Spending Spree with 200 compromised cards

These 4 individuals went on a spending spree with stolen card information and card making equipment. If it is this easy to obtain the information, why aren't more people taking initiative to stop fraud from happening? If you are a business that would like to know more about stopping these sorts of crimes, call today (877)217-0707

Terrorists are now utilizing skimming to fund their activity

Although this story took place in Australia, this situation could happen anywhere. In this case, the ring leader would offer students from his home country studying in Australia large sums of cash to allow him to place a skimming device on equipment where they worked. In all, 63,000 fake debit card transactions amounting to 24.5million were recorded

[READ MORE HERE]

The Server is not always the mastermind!

When it comes to skimming credit cards, it is not always the server who comes up with the brilliant scheme. In numerous stories that we have posted and discussed you see that it can be a boyfriend, a ring leader to a larger skimming operation, etc. All of which have the same thing in common, they supply the skimming device, teach the server how to use the device, then pick it up after a shift and pay the server per swiped card. Sometimes, this amount is as little as a quarter per card. The bad part is that quarter for your card, could turn into hundreds, if not thousands lost from your account.

here is another story about this topic: [HERE]

Rash of Credit Card Fraud

In Illinois, a recent rash of credit card fraud has been detected by the police. "we have received more than 100 calls so far" Sgt. John Korth, chief investigator for the Jo Daviess County Sheriff's Department.

The callers are all telling the same story, banks are contacting them stating their cards have been used, money is gone, etc.

"Whoever is doing this is not only using the numbers, they're duplicating the cards and presenting them in places all along the East Coast, in Texas and Oklahoma, and even in places like El Salvador and India," Korth said

The theft of the cards is centralized int he Jo Daviess County, from the stand point here at Dine Fraud Free, we would assume a Skimming Devise of some kind or a recent hacker at a restaurant is probably to blame. We will keep up on this story as it unravels.

Your Old Cell Phone Could Make You A Victim Of Credit Card Fraud

Did you know that your cell phone carries information in the SIM Card? Information such as debit card PIN numbers, bank account details, passwords, phone numbers, company information and log in info for your social networking sits and blogs? If you didn't, now you know.

When you dispose of your old phones make sure you are deleting all information on them and then destroy the SIM cards. A recent article was released that people are able to hack into the SIM card and view some if not all of the personal information listed above. On top of that, newer smart phones have more capabilities of taking that information, so even with newer technology; you still may not be safe from ID theft and Fraud.

Again, make sure to wipe all info from your old phones and destroy SIM cards.

[READ MORE HERE]

Cannot stress it enough

make sure you look for gas stations that use the tamper tape on their pumps, also, make sure to give the reader a tug and look too see if there is any unit inside or attached. Nearly 200 people had cards compromised in Hawaii for not following these steps.

READ THE STORY [HERE]

Are your computers and information protected?

Check out this interview with Security Metrix

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xhp7eu_wenlock-fred-about-credit-card-theft-and-fraud-safety_news

amazing to think how easy this stuff is

Check out this Video:

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/01/video-inside-a/

Writing your card number on my card

With credit card skimming, when your card is skimmed, the card number and pertinent information to use that card is then compromised. Most criminals will then take that number and sell it or write it onto a blank card for use. Really, they can write it onto any magnetic strip card. In the story below, the 3 Chicago girls wrote stolen card information onto their own cards. This is extremely scary because if the person taking the card was to check ID and signature, it would match, however, the card would be accessing the stolen account info!

Read More [HERE]

I can duplicate your card number, but not your PIN

In some skimming and re-writing cases, criminals use blank cards, hotel room keys, etc. These 3 actually embossed blank cards to make them appear real. Even more reason businesses need to prompt for PIN debit transactions at the table. I can make a card with my name and your info, but I can not remake the PIN number. They were arrested shortly after when the police found 86 different cards in their possession.

[READ THE STORY HERE]

Skimming does not only affect the card holder, it can seriously damage the reputation of the business

From the mouth of Ravi Patel, a business owner- "It was in the newspaper all the time and it hurt our reputation. We work hard every day, and what (Yadav) did had a big negative impact on our business. It took us quite a while to gain our customers' trust back."

Read the Story- [HERE]

SmartPhone Credit Card Processing Risk Exposed

VeriFone, A large equipment manufacture in the Credit Card industry released a website today to call the "Square" manufactures out on their neglect to look at the risk of skimming and encryption. The article states: "Secure payment systems, like those provided by VeriFone and other credible providers which adhere to the highest level of security practices, are critical in protecting consumers, merchants and banks. Without this protection, all commerce – conducted with plastic or mobile devices – is a catalyst for massive personal and institutional financial loss."

Read the story and watch the Video: [HERE]

By far not the largest skimming case we have reported

This story does prove one extremely good point. "Dabdee has a previous conviction for obtaining money under false pretenses" Dabdee is the server who illegally took a customer's card number. Goes to show that there are very few restaurants doing background checks on their employees. Scary to think that we hand credit cards to servers all the time.

[READ ENTIRE STORY]

Compromising Situation

Even with our daily posts about different types of fraud and how to avoid it, the likelihood of your card being compromised is extremely high. If you, a friend or a family member end up in this situation along with the other millions nationwide, here is a great resource to utilize:

RECOVER FROM ID THEFT

This criminal is one that you may not have expected

19 year old Nick Webber owned and operated a website that specialized in selling pilfered credit card numbers and teaching others how to do so. He was arrested and now faces 5 years of jail. "The police believe that the details amassed represented a potential loss of 12 Million euro."

Read the story [HERE]

50 to 100 customers affected by two men who supplied Taco Bell employees with skimming devises

They were let off quite easily when you look at the number of people affected. Goes to show that you don't know what is going on with your credit card when you let it out of your hand, maybe that employee is not the brains behind the operation.

[READ MORE]

Credit Card Fraud Expense Jumps 60%

The average out of pocket expense from credit card fraud last year jumped 60% from $387 to $631. The number one reason this happened is said to be credit card cloning. Read More Below

6 ways to protect yourself