Amex fraud detection software
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
OK, this is cool [Amex fraud detection]
I just bought a wine fridge on Walmart.com. For whatever reason, AmEx thought it was a fraudulent purchase. ABout three seconds after clicking Submit on the website, the AmEx app on my phone beeped with a fraud alert. Simultaneously, the website said the transaction was declined by the card issuer.
I clicked "Yes, I attempted this transaction" on my phone, clicked Submit again on the website, and it went through.
That's how it should work! ^^^
I clicked "Yes, I attempted this transaction" on my phone, clicked Submit again on the website, and it went through.
That's how it should work! ^^^
#3
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,294
I'm glad this worked out for you, but given that it wasn't a fraudulent charge, I'd argue this isn't how it should work. In a perfect world (and obviously in this regard it isn't) the transaction would have just gone through like normal.
#4
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Could the issue have been that yoou were having it shipped to an address other than your billing address?
#5
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
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Posts: 7,486
For whatever reason, Amex seems to flag Walmart.com purchases if you don't shop there frequently... had this happen to me with a purchase that was less than $400, and I've heard similar reports from others.
#6
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Years ago I noticed that they flagged electronics purchases.
#10
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Somewhere.
Programs: BA Executive club, Membership rewards, Diners Club, El Al Matmid.
Posts: 22
TBH. Amex have never questioned any charges on my card, ever. Its always me that notices them once they hit my account, to there credit they are removed within a couple of hours and I can literally pick a new card up in 2 hours.
#11
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Star Alliance Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,194
Same. Amex have never ever declined a charge. I've never had a fraudulent charge on my Amex either though.
#12
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PBI and PVD
Programs: DL Silver, (used to be somebody here) Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 567
I just bought a wine fridge on Walmart.com. For whatever reason, AmEx thought it was a fraudulent purchase. ABout three seconds after clicking Submit on the website, the AmEx app on my phone beeped with a fraud alert. Simultaneously, the website said the transaction was declined by the card issuer.
I clicked "Yes, I attempted this transaction" on my phone, clicked Submit again on the website, and it went through.
That's how it should work! ^^^
I clicked "Yes, I attempted this transaction" on my phone, clicked Submit again on the website, and it went through.
That's how it should work! ^^^
#13
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SEA
Programs: All Around Nobody
Posts: 861
They've only called me once about a charge and that was when I was purchasing some airline tickets for relatives (that have a different last name)
#14
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
I never had Amex question anything before a couple months ago - then, I noticed someone tried to charge about $1000 at Bed, Bath & Beyond over the course of a couple days.
It may also be that I don't think I've ever shopped at walmart.com...and very rarely at Walmart, for that matter.
In any case, clicking Accept on the iPhone app let the charge go through, but they still called me today to ask about it (and apparently blocked my card in the meantime, though I didn't try to buy anything in the interim, so I don't know).
I'm happy they're on the lookout and made it about as painless as possible for me.
It may also be that I don't think I've ever shopped at walmart.com...and very rarely at Walmart, for that matter.
In any case, clicking Accept on the iPhone app let the charge go through, but they still called me today to ask about it (and apparently blocked my card in the meantime, though I didn't try to buy anything in the interim, so I don't know).
I'm happy they're on the lookout and made it about as painless as possible for me.