I Have To Give Them Credit; If I Don't, They'll Just Steal It
Did you know that "VISA" is an acronym? It is. It stands for Virtual Identity, Sans Autograph...or, at least, that is what it should be.
Just on a fluke, Robin was looking over our credit card statement. We are about to take a long needed vacation and wanted to make sure that we could use our VISA while we were cruising the Pacific Northwest. While scanning the charges on our bill like a Costco employee itemizing your receipt, she spotted something that didn't look right. There were charges at Union 76 gas stations for amounts that made us look like we owned a Hummer (or, at least a Hummer2). Every three days, there is was again. What went on for 18 days totaled almost $400 in gas that had not been pumped into our vehicle.
After calling up our bank and informing them of this, they were great and took the charges off (we still have to file a fraud report), and closed out our credit card. They informed us that it usually takes about 5 to 7 days to receive the new cards in the mail, but since our number was compromised and not lost, they would put a rush on it and we would get it in the mail on Wednesday (2 days). It was at this time that Robin and I realized that we had a hold on our cruise, and it had to be paid for by Tuesday or we would lose the room. Not to mention, we also had not purchased airline tickets to get to the city where the ship was originating. The timing was impeccable.
We decided to take it upon ourselves and do our own investigating. We figured our credit card number was stolen at a place we don't frequent that often. And, since the first charge was on July 31st and the "new" credit card was being swiped, it had to have happened a couple of days before. On our statement, we realized that we had been to Universal City Walk on the 29th and shopped at Abercrombie and Fitch and had a beverage at Karl Strauss. I don't know if an employee at either of these establishments compromised our credit or not (some say that this is the opportune moment for people standing behind you in line at the register to take a photo of your credit card with their picture phone), but this had to have been the time that it happened. I bring this up for my fellow Californians and anyone who vacations at popular tourist attractions. Be careful...and check your statement on a monthly, if not weekly or daily, basis. Learn from our tragedy and don't let this happen to you.
Or, "become one" with CoinStar and pay cash for everything.
Just on a fluke, Robin was looking over our credit card statement. We are about to take a long needed vacation and wanted to make sure that we could use our VISA while we were cruising the Pacific Northwest. While scanning the charges on our bill like a Costco employee itemizing your receipt, she spotted something that didn't look right. There were charges at Union 76 gas stations for amounts that made us look like we owned a Hummer (or, at least a Hummer2). Every three days, there is was again. What went on for 18 days totaled almost $400 in gas that had not been pumped into our vehicle.After calling up our bank and informing them of this, they were great and took the charges off (we still have to file a fraud report), and closed out our credit card. They informed us that it usually takes about 5 to 7 days to receive the new cards in the mail, but since our number was compromised and not lost, they would put a rush on it and we would get it in the mail on Wednesday (2 days). It was at this time that Robin and I realized that we had a hold on our cruise, and it had to be paid for by Tuesday or we would lose the room. Not to mention, we also had not purchased airline tickets to get to the city where the ship was originating. The timing was impeccable.
We decided to take it upon ourselves and do our own investigating. We figured our credit card number was stolen at a place we don't frequent that often. And, since the first charge was on July 31st and the "new" credit card was being swiped, it had to have happened a couple of days before. On our statement, we realized that we had been to Universal City Walk on the 29th and shopped at Abercrombie and Fitch and had a beverage at Karl Strauss. I don't know if an employee at either of these establishments compromised our credit or not (some say that this is the opportune moment for people standing behind you in line at the register to take a photo of your credit card with their picture phone), but this had to have been the time that it happened. I bring this up for my fellow Californians and anyone who vacations at popular tourist attractions. Be careful...and check your statement on a monthly, if not weekly or daily, basis. Learn from our tragedy and don't let this happen to you.
Or, "become one" with CoinStar and pay cash for everything.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home