Topic: The Online Purchase I Didn't Make

[Asteriktos]

So apparently someone decided to use my MasterCard info to make an online purchase. Wonderful. The charge happened a couple weeks ago and was for a website with (let's call it) special content. It was going to continue charging each month, but the billing company has now canceled that. Nothing turned up with a Google search using the information I was given regarding who made the charge. I am not sure how to proceed from here. I'm not sure what it means, but the card was only charged once, even though other charges could have been made. Was this done because they only could do it once, or did they just hope to fly under the radar, or is it not even a person but some kind of virus or whatever?

I thought I would cancel my card and get a new one, but now I wonder if that will solve the problem. How did they get my info to begin with, and if they did it once couldn't they do it again, regardless of whether I have a new card or not? I will run whatever virus and malware detection programs I have on my computer, to see if anything comes up. So should I get a new card and change my passwords and such on the sites I do online business at (paypal, amazon, etc.)? But again, if they got ahold of my info once, couldn't they do it again? I guess I'm just asking what the best way to go about protecting myself is.

[Mor Ephrem]

So apparently someone decided to use my MasterCard info to make an online purchase. Wonderful. The charge happened a couple weeks ago and was for a website with (let's call it) special content. It was going to continue charging each month, but the billing company has now canceled that. Nothing turned up with a Google search using the information I was given regarding who made the charge.

I'm sorry, man, I meant to tell you.  I was "in one of those moods".  And broke. 

[Asteriktos]

Why didn't you just tell me? I'm sure there is plenty of free stuff available that could have been used. We could have worked on this together! I forgive you, but please don't do it again.

[Mor Ephrem]

Sure thing, buddy!! 

[Ionnis]

If it was a monthly subscription to a porn site, I'd call your bank and have them reject the charge (if it isn't too late) and at the very least, have your Mastercard number changed.  How often this happens to my friends and acquaintances!  If it was indeed porn, my advice to you is to stop looking at it and find a real woman!!! ;-)

[Asteriktos]

Hey, let's keep this classy here, and not be throwin accusions about! One thing at a time...

[Asteriktos]

On my bank statement this morning... a charge for $187 that I didn't make.

[LizaSymonenko]

Bank or bankcard?

Now you really have to make some phone calls.

[Asteriktos]

Yes, and find out the address of who is doing this...

[LizaSymonenko]

I'm truly sorry you have to go through this.

I'd help, if I could.

[ZealousZeal]

I'm sorry, Asteriktos. I feel your pain. My debit card info just got stolen last week by someone in the UK. Thankfully my bank caught it after the first charge, but now I'm waiting for my new card.

[WPM]

So apparently someone decided to use my MasterCard info to make an online purchase. Wonderful. The charge happened a couple weeks ago and was for a website with (let's call it) special content. It was going to continue charging each month, but the billing company has now canceled that. Nothing turned up with a Google search using the information I was given regarding who made the charge. I am not sure how to proceed from here. I'm not sure what it means, but the card was only charged once, even though other charges could have been made. Was this done because they only could do it once, or did they just hope to fly under the radar, or is it not even a person but some kind of virus or whatever?

I thought I would cancel my card and get a new one, but now I wonder if that will solve the problem. How did they get my info to begin with, and if they did it once couldn't they do it again, regardless of whether I have a new card or not? I will run whatever virus and malware detection programs I have on my computer, to see if anything comes up. So should I get a new card and change my passwords and such on the sites I do online business at (paypal, amazon, etc.)? But again, if they got ahold of my info once, couldn't they do it again? I guess I'm just asking what the best way to go about protecting myself is.

Did you loan your card to a friend? Looks like a misunderstanding of what its for.

[jah777]

This kind of thing has happened to me a few times.  All of a sudden there is a plane ticket charged to my card to Hawaii, or one time there was a bunch of music purchased and downloaded using my card (my wife and I don't download music).  I never found out how my info was hacked, and I never loan cards to anyone, but each time I just got new cards issued and the credit card companies have always been good about removing the charges right away.   

[stanley123]

This kind of thing has happened to me a few times.  All of a sudden there is a plane ticket charged to my card to Hawaii, or one time there was a bunch of music purchased and downloaded using my card (my wife and I don't download music).  I never found out how my info was hacked, and I never loan cards to anyone, but each time I just got new cards issued and the credit card companies have always been good about removing the charges right away.   

Same thing happened to me with a charge for about $900 on a computer type purchase I didn't make. It was sent to someone in the San Francisco area. The credit card co. changed the card right away, and I didn't have to pay. They handle all the investigations.

[hecma925]

So apparently someone decided to use my MasterCard info to make an online purchase. Wonderful. The charge happened a couple weeks ago and was for a website with (let's call it) special content. It was going to continue charging each month, but the billing company has now canceled that. Nothing turned up with a Google search using the information I was given regarding who made the charge.

I'm sorry, man, I meant to tell you.  I was "in one of those moods".  And broke. 

Must have been something really interesting, yet extra shameful, for you to pay with *'s card.

[Asteriktos]

Apparently it was just the card and not the account (electronic check or whatever). Anyway, so I went in to dispute the charge, turn in my old card, order a new one, etc. I guess I'll have to put some thought into changing my online purchasing habits...

[WPM]

What you do is designate a card specifically for online use ... The main purpose of a credit card is to build credit with financial institutions.