preferred the other thing.

      Happy holidays to you too.

      Delete
  12. i felt nervous the last time i checked into a hotel not long ago, and the guy on the night shift behind the desk wrote down my credit card info since he couldnt get the copy machine to work.

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    1. Of course if they run the card thru the machine they have it anyway.

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  13. Hey Rob. Sorry to hear about this problem. Glad you got it sorted. I am planning a trip to Vegas in the next few weeks and wondered if you are going to be there 12/28-29? I am going to stay at the MGM. Hopefully we can play some poker!

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    1. @arniejokin: That's great, I certainly intend to be in town then....and no doubt playing at the MGM.....let me know when you get in and we can definitely arrange to meet and play.

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