The fun never ends, and Happy Purim by the way

While sitting on the phone almost all morning with a credit card company dealing with a fraudulent charge on my account to the tune of almost two flippin' grand at an online website utilized for paying for spammers, I got a lot of resumes sent out and recontacted some other places where I am hoping my information slipped through the durge of emails. I was feeling really productive, proactive and glad that I took advantage of the opportunity that was facing me of time management.

Then the day turned to shit.

I got off the phone and called my bank to let them know about the fraud alert and then they let me know that there was some suspicious activity on my checking account. So spent about 40 minutes on the phone with my bank, who were absolutely wonderful. Very helpful, extremely proactive and prevented what could only be described as fraud at the largest level because they noticed activity which I had never partaken in.

I then called my other credit card company to let them know about my situation and they let me know that over the weekend at a local mall and other retailer my card had been used for upward of 2600 bucks.

I then went to the police department, filed a complaint, explained where I thought my information was stolen from (and I do have an idea and I do plan to prosecute if I am proven to be right), and was assigned a Detective (and shhhhh, but he was very handsome, but the big gold ring said don't mess with my husband gurl... ok, I am going to admire though while I am sitting here though).

I came home and called all the credit reporting bureaus. Everything I am accountable to and for is now flagged with "Fraudulant Activity". Not so neat to me. I am not responsible for said fraud, just cleaning up this mishegas now. Its not good.

I have a very good idea of what happened, a very good idea. I was taken advantage of because I am looking for employment and trusted the wrong people with my possessions. And I am going to tell you my dear reader, my credit card is in my wallet, my atm card is in my wallet and no checks are missing. Nothing was physically stolen out of my wallet, just information. So. How did this happen? My guess is: my numbers were stolen and magstriped onto other cards.

Now hear me out. It isn't so unreasonable to think this. When was the last time someone at a store asked you for ID for your credit card? You slide it yourself now a days and put it back in your wallet right? The raised numbers aren't even checked to see if the account matches. Its all in that little black stripie on the back of your card, right above your signature and in some cases the account PIN number - not in my case though - You are in control ok you feel like you are in control, not so much. Well you aren't in control if someone gets your numbers and programs it onto another card so this is what I am going to be dealing with, on top of all the other job hunting mishegas I have going on, I get handed this big plate of poo as well. Swell. Thank you thief. Thank you Identity theif. I have a good feeling who you are and I can't wait to hear that they have the evidence they need to arrest you.

So how can this happen? Easy enough acutally. I put this information out there just to make you paranoid enough to watch your tuches and not make the same mistake that I did last Friday. Ok. Its all about the love and public service here. I may not have a job, but I have love in my heart and I do care.

Someone can buy a programmer for 125 bucks online. Believe me I just checked. A measly little investment to rip people off. I am absolutely NOT saying this for any other reason than to warn people about this crime of identity and property (my money) theft. Its easy to keyboard the information and program the card. DO not leave your property unattendend or with people you don't trust. If you are unable to find someone you implicity trust to do that (which is likely as you are alone), take your property to your car and lock it in the trunk, take your wallet with you and put your briefcase into your trunk, and if you aren't allowed to do that or you don't have a trunk, RESCHEDULE. Go back. It isn't worth the risk.

When you scan your atm... watch for skimmers which will protrude out of the front of the atm machine. Watch for a camera on the side of the machine that may be capturing your account number and PIN. CHANGE YOUR PIN NUMBER EVERY SIX MONTHS. It may not be the most convienent but go get your cash from a teller if its possible. If you bank charges for teller transactions (some do) talk to a manager and have your fees waived.

Watch for stores and retailers that hold onto your cards for a long time during a transaction, any longer than scanning the card and someone may be getting your account number and expiration date from your card. If you are at a retailer that allows you to scan the card yourself, cover the numbers and the keypad during the transaction.

Its world wide babies. I thought it only happened to other people (and in fact just two weeks ago it did to someone I know in the North West and someone she knows in the MidWest). I shouldn't have been so cavalier.


Here is a group that just got busted for this EXACT crime. Here is another one. ooooo here is another current story... how about that huh? Fascinating.

I also received and email from my "bank"... wow that logo sure made that email look official. Phishing for sure, I mean they didn't properly capitalize some words and mispelled the word "restriction" and "verification". Wouldn't it be really ironic if the email came from the spammer that got the charge to my account on Sunday? The amount would get 140000 peices of spam sent out on a weekly basis. Could possibly be actually.


So what I am saying is: there are some real chazers out there who want to and can steal from you. And they will. Cover your tuches, watch your back and protect yourself. Monitor your accounts. I don't want to hear that this has happened to ANYONE, especially you ok? Even though I know it is going to since the credit card companies and banks make it way too easy to get away with it, I am still an optimist and would like to think that it stops now.