Lizz
Premium
join:2002-10-22
Fullerton, CA
| [Credit Card Fraud] Very Strange
Hi!
Just got a phone call from A&M Camera in NY (718-676-8177, Queens? Brooklyn?). I'm in CA.
The call was about a "camera I ordered." Turns out it was supposed to be shipped to my address, but to a name I have never heard of! The guy told me the last 3 digits of the AmEx card, which were the same as mine. The man said he'd cancel the order.
I've called AmEx and there's nothing on my account that shouldn't be there. I've checked out A&M as best I can via the 'Net (www.amphotoworld.com, I think) and they have a horrible score on resellerratings.com.
I don't know if I should be concerned or not because who would steal a credit card number, order something and have it shipped to the credit card owner's address??? Perhaps A&M would get a call a little later with instructions to change the ship-to address?
What do the experts think? I'm inclined to wait and see for a few days.
TIA,
Liz |
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Keith
Why Ask Than?
Premium
join:2002-10-28
Fort Erie, ON | Anytime you think it's not right chances it's not
Don't call the number that they ask you to call.
Call the number on your card and advise them of the call you got
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The only stupid question is the one not asked |
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Lizz
Premium
join:2002-10-22
Fullerton, CA
| Thanks, Keith, but they didn't ask me to call; THEY called me.
I did call AmEx myself. Nothing strange there, at least not yet.
What I found most strange is that A&M obviously had my name, address, phone number and, most likely, my card #, but the camera was to be shipped to a different name AT MY ADDRESS! Makes no sense whatsoever!
Liz |
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Mordy
Comfortably Numb
Premium,MVM,ExMod 2004-07
join:2001-12-02
Denver, CO | reply to Lizz
Well, I would call Amex back and get them to issue a new card. Why take a chance that this was some kind of innocent mistake - with the amount of fraud going on these days, you need to be proactive. |
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Lizz
Premium
join:2002-10-22
Fullerton, CA | Mordy,
You're absolutely right. I'm doing that as we speak!!!
Liz |
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Lizz
Premium
join:2002-10-22
Fullerton, CA
| UPDATE:
When I called AmEx back to cancel the card, there had just been a "$1.00 charge from a hotel." Guess it was one of those "test charges" to see if the card was valid.
Sure am glad I canceled it when I did! So it appears the thief screwed up with the ship-to address. Out of curiosity, I called A&M to see if I could find out why they'd called me in the first place but was on hold so long I finally hung up!
Liz |
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Keith
Why Ask Than?
Premium
join:2002-10-28
Fort Erie, ON
1 edit | reply to Lizz
As I said if you think it's not right chances you are right
glad you called Am/X and found the $1.00 charge,
Question?: when they gave you the last 3 did you give them the rest?.... HOPE NOT
edit:spelling
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The only stupid question is the one not asked |
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Lizz
Premium
join:2002-10-22
Fullerton, CA
| Keith,
No, they didn't give me anything but the last 3 digits. However, since the camera was to be shipped to Valentina Harbor at MY address, they had that, and my name and phone number, I'm presuming they also had the real card #.
I also put a "fraud alert" on the credit bureaus.
Sure wish I could figure out how "they" got my card number. Guess it could be any number of ways, but I haven't heard about too many AmEx #s being stolen.
Liz |
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Keith
Why Ask Than?
Premium
join:2002-10-28
Fort Erie, ON
| Cool your doing the right thing
how they got your number and address well....
Lot's of sneaky tricks.. even dumpster divers
just glad you did not pass on any more info than they had
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The only stupid question is the one not asked |
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waldoooo
join:2001-12-15
Blue Island, IL
| reply to Lizz
something like this happened to a friend of mine a couple years ago with some electronic items. He didnt find the charges until long after they had been shipped(to his address). He works during the day and lives in a nice area where UPS leaves things on the porch unless instructed otherwise, investigators suspected a nearby neighbor must have got his CC info either from the trash or from his vehicle without his knowledge. |
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Lizz
Premium
join:2002-10-22
Fullerton, CA
| Interesting theory except . . .
1) I shred my trash of that type;
2) nothing CC related is ever in the car AND the car is in a garage;
3) there has been mail stolen out of mailboxes, but it's mostly outgoing mail (when the flag is up). I've never missed getting an AmEx bill and I pay online;
4) I work out of my home, so I'm here almost all the time and I believe all my neighbors know it. In addition, my office windows look out on the street AND my front door!
I think this is a story Jay Leno would like because he really enjoys news clips about stupid criminals!
I'm just hoping I've nipped this in the bud.
Liz |
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rgillis70
Premium
join:2002-12-30
Herndon, VA
| reply to Lizz
I believe A&M photo is one of those scam places that sells at a real cheap price then "up sells" or else you never get the merchandise. That would be why they called you - they were not going to fill the order unless they sold more stuff.
Does not explain how someone got the info - just why they would call. |
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Lizz
Premium
join:2002-10-22
Fullerton, CA | Thank you!!! It's been driving me crazy as to why they would have called me in the first place.
I did see that it's something of a "scammy" vendor. Totally appropriate outcome for a thief, don't you think?
Liz |
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rgillis70
Premium
join:2002-12-30
Herndon, VA
| Yeah - they have burned so many people - about time they had bad info.
The person that ordered the card may not have had all your info - may have only put in a bad telephone number. I would not put it past these guys to use their "business" status to try and track a valid phone number down for you. Cause they will not sell unless they talk to you first. |
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Lizz
Premium
join:2002-10-22
Fullerton, CA
| It makes me angry to knowthat many have been burned by A&M Camera (or A&M Photo) . . . even though their "evil" ways hopefully saved my hide!
I do order things online but am very careful about where I place my orders, only well-known establishments. So of course, now that you satisfied my curiosity about why A&M might have called me, I'd still love to know how "Valetina Harbor" got her hands on my CC #. But I know that will remain an unsolved mystery.
Thanks again!
Liz |
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