The Evolving Face of Credit Card Scams 232
An anonymous reader writes "The 12 Angry Men have a followup to their piece on the cross-sell scam credit card companies have begun using. Their new article concerns another evolving scam being employed, where users are racking up huge fees and charges on cards that have never even been activated. The article goes deep into the standard way the scam plays out, as well as detailing some interesting history on how credit applications are processed, and where they are typically (and frighteningly) subject to tampering."
Come on (Score:5, Funny)
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Simple (sort of) solution: (Score:4, Insightful)
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I disagree. I'm a college freshman, and I just picked up one of the Linux Fund [linuxfund.org] credit cards. I'm not in any sort of debt -- in fact, I pay off the card in full every month, if not more often (if I've made a large purchase) to keep the balance down. If you pay for all your purchases at the end of every month, a credit card is an awesome tool to simplify your life rather than a potential source of monstrous debt. Just don't spend what you don't have, and you'll be fine.
Re:Simple (sort of) solution: (Score:5, Insightful)
Wrong. Using credit gets you into debt, maybe, but not me. Credit does not get you into debt; debt comes from not repaying your creditors.
People these days just can't accept personal responsibility for things; it's ridiculous.
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Now, what exactly did your pedantifilia add to the discussion?
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However, we are extended all sorts of credit, yet we wouldn't define it as debt until the payment is late. Just because you haven't yet paid for your meal or your gas doesn't mean you're in debt. It just means you have yet to pay.
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People these days just can't accept personal responsibility for things; it's ridiculous.
You're correct, although I understand that some people can't resist the temptation to over-spend. From my point of view, use of credit cards can actually make people wealthier rather than poorer, in 4 ways:
* Rewards. It's easy to find a credit card that gives you some percentage of you
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Scams and identity theft can lead the crooks to your cash as well (if its in a bank). If someone steals money out of your credit card account, they stole the banks money but if they steal money out of a debit card, they steal your money. Guess who is in a better situation to deal with the loss?
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Choosing not to use credit cards sounds pretty responsible to me. Not only is it fiscally responsible, but he knows his limits and is sticking to them. What's not to like about that?
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Wrong.
Credit cards, by their very definition, put the user in debt. You have borrowed money from the lender, albeit in an automated way, in order to purchase something. Admittedly there is an agreement that interest will not be charged on you loan unless you fail to pay it off in time. However, after that point, the interest rates are colossal.
People think that you're onl
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That's not necessarily true, because of a nice feature named overdraft protection [responsiblelending.org]. It's a big moneymaker for banks; you could argue it's an opt-in service, but here's a recent press release [msnscache.com], describing a debit card with "built-in" overdraft protection (the link is to the cache, because the original
Re:Simple (sort of) solution: (Score:4, Insightful)
It all started when I made a series of mistakes (ancient history) and ended up having myself added to the bank account of a girlfriend so that we could access the same cash pool. Her account, my name added for ATM access. That relationship didn't work out and, after returning the ATM card, we parted ways.
So, none the wiser, I went to the same bank and opened my own account and got my own ATM card, and life as a bachelor was good. That is until about a year later when I got a call from the bank.
The woman on the phone explained that my girlfriend had over-drawn her account by nearly $1,000 and, since my name was on the account I shared the responsibility for payment. "Excuse me? No, no, you don't understand..." Furthermore, since my account is also with the same bank, they can just transfer the funds from my account to hers