#### Has Your Credit Card Been Compromised?###

Tominator

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,559
1
0
There has been quite a bit of hacking of computer data bases as we all well know.

I was first recently alerted on the Hot Deals Forum of one such possible bogus charge...
CC Fraud! OT, but mods, please allow - *EVERYONE* pls read

I indeed got a charge of $10.26 from GLOBAL TELECOM !

After a go around with the idiots at Bank One, and they knew of this but had no plan of action and is causing me tons of trouble, I got the following E-Mail from on of the more popular merchants on the web...

Dear Customer,

Egghead.com has discovered that a hacker has accessed our computer
systems, potentially including our customer databases. While there
is no indication that any customer information has been compromised,
as a precautionary measure, we have taken immediate steps to protect
you by contacting the credit card companies with whom we work. They
are in the process of alerting card issuers and banks so that they
can take the necessary steps to ensure the security of cardholders
who may be affected.

We wish to underscore that we have taken these steps as precautions.
We have no information at this time to suggest that any credit card
information has been compromised. We are investigating this possibility,
and we are doing everything we can to proactively protect you. If you
would like further information, you may wish to contact the issuer of
your credit card to determine what steps they are taking. We regret any
inconvenience this may cause you.

We issued a press release on this matter earlier today. It is appended
below this message. If you have additional questions, please call our
customer service team at 1-800-EGGHEAD (344-4323).

Respectfully,

Jeff Sheahan
President & CEO
Egghead.com, Inc.



Press Release:

Contact:
Joanne Hartzell
Egghead.com, Inc (650) 470-2713
John Stodder, Shoreen Maghame
Edelman Worldwide, (323) 857-9100


Egghead.com Investigates Breach of Company Computer Systems
Company Undertakes Immediate Precautionary Measures
MENLO PARK, Calif., December 22, 2000 - Egghead.com ®, Inc. (Nasdaq:
EGGS), released the following statement today:
"Egghead.com has discovered that a hacker has accessed our computer
systems, potentially including customer databases. As a precautionary
measure, we have taken immediate steps to protect our customers by
contacting the credit card companies we work with. They are in the
process of alerting card issuers and banks so that they can take the
necessary steps to ensure the security of cardholders who may be affected.

"Simultaneously, we have retained the world's leading computer security
experts to conduct a thorough investigation of our security procedures
and an analysis of this breach. We are also working with law enforcement
authorities, who are in the process of conducting a criminal investigation.

"For many months, we have been in the process of strengthening our security
systems in an effort to combat the increasing, industry-wide problem of
malicious hacking. We are committed to providing the highest security
standards in the industry, a process that has been ongoing and has
involved a considerable investment on the part of our company. Those
principles will continue to guide us going forward."

About Egghead.com: Egghead.com is a leading Internet direct marketer of
technology and related products. With an emphasis on Small- to Medium-sized
Business (SMB) customers, Egghead.com offers a wide range of products from
computer hardware and software, consumer electronics and office products,
to sporting goods and vacation packages. Its Clearance, After Work and
Auction formats offer bargains on excess and closeout goods and services.
Egghead.com combines broad selection, low prices, and excellent service
to provide an outstanding online shopping experience for businesses and
consumers. Egghead.com is located on the Internet at http://www.egghead.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to statements relating
to steps taken to protect our customers. These forward-looking statements
are based on information available to the company at the time of this
release and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking
statements. The statements in this release are not guarantees of future
performance. Actual results could differ materially from current expectations
as a result of numerous factors. For example, our ability to protect our
customers from potential misuse of private information is limited, and the
impact of compromised computed security on our business is unpredictable.
Other risks and uncertainties associated with the business are detailed in
our most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q which are on file with the SEC and
available through www.sec.gov

Shoreen Maghame
Edelman Worldwide
(323) 857-9100 ext. 231
e-mail: shoreen.maghame@edelman.com


Due to our desire to ensure every person who may be affected has been notified,
you may be receiving this message even if previously expressing a desire not to
receive email from Egghead.com. If this is the case, please be assured you will
not be receiving promotional emails from Egghead.com in the future.

To be removed from our mailing list please go to:
http://promo2.eggheadlist.com/blist.asp?e=XXXXXX@HOME.COM


I'm sure this isn't the last time.....

Check and double check every charge!!!

The GLOBAL TELECOM fraudulent charge was on my Wife's card and she has never bought from Egghead btw.

