Credit Card Fraud

[billyjak]

My credit card just got hacked and my last purchase was from Crucial.com
I was visiting Buy.com breifly to check a price.
They charged from Casio.Inc.com $435.00
Twice from Buy.com $315.00 and $473.00 and made more attempts to my card that did not go through, because my Credit card put a hold on it for unusuall activity.
Thanks to them they stopped it before another attempt.
I always thought the Internet was safe at a secure sight, not now.
I had some peculiar action when I went to Buy.com's sight and that's where I beleive the hacker got into my machine.
I never thought it would happen to me, Wrong, I won't be ordering from the Internet anymore lately.

I have a question: Should I reformat my Hard Drive to remove any traces of Credit card numbers on my machine.
I don't want to get burnned again.
Having a crappy day here when I just heard the news.
I'm going back to the local stores to buy my computer equipment.

 

[Trevelyan]

I wouldn't reformat, just clear all your cookies. Also, don't stop buying from the internet, just get a CC that's protected, like one of those American Express Blue cards I've heard so much about. They'll give you a one time CC # for a purchase, so even if someone gets ahold of that number, they won't be able to charge anything to it.

 

[TheGrandHooHa]

Well, I've never actually had a credit card get hacked, but here is what I'd do in any situation where I felt I might have been hacked via the Internet:

!!!EDIT::: Also do what Trevelyan says to do above. I forgot to put that in, but clearing cookies CAN help, even if you don't get a new credit card.!!!

1) Run a virus scan with the most recent scan engine AND virus data files that the program has out.
2) Clean or, if possible, even DELETE files infected with Trojan-type viruses, even if they could be cleaned. Just don't delete anything that looks important.
3) Update your Internet browser to the latest version. Internet Explorer should be at 5.5/6, and Netscape should be at 4.7/6 .

That's all I can tell you. Try that, and you should be safe. It is extremely "rare" to get hacked through the Internet now adays (at least as far as having a credit card hacked goes). I doubt it would happen to you again.

Also, even once you do all the crap above, do regular virus scans and get rid of Trojans... or any virus for that matter, but definitely keep your eyes peeled for Trojans, and change passwords if you get hit with one.

 

[jagr10]

The hacker can't really profit from this because he would be traced if he ordered anything to his house. He could just be malicious and order it to someone else's house. Couldn't they just trace the ip? "they" being the online sites the hacker used the credit card info?

 

[MiamiJones]

Hi,
Yeah what you heard is true. Clean out your pc after every use. I suggest you use a debit card and transfer money from a credit card to a debit card when you are ready to buy. IT is so easy for us as the shoppers to protect ourselves, so why don't we. JUST don't live on the fact you see a padlock icon on your browesr. .....:disgust::|:|

Hackers are only as good as we make them....being clumsy makes them appear smart !

 

[Jiggz]

I've been victimized of unauthorized charges on my AMEX, but never did I stopped shopping from the Internet. All illegal charges made were also credited by AMEX. One of the simple security measures you can do is to make sure your browser does not use the Auto Complete and Password Restore options. Disable this options and always clear cookies after each surfing. Better yet, filter cookies that you accept. If you made claim to the illegal charges made to your CC, the store will be at lost. This is because they allowed a CC charge with a different billing address and delivery address. Most stores nowadays will not accept CC charge unless both are the same.

 

[Jiggz]

I've been victimized of unauthorized charges on my AMEX, but never did I stopped shopping from the Internet. All illegal charges made were also credited by AMEX. One of the simple security measures you can do is to make sure your browser does not use the Auto Complete and Password Restore options. Disable this options and always clear cookies after each surfing. Better yet, filter cookies that you accept. If you made claim to the illegal charges made to your CC, the store will be at lost. This is because they allowed a CC charge with a different billing address and delivery address. Most stores nowadays will not accept CC charge unless both are the same.

 

[billyjak]

Thanks for the Info, I already disabeld auto complete and will do the other, I'm going to erase my cookies now.
I probably will order again but now I'm a bit paranoid.

 

[billyjak]

I diasabled cookies , but the Index.dat file would not deleate, whats up with that

 

[mindiris]

Interesting...you said peculiar. It's possible you entered a "look-alike" site if you mistype the web address (About a year ago I had a shock when I typed in an address of a bank incorrectly...the site looked quite like the original) Or DNS was not actually pointed to the real site due to another hack.

Always have 128-bit encryption, update your IE/NS browser to the latest "security fixes", clear those damn cookies before and after ordering, auto-complete off (Considering the friggin' things aren't encrypted, I'd say the feature is quite dangerous), and keep the virus scanner current. Then make sure the certificate checks out correctly (and that you aren't clicking on a really well made javascript "padlock" image :Q)

 

[Kartajan]

Not to fuel the paranoia, but credit card theft is Much easier from the store than from the internet. All it takes is the carbon from the original transaction, or a copy of the receipt to go on a shopping spree via <phone, internet>.

If you any CC shopping in the store, ALWAYS get the carbon...

 

[billyjak]

I have 128 bit encription installed and Internet 6.0.2479
I have extec setup set to clear the cookies now.
I never thought about look alike sights, I see how good the hackers are now.
I wrote a letter to my Credit Card Company as i was told to do.
Sure hope i don't have to pay for these Bogus charges, ouch, thats alot of money
Some serious upgrade money at that, at least my sence of hummer is intact.

 

[Medea]

As long as you notified the CC companies in a timely manner, the worst case scenario is that you *may* have to pay a max of $50.

 

[billyjak]

I just made the phone call to the CC Company and my wife typed the letter and it's in the mail already. That's good news, $50.00 I can handle but not over $1,000.00

 

[Medea]

One other thing. When you're sending an important letter (like yours) and you don't send it certified s/r/r, you should then always do two things:

1. Send the letter using a &quot;Certificate of Mailing&quot; slip from the Post Office.
2. Keep a copy of the letter you sent.

You can pick up a bunch of Certificates of Mailing from the Post Office. You fill out the From section and the To section. The post office stamps the Certificate with the date it was mailed, and it only costs around 65 cents.

 

[apoppin]

Sometimes the problem is with the site you purchased from. Occasionally it's in the news that THEY got hacked and credit card numbers DO get stolen.

I wouldn't worry overmuch. Follow the above directions to do the best you can do from your end and rest secure that there IS protection from your Credit Card company (much better than using most debit cards).

EDIT: Bad news - Certificate of Mailings now cost $.75 as of July 1, 2001.

 

[billyjak]

I beleive I got this hacked at a make beleive Buy.com sight.
I was going to orer from there and it didn't do anything.
Whatch out for Buy.com if your going to purchase from there.