Watch for your card even at doctor's office!

Last year hubbie used his card (actually is authorized user on my Citi TYP card) at an eye doctor's office. This was his only one single time use his card in many moons because we had some bonus offer on that card at the time.

A month later Citi called on a Monday to ask if he was in Mexico because his card was used 5 times in Mexico over the weekend - all in restaurants and food markets for several hundreds worth of meals and grocery shopping. (must be small time thieves). If he is at home, has he lost his card?

Nope we had his card sitting in the drawer. Citi said they were all POS charges, meaning his card info on the mag strip was stolen and a cone card being made. Citi promptly issued temp credits, canceled the compromised card number and mailed us new cards. The funny thing was, those fraudulent charges actually earned the bonus. The regular TYPs earned were reversed together with the credits issued, but the bonus points stayed.

Since his card was only used once at the doctor's office - the info must be lifted there by the receptionist who swiped his card for the co-payment. Husband said the card was not swiped in front of him but somewhere behind the counter that he could not see clearly.

So, there are threats everywhere even at places you would never suspect could happen.

Luckily the Consumer Cards are well protected by the law. Not so much for business cards just so you guys know.