Monday, January 21, 2008

A Scary Experience!

One of the unfortunate trade-offs of living in our modern times is how easily someone can get your information.

A short while ago, I got a call from a woman at Expedia.com--one of those sites where you buy airline tickets. She wanted to know if I had authorized an airplane ticket costing over $300--to Egypt, of all places. She gave me a name, something like Moheed Sair, but very 'Middle-Eastern'-sounding. Of course, I told her I did not authorize this. She gave me all the information she could--except the odd thing was that she couldn't repeat the name. I suppose she wasn't supposed to say it in the first place. But if someone is committing a crime, why should they be protected?

Well, I called the card and spoke to another woman in the fraud department. Yes, there was such a charge pending. Plus two smaller charges of about $30 each. I think those might have been 'trial' charges to see if a red flag would go up.

My card has now been 'stopped.' I'm waiting on a new card. The funny (as in weird, not ha-ha) thing is that I haven't used this card in ages, since it is one I'm paying off!

I want to say I'm very impressed with how alert Expedia.com was--this charge was made barely an hour ago, and they 'caught' it right away. I for the life of me don't know how this happened...I haven't carried this card in a long time, and I certainly didn't 'lose' it anyplace.

But I would send a caveat out to everyone: if you see small charges on your account, be suspicious. I haven't seen any yet, but I bet the little ones would show up on my next statement. If I see anything like that at all, I'm having my card cancelled and the number changed!

Like any of us need this aggravation!

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't think EXPEDIA called you. Probably a scammer trying to get some pesonal information from you. Anyway, be careful with EXPEDIA since they are also scammers; Source: http://www.expedianews.com

SAHMmy Says said...

Go Expedia! Another good reason to visit your money every day!--though if someone got a hold of my credit card they could probably get away with shopping at Target for a couple weeks before I noticed a few too many charges from there!

Mom2fur said...

Anonymous, she didn't ask me for information...she gave it to me. And I called the CC number on one of my bills, not a number she gave me. But you are right... we have to be extra careful in this day and age. I NEVER give out personal information over the phone!
Sahmmy, I plan to be on alert even more than before!

BittersweetPunkin said...

Good for you! We actually had to close out 2 CCs last year due to that! ANOTHER TIP: check your phone bill for any authorized charges from other companies as well....we've had 2 different companies place charges on our phone bill for services we never signed up for!

Anonymous said...

OMG that does worry me. It is to easy to get info now.
I know I love your little dog.

Mom2fur said...

The sad and annoying thing is that this creep will just go on to the next CC number he has. It's hard to stop these guys, but at least we can all keep our eyes wide open!

Cassie - Homeschooling Four said...

My grandparents had someone steal their CC bills right out of their mailbox and perform identity theft. It was a drug out, pain!

SolitaryDancer said...

It is scary how easily someone can get your info. I have my credit cards set up to send me an alert if any transaction occurs over $10. That's how I caught a charge and a reversal for the same amount (obviously a test charge).

I'll be glad when all my credit cards are cut up and history. Just one more year :-)

Deb

Rachel said...

It's scary how easily someone can get your info now. Though I like my Visa company -- year before last we went to Southern California and I forgot to call them ahead of time and authorize a "vacation use" for my card (ie tell them where we would be charging and when). About an hour after we checked into the hotel (using the card), I got a call from their customer service center making sure it was really me. And I know they need to be on the ball to protect themselves, but I'm glad they do it all the same.

wanderlustandpixiedust said...

Very scary indeed! Lately it would appear that I've been the lottery winner in several foreign countries that I've never been to! Can't be too careful..

Thanks for visiting my blog recently. If you thought that the note on the back of that one photo was said, take another look when you get the chance. I added another post about another sad bit of writing I found in a book. I think that these are so touching because we all have felt like this or will someday when we are old and on in years...

Take care!

Lisa B. said...

THanks for stopping by my blog or I wouldnt have been able to find yours! :)

Someone may have thrown some type of paper document away with out shredding it. Even though it's against the law, companies are being caught left and right compromising people's identities.

Have you thrown any papers away that could have any identity of yours on it?

I work for a document destruction company and hear about it happening almost daily.

Krista said...

How scary! Good thing they called. Companies like that must be so tired of being scammed.

I have a friend that had her account wiped out by someone in Mexico City. The only thing the bank could figure out was that someone at the Mexican restaurant she had eaten at a few nights before took her number. Sheesh!

Jasmine's Journey said...

I am glad they caught that. I know every year when we get our income taxes we are spending a bunch and our bank of America winds up blocking the card on us. lol

Mindy said...

That's so great that they called you about that. You do have to be careful with people calling you, but obviously since they gave you the info and didn't ask for any they were up and up. That is the trick to knowing if the caller is trying to scam, they'll ask for info.

Dutchnic said...

Boy, you were lucky!

kelly said...

yikes! that is crazy!