FYI taking chances w/ your Visa card...

[wnbafan]

Most of you already know the risks ordering from some vendors with a cc, but do it any way. I'm guilty of stupidly doing it too. I won't be doing it anymore though, I'll be using Greendot w/ just enough money on it for my order.
I just had to have my cc canceled/replaced due to a vendor (I don't know who) using my cc for bogus charges. I've narrowed my list to MM, P4U, and onlineushealth.com
Just a reminder, you might be lucky a few times, but it really sucks having to cancel your card & notify autopay accounts, etc. Plus, if they get away w/ it, hopefully you or your bank catch it.

[HenryHill]

I had the same happen to me with friendlyclinic. I would assume it was MM in your case based on the fact they are run out of africa, which is known for these type of things.

[UniverseDecay]

Most of you already know the risks ordering from some vendors with a cc, but do it any way. I'm guilty of stupidly doing it too. I won't be doing it anymore though, I'll be using Greendot w/ just enough money on it for me order.
I just had to have my cc canceled/replaced due to a vendor (I don't know who) using my cc for bogus charges. I've narrowed my list to MM, P4U, and onlineushealth.com
Just a reminder, you might be lucky a few times, but it really sucks having to cancel your card & notify autopay accounts, etc. Plus, if they get away w/ it, hopefully you or your bank catch it.

im in the processof getting the prepaid cc crds as well, they still link it to your ss number and bday which isnt great, does it matter if my choice is between prepaid or a gift card? will both work?

[Loubitan]

Most of you already know the risks ordering from some vendors with a cc, but do it any way. I'm guilty of stupidly doing it too. I won't be doing it anymore though, I'll be using Greendot w/ just enough money on it for me order.
I just had to have my cc canceled/replaced due to a vendor (I don't know who) using my cc for bogus charges. I've narrowed my list to MM, P4U, and onlineushealth.com
Just a reminder, you might be lucky a few times, but it really sucks having to cancel your card & notify autopay accounts, etc. Plus, if they get away w/ it, hopefully you or your bank catch it.

I don't know if it is me, but I probably have to get my credit card replaced 3 times per year due to unsavory people stealing my credit card number. It is not from IOP or OP, but from any random person. I one time used a credit card for a hotel reservatoin over an 800-line, and the reservation agent, stole my card number and embarked on an line shopping spree. I had a business trip to Brazil last January, and had my card number stolen there. I think in our online world, this is just a fact of life. The good news is that the credit card company will most always reverse the charges, and I believe the merchant is ultimately responsible. The really bad thing that can happen if your card gets stolen from a true, professional crook is that they can turn the CC fraud into full blow identity theft. That is where the nightmare really begins. The best things you can do is A..) Never use a debit card and B.) use pre-pay cards. Long story short...my cc number was stolen three times this year. When you are a victim of cc fraud, it is a pain to have to set up your auto-pays all over again.

[steve12345]

I had my card # stolen also but it was cancelled imediately and I learned my lesson rather than repeating the lesson. I like the virtual credit card where you create # unique #s each time for a specific amount.

Also, ,my friend on face book mentioned he was going on vacation. I then got emails taht he was m mugged in england and needed $. It ddid not sound like my friend but I had no way of contacting him. I gave the emailer a quiz and the guy actually got 1/2 the answers right by using the internet. Lucky I did not send $

Steve

[Carter]

The credit card issue being discussed is a problem with ALL online transactions. I order things from everbody from Amazon to Mom'n'Pop outfits. Hackers can get into just any database. IOP/OPs are probably more risky but always use a virtual number for online orders.

Off course you numbers can also stolen by someone at a restuarant, or stores,...places you don't you have the virtual with $$limit option.

Time for the Govt to put RFID chips in our forehead or hand...the mark of the beast

[jholden40]

I order things from everbody from Amazon to Mom'n'Pop outfits.

@Carter
Surely, a man of your status doesn't shop at Mom 'n' Pop outfits ?

[Carter]

Not true Mr. @jholden40. I prefer them in many ways. It's shame when you see a super-walmart built in some smaller size town an all the little shops go out of business because they just can't compete with the lower prices of the made in China crap (well maybe not everything at Walmart, but a lot of it), and the one stop shopping convenience. I know it helps some, but it hurts others. Well I'm getting into a politically charged off topic post...

[Atron]

I guess that I've been pretty lucky in that I've never had my information stolen or used nefariously before. I've also been using my credit card online usually several times a week from everything from amazon to IOPs and small shops.