Mods, I wasn't sure where to put this post, but the General Hardware Forum gets the most exposure. Feel free to move this post if you think it would be more effective elsewhere.
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
27,370
239
106
Last year I got a strange charge for over $700 on my GM Master Card from some store in Russia! I immediately called GM's service center and they issued me a new card immediately and began serious action to track that down. I did not have to pay for it . . . and I think we traced it to an on-line order I placed for an Athlon K7 with Lynn Computers in Ft. Lauderdale (land of intelligent voters!). That's where it apparently got hacked.

I read about the Egghead problem . . . and it is also linked to a Russian operation. Your friends at Bank One deserve a kick in the pants.
 

Cybordolphin

Platinum Member
Oct 25, 1999
2,813
0
0
Figures it was doing business in Florida. That state (as well as Texas), have got to be two of the most corrupt states in America. Thanks for the HU.
 

divinemartyr

Platinum Member
Oct 18, 2000
2,439
1
71
Texas is pretty corrupt, I can say that only living here just over a year, but I think LA is the root of all evil. Hollywood, orange county, money, drugs, gangs commonplace. You don't find true ghettos anywhere but in and around LA.

Back to the matter at hand, I've had great luck this holiday season making my purchases online. No fraudulent charges yet and I'm a Bank one cardholder myself. That isn't to say I haven't had some problems with them in the last 2 months, because I have, but it wasn't regarding fraudulent charges.

divinemartyr
 

divinemartyr

Platinum Member
Oct 18, 2000
2,439
1
71
Oh and one more thing, what makes you say Florida is corrupt? I haven't ever seen much evidence of that while in Florida and I've been to several parts.

divinemartyr
 
Oct 9, 1999
15,216
3
81
well i got the letter from egghead. i am on vacation now and cant check th3 card I used to buy stuff off egghead.
anycase i am looking into it.

maybe tommorow afternoon I should be able to access it. the bank system goes for maintanence on sunday/monday night around 1am pst.

oh well..nothing to worry as long nothings damaged.
 

Rigoletto

Banned
Aug 6, 2000
1,207
0
0
A couple of months ago someone went spending over £500 on my credit card number at health and fitness store. I personally am pretty sure where they got my number from. But my credit card company were so good about it, refunded the charge and gave me a new card. So why do I need to play Sherlock?
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Earlier this year I had several charges show up on my card that I was not responsible for. Apparently, someone had the balls to charge around $170 to various porn sites. :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :|
 

DELUX

Member
Apr 11, 2000
147
0
0
All Im going to say is remember DONT give any info to anyone online that you would not give to a total stranger on the street. Also remember that just because you are a responsible person with your card number does not mean those gosh darn gee golly wiz merchants are( no matter what they try to claim)So only buy at reputable sites, I too have been billed with "mysterious" charges.
*Double check every statement*

PS- Sorry for sounding like a worried mother :p
 

jamarno

Golden Member
Jul 4, 2000
1,035
0
0
corky-g, I just learned a few days ago that my First USA Mastercard had a $10 charge applied to it from Russia, but I haven't used the card since October, and then not online.
 

Bludhound

Junior Member
Oct 30, 2000
21
0
0
I work for Visa, and fortunately, customers have recourse on getting their money back (a 'chargeback') for any disputed Mail/Phone orders, and Internet orders fall into this category. About 95% of the disputes I handle usually involve this porn sites. Be careful when using your card anywhere, esp gas stations and restaurants...as these are frequent points of comprimise. As well, destroy uneeded receipts as they contain both CC# and expiry date, the two things needed to put a charge on your acct.

-BH
 

Shockwave

Banned
Sep 16, 2000
9,059
0
0
Very simple work around....Debit card. Use it for online purchases, and only keep enough to cover what you buy. That way, if the money isnt there, nothing gets bought. Its what I do, use it for online purchases, then haul booty to the bank to transfer money into the account.
 

damien6

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,256
0
0
Damn!! I rarely ever look at the charges on my statements and usually just pay them off every month before the wife has the chance to take a peek at them. I guess I have to go through the extra labor of seeing what silly things I purchased the month before so I can regret it even more. :)

I receive few of those very same emails from Egghead in every one of my email accounts.

Bludhound - you're so right. I remember a while back when I had to call back to dispute no less than 12 adult websites. :p (Yea right, "we won't charge your CC if you cancel before the end of the month"):eek:


Shockwave - doesn't help much when you have somewhat decent amount in your account for other bills / overdraft protection / emergencies /automatic bill payments, etc... I guess not everyone is as lazy as myself.