Fraudsters Use Tiny Credit Card Charges, Hoping You'll Miss Them
Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:54AM EST
See Comments (91)
Recently we received a call from one of our credit card companies, informing us of possible fraudulent activity. Turns out that was exactly the case, only there was a twist: Most of the charges were for less than $20.
It's part of a new trend in credit card fraud: The charges are kept very small, mainly in the hopes that you simply won't notice them among larger charges on your credit card statement. This way, the fraudulent charger can keep billing you every month, as long as it goes unnoticed.
CA (formerly Computer Associates) notes that micro-fraud is a growing problem, as people have gotten more and more lax about checking their statements. I know mine sprawls into two pages every month, and it can be tiresome to hunt down phony charges on every statement. But you gotta do it, now more than ever.
What should you do if you find a phony micro-charge ($9.87 is, for some reason, a common figure) on your bill? CA offers the following advice (which I'm enhancing with my own tips, too):
- Cancel your credit card and initiate a chargeback - You can do these together when you report the fraudulent charge. Your credit card company will automatically issue you a new one, and you can usually report fraud over the phone with no paperwork.
- File a complaint with the FBI - This is not really appopriate if your card has been stolen and used by an individual; the FBI won't likely investigate such a small scale crime, but it will look into a company that's billing you illegally for its own profit. Report their name, phone number, charge amount, and any other information at the IC3.
- Check your old statements - You may have been being charged for months without knowing it.
- Scan your computer for viruses and spyware - Here's how.
- Do NOT call and ask for a refund - Sure, they'll give you a refund... but this will also keep the authorities at bay and let the operation keep running against thousands of other people. Report them to Johnny Law!
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Comments on Fraudsters Use Tiny Credit Card Charges, Hoping You'll Miss Them
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7 Posted by jimlucile@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:35PM EDT Report Abuse
Using a software package like Quicken or Money is a great way to keep track of ALL your credit card purchases. Most credit cards have websites where you can check activity between statements. I check these sites about weekly and verify to my Quicken register.
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8 Posted by gwendickerson@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:14PM EDT Report Abuse
I use my credit card like a debit card and always post transactions in my check register. When the credit card bill is received, I reconcile the charges with the ones posted in my check register; that way, I will always notice if there is a charge, no matter how small, that I did not make. Another advantage to keeping up with the charges is that when the bill arrives, the money has already been deducted and you don't have to figure out how to pay the bill. It also allows you to always pay the entire amount of the bill, thus avoiding any interest charges.
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9 Posted by sole2@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse
PAY CASH
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10 Posted by regularcat@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:35PM EDT Report Abuse
What a conincidence. I just rcieved my credit card statement and there was a charge of $59.95 from some credit card insurance service. I disputed this charge with with credit issuer and they in return issued me a new credit card and referred the matter to the fraud dept.
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11 Posted by scott.mcelwain on Sat Feb 16, 2008 12:34PM EST Report Abuse
Most of the poeple I know have had computers for 10 - 15 years now, but very few of them use MS Money, Quicken or anything else. If you simply put your receipts in your wallet and enter them in your favorite money program--takes maybe 10 minutes per week--then it only takes about 2 minutes to reconcile every month, and these will never slip past you again. If you're even too lazy to enter them manually, then you can have the program download your transactions for you once a week, and go over them while they're still fresh in your memory. Moreover, this is just a side benefit of using personal fincance software. If you start using it, I would be willing to bet you will be surprised to learn where all your money goes, and you will probably quit wasting so much and see your savings and net worth increase.
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12 Posted by tcarlozi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:57PM EDT Report Abuse
Something similar happened to me a while back. I purchased some computer hardware at a local computer show and the total came to $349. When I received the bill, the charge listed was $394. I contacted the credit card company, they sent me a form to fill out and asked for copies of the receipt. The $45 difference was refunded immediately. About 5 weeks later, I received a letter from the credit card company stating that the company that charged the incorrect amount never responded to their requests for copies of this transaction. Because of this, I was refunded the remaining $349 also. Kind of makes me wonder how many other people had this happen that went to this same show.
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13 Posted by grios3@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse
I took was charged $9.87 by this company TEMPLATEGLOBUS.COM.... Thank God Wells Fargo caught it...befor i even noticed it.... i looked up the company ( Template.com )on the internet and i read ALOT of complaints about the charge... SO BEAWARE.... Also i called the 800 number of the company and all i got was a recording... My bank (Wells Fargo) did reimburse me the $9.87 to my checking acount...
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14 Posted by cy31b on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:33PM EDT Report Abuse
I live in Delaware and I received a charge from AT&T for phone service in Atlanta. I don't use AT&T so I contacted the police and filled out fraud claims forms and forwarded them to my credit card company. It took two months to resolve the claim.
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15 Posted by remy2k5 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:36PM EDT Report Abuse
Vista Print did this to me. This is a company that offers free business cards. The only catch you must pay the postage. I paid the postage. Then 8 months later a charge for 14.99 appeared on my statement. i called the credit card company to launch an investigation for the unathorized charge. A Vista representive stated that they would only talk to the cardholder.