I don't think I've done anything special to protect myself, I guess it's just luck mostly.

I've had more of a problem with my banks temporarily closing down my account because they thought a purchase I made was fraudulent.

[Roswell1947]

I had my #cc stolen a few months ago and since I only used it
at one vendor I know who it was.
I won't mention them as they are very popular.
I now use the netSpend Visa and it works everywhere
and I leave just enough on it so it won't matter.
Whatever you do don't use a Debit/Credit card.
They can clean out your account because it's your money
they are stealing. With a Credit Card it's the bank's money
so you're covered.

[Hemanne]

I have never had any problem with debit/CC being abused and since joining here I use a VCard. A kind of buy it as you need it for as much as you need CC. A small fee but peace of mind.

@Rowell10mg AFAIK a debit/CC is covered as a CC. Any purchases on mine need verification by me anyway. Different ways in different places though, I'm in Oz.

Surely if your CC was abused by a popular vendor you should say who, never mind the shills, people will defend your right according to your veracity. At least I will.

[dmp336]

I sometimes worry about using my credit card for online purchases but I guess this kind of thing can happen almost anywhere. Lucky for me though, I have horrible credit so if someone would steal my identity, I would have to thank them lol! But in all seriousness, identity theft is awful! And if you are anything like me, I can't say I'm good at checking statements, etc. I guess it's always a good idea to remain on guard!

[Roswell1947]

AFAIK a debit/CC is covered as a CC. Any purchases on mine need verification by me anyway. Different ways in different places though, I'm in Oz.

Yes. Each bank has a different policy.
Mine was if you notify them within 24 hrs then they
would replace the funds.
After that, It might take 6 months.
Check with your bank and get the name (business card)
of the person you spoke to (in case they deny it later.)

[wnbafan]

I had my #cc stolen a few months ago and since I only used it
at one vendor I know who it was.
I won't mention them as they are very popular.
I now use the netSpend Visa and it works everywhere
and I leave just enough on it so it won't matter.
Whatever you do don't use a Debit/Credit card.
They can clean out your account because it's your money
they are stealing. With a Credit Card it's the bank's money
so you're covered.

@Rowell, the Netspend works for international purchases I take it? I've been trying to compare them with Green Dot to see which is the cheapest that will work on international orders.
Thanks! (Though my first post about the cc # being stolen, it was actually the second time this year it has happened)

[Roswell1947]

the Netspend works for international purchases I take it?

Yes. I'd mention all the vendors but we're not in the senior section.
The card is pricey, but for me wasting time & gas with greendots.etc
is a hassle. @wnbafan

[JoeyButtafuoco]

It is any online purchase that makes your card susceptible to theft. My Mom had her card numbers stolen after she bought something from a large online sewing store.

I feel IOPs are more dangerous though. They are all about making money, so I think they have no problems selling your info. It is another source of income for them.

[steve12345]

i know for a fact the problem was the online store fro clickremedy. The vendor is a good seller of medicine but his website flagged my card as fraud. The credit card company not only stopped the transaction they also cancelled the card. They told me that the place I had a order with in known to have stolen card #'s before. I will still do business with Click remedy but use Western union and he offers to give 10 % for medicine than you ordered to make up for the western union fee. (doesn't quite cover it but it is a good gesture).

Steve

[renwick]

The most annoying thing is how the VISA/MasterCard vendors can't provide a little bit of service like disposable numbers to their customers. Even if the 16-digit ID is too limited to provide such a service, you'd think that they could devise some way to provide a disposable random number that can be used for online purchases.

Name + random number = secure transaction that can only be used once. This would require how much effort to implement?

Pitiful that stealing credit card numbers online is even a possibility.

[eerfan]

The credit card issue being discussed is a problem with ALL online transactions. I order things from everbody from Amazon to Mom'n'Pop outfits. Hackers can get into just any database. IOP/OPs are probably more risky but always use a virtual number for online orders.

Off course you numbers can also stolen by someone at a restuarant, or stores,...places you don't you have the virtual with $$limit option.

Time for the Govt to put RFID chips in our forehead or hand...the mark of the beast

This is a sad state of affairs but truly an indication of the times we are living in. I mean look at the way driver's licenses have changed throughout the years. I remember New Jersey having a 'type-writer' esque license. Now look at Virginia's and whoa!

[UniverseDecay]

so prepaid isnt the way to go? nobody answered my question. what about visa gift cards? is there a prepaid card that doesnt ask for social security number? nobody is saying anything about that little nuance