Why is this guy in Bogota only eating hamburgers?
Apr 17, 2013, 4:09 pm
#1
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Why is this guy in Bogota only eating hamburgers?
We've had some fraudulent activity the past few days on our Hilton Amex card. AMEX is supposedly taking care of it, but new charges are popping up every day, all in Bogota, mostly at fast food restaurants and gas stations. If I were going to steal a credit card 
I'd buy something good before they caught me. But this guy is just eating hamburgers (lots of them. some sushi.) I guess I shouldn't complain but it's annoying and funny at the same time. Amex seems particularly unperturbed.
I don't know much about credit card fraud, my husband never lost his card, had it in his possession the whole time, so did this guy just randomly try numbers until he hit one that worked? (btw husband was overnighted a new card with a new number).
I'd buy something good before they caught me. But this guy is just eating hamburgers (lots of them. some sushi.) I guess I shouldn't complain but it's annoying and funny at the same time. Amex seems particularly unperturbed.I don't know much about credit card fraud, my husband never lost his card, had it in his possession the whole time, so did this guy just randomly try numbers until he hit one that worked? (btw husband was overnighted a new card with a new number).
Apr 17, 2013, 4:47 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,701
Crooks and Thieves like fast food joints to test card before they try and rip off the credit/charge card company for something big where their is more scrutinization of the customer from drivers license or other ID, Security video, etc. A thief is not going to make a fake ID if the card is number is no good, etc.
Apr 18, 2013, 1:20 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Cypress Hills Research Center
Posts: 5,295
Crooks and Thieves like fast food joints to test card before they try and rip off the credit/charge card company for something big where their is more scrutinization of the customer from drivers license or other ID, Security video, etc. A thief is not going to make a fake ID if the card is number is no good, etc.
They can has cheezburgers. Sorry, had to say that.
Apr 19, 2013, 11:44 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
You didn't mention, but, has your husband been to Columbia, South America, or Central America recently? Do you all take care when making online purchase? Have you ever (snail) mailed or emailed your credit card info to anyone?
Apr 19, 2013, 12:10 pm
#10
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No to all the above questions.
Last time my husband used his card was in March at our local Costco. I've used mine more frequently (same account, different last 5 digits) and it's fine.
I've checked all our frequently used cards, good idea to check old ones, too.
All 15 or so charges with their corresponding foreign transaction fees have now been reversed, and no new charges in the last couple of days, so hopefully this is over.
Last time my husband used his card was in March at our local Costco. I've used mine more frequently (same account, different last 5 digits) and it's fine.
I've checked all our frequently used cards, good idea to check old ones, too.
All 15 or so charges with their corresponding foreign transaction fees have now been reversed, and no new charges in the last couple of days, so hopefully this is over.
Apr 19, 2013, 12:52 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
I do wonder how he would have gotten the number. Also, how do they then use the numbers? Do they create a dummy card somehow? We really should be moving more swiftly to those intelligent chips.
Apr 19, 2013, 1:03 pm
#12
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Signatures.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
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Numbers are compromised in bulk. I frequently delete quarantined posts offering to sell card numbers and security codes in multiples of a thousand. The card numbers can surface months after the security breach, and fabricating fake cards is evidently not very difficult. There is no necessary connection between the location where a card is fraudulently used and where the compromise occurred.
Last edited by mia; Apr 19, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Apr 19, 2013, 4:20 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
Numbers are compromised in bulk. I frequently delete quarantined posts offering to sell card numbers and security codes in multiples of a thousand. The card numbers can surface months after the security breach, and fabricating fake cards is evidently not very difficult. There is no necessary connection between the location where a card is fraudulently used and where the compromise occurred.
Apr 19, 2013, 4:31 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 415
This NPR story from a few years ago is a real fascinating listen. It details how card numbers get stolen and sold, and what the FBI does to fight the problem:
NPR story called "How To Buy a Stolen Credit Card"
NPR story called "How To Buy a Stolen Credit Card"
Apr 19, 2013, 5:39 pm
#15
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I still don't understand any of it.
But after over 60 years on this earth, having so many credit cards over the years, and this being the first time this has ever happened, I think we're pretty lucky.
Oh, there was the time our account was frozen because we bought four (4) transit tickets (I think about $2.50 for each ticket) in Portland.
But after over 60 years on this earth, having so many credit cards over the years, and this being the first time this has ever happened, I think we're pretty lucky.
Oh, there was the time our account was frozen because we bought four (4) transit tickets (I think about $2.50 for each ticket) in Portland.