identity theft warning - Beyond Tiki

T thejab Grand Member (1 year) Tradewinds Apartments, Alameda, CA Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 2992	T thejab Posted posted on Sat, Jan 28, 2006 9:06 AM In December someone made a bet online for $700 using my debit card. It wasn't a lost card, but somehow they got my #. It could have been recorded anywhere - at a gas station or restaurant where they might have you card out of sight for a while, or online where I made a purchase. Lately there have been reports of banks being hacked into and customer info stolen so it may have been done that way. I noticed the charge looking at my online statement the same day it posted, so I immediately phoned my bank (Wells Fargo) and reported it. They opened a fraud claim and told me it may take 7-10 business days to clear up. I destroyed my card. I also notified the online gambling company, but they just told me to notify my bank. They said they could do nothing. 10 days passed. I called the bank and they seemed to have "misplaced" my claim, so I had to start over with a new claim! Meanwhile Christmas wass approaching, I needed to do some shopping, and I was out $700. I told the bank I wanted a $700 credit placed into my account immediately. They had the gall to ask me if I ever gamble online! I have been a customer of theirs since 1988, and they ask me if I am trying to fraud them! The next day the credit appeared as a "provisional" credit. 10 days later (just before Christmas, now it had been 20 days since the charge appeared) I received a letter saying it was still under investigation and the credit was still "provisional". So I promtly emptied my account so I wouldn't be cut off from access to my money during my trip to San Diego over New Years. Since then I opened a new account with a credit union, and I closed my Wells Fargo accounts. I just received a letter in the mail from Wells Fargo saying they are still investigating the matter, 7 weeks after the transaction! I urge everyone who reads this to not bank with Wells Fargo because they will not protect you against fraudulent transactions. I also learned a lesson about debit cards. Using one as a credit card is risky because if you someone uses your debit card your cash is gone. And as far as I have experienced, with credit cards if you file a fraudulent transaction claim you are only responsible for $50.

In December someone made a bet online for $700 using my debit card. It wasn't a lost card, but somehow they got my #. It could have been recorded anywhere - at a gas station or restaurant where they might have you card out of sight for a while, or online where I made a purchase. Lately there have been reports of banks being hacked into and customer info stolen so it may have been done that way.

I noticed the charge looking at my online statement the same day it posted, so I immediately phoned my bank (Wells Fargo) and reported it. They opened a fraud claim and told me it may take 7-10 business days to clear up. I destroyed my card. I also notified the online gambling company, but they just told me to notify my bank. They said they could do nothing.

10 days passed. I called the bank and they seemed to have "misplaced" my claim, so I had to start over with a new claim! Meanwhile Christmas wass approaching, I needed to do some shopping, and I was out $700. I told the bank I wanted a $700 credit placed into my account immediately. They had the gall to ask me if I ever gamble online! I have been a customer of theirs since 1988, and they ask me if I am trying to fraud them!

The next day the credit appeared as a "provisional" credit. 10 days later (just before Christmas, now it had been 20 days since the charge appeared) I received a letter saying it was still under investigation and the credit was still "provisional". So I promtly emptied my account so I wouldn't be cut off from access to my money during my trip to San Diego over New Years.

Since then I opened a new account with a credit union, and I closed my Wells Fargo accounts. I just received a letter in the mail from Wells Fargo saying they are still investigating the matter, 7 weeks after the transaction!

I urge everyone who reads this to not bank with Wells Fargo because they will not protect you against fraudulent transactions.

I also learned a lesson about debit cards. Using one as a credit card is risky because if you someone uses your debit card your cash is gone. And as far as I have experienced, with credit cards if you file a fraudulent transaction claim you are only responsible for $50.

Post #211013 by thejab on Sat, Jan 28, 2006 9:06 AM