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16 Posted by ataxpro@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:58PM EDT Report Abuse
The best fraud I have found to date is ring tone fraud..perpetrated by Eastern Bloc countries and then endorsed by your wireless carrier. If you are ever stupid enough to authorize a ring tone download...just try getting them not to charge your bill every month. Your wireless carrier will be happy to credit your account..every month for the rest of your life.
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17 Posted by rogerglenn@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:48PM EDT Report Abuse
Credit card companies are not necessarily a good idea. A year ago I did a balance transfer and before I did I asked the credit card representative what my monthly payment would be. She quoted me $100.00 less than what they actually started billing me for. In other words I had to pay $100.00 more per month than she quoted. When I contacted the company they said there was NOTHING they could do about it. Thus,I am now worse off than before the transfer, beware OF CREDIT CARD COMPANIES
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18 Posted by beershrine@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:04PM EDT Report Abuse
MS Money is a horrible program
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19 Posted by who_me07@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:45PM EDT Report Abuse
I went to a gas station in Los Angeles, CA and I paid with my credit card. When I went to sign the reciept, I noticed that my drivers license number and address was on the reciept. So after I signed it, I scracthed that information out on their copy. Of course the clerk got all up set. But what do you know, 2 weeks later, I had charges up the wa-zoo!!! I contacted the local police department and BBB. That gas station was shut down!
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20 Posted by mtn_woman95 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:29PM EDT Report Abuse
Beware of the ATM/Debit cards too. I was charged over and over again, in one month for charges against my debit card. It was for phone calls within the states to the tune of over $600.00. Now, I NEVER used the Debit part of the card but I DID use the ATM (at my OWN bank). I did call the bank and complained and everything was reversed but if I didn't check..... I also put the heads up for the bank because I figured it was an inside job!
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21 Posted by n2n1ck49d@ameritech.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:32PM EDT Report Abuse
The best solution is to limit your use of a credit card to as few transactions per month as you can. Cash is the best way to keep track of fraudulent charges, by simply NOT paying for most things with a credit card; instead paying with cash. Not only do you know exactly where you stand relative to your budget, but any charges that do show up on a credit card statement will be very obvious. Eliminate auto-charges, instead require all transactions to be approved by you, either on-line or via phone. Checks for payment through the mail have their problems, but are safer than getting your credit card information out there in too many data bases. Nothing is completely safe, but payment with cash at the hardware store, grocery store, or anyplace you can use cash is protects you credit history and your identity. I travel internationally for a living and I use cash, obtained at currency traders (better exchange rate than credit cards who add 4% to each transaction or ATMs which add all sorts of transaction fees). With the simplest of safeguards, traveling with cash can be as safe as without. I am always amazed at the use of credit cards for tiny purchases at a grocery store. I once observed a man charge an item for less than $1.00. Now that is absurd.
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22 Posted by lrengaw@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:58PM EDT Report Abuse
WHAT I FOUND IS THAT AT&T STEALS MY MINUTES EVERY MONTH. HOWEVER AS BAD AS THEY ARE I FOUND THAT T-MOBILE IS EVEN WORSE. T-MOBILE EVEN STOPPED MY SERVICE AND TOLD ME THAT MY PHONE WAS NO GOOD AND NEEDED A NEW. I STOPPED MY SERVICE WITH T-MOBILE AND TRIED MY PHONE WITH MY FRIENDS T-MOBILE'S CARD AND IT WORK JUST FINE. AT ANY RATE THEY ALL SEEM TO STEAL YOUR MINUTES SOMETIMES MANY. I KEEP A LOG OF ALL CALLS IN AND OUT AND COMPLAIN TO AT&T WHEN I'M SHORT AND SOMETIMES THEY GIVE ME SOME EXTRA MINUTES. SOMETIMES THEY ASK IF I WANT TO BUY MORE AND I TELL THEM IF YOU QUIT STEALING MY MINUTES I WON'T NEED MORE. THE PHONE COMPANIES ALL ARE CROCKS. BIG TIME. IF YOU KEEP A LOG REMEMBER THAT 1 SECOND INTO THE NEW MINUTE WILL COUNT AS A MINUTE. I FIND AS MANY AS 60 TO 100 MINUTES MISSING A MONTH, WHEN I ACTUALLY USE ABOUT 500 MINUTES.
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23 Posted by bribi69@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:13PM EDT Report Abuse
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24 Posted by whatley_tom on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:44PM EDT Report Abuse
Cash? Many times errors occur in overpaying, being short changed, just losing the stuff! Properly used, a credit card is far safer, easier, and even quicker! And you even have recourse that you never would have with cash purchases. Try buying something over the internet with cash.
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25 Posted by gkyc5stars@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse
It happen to me. 1.98 charge by a servce company. I called and email my credit card company five times before the charge is refund back to me. It is about six months time. I think these credit card should pay me something because taking so long. I give them the confirmation # and the company name (easysaver.)
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6 Posted by kberghuis on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:48PM EDT Report Abuse
Also be sure to check your AT&T bill under "Enhanced Services." Every couple of months we have a charge for $14.95 for some service that we did not order. When I call they always tell me that my husband ordered it, but I tell them he did not and to remove the charge. In the meantime I must pay the bill as is and get the credit on my next bill since I pay online. Always read all of your bills very carefully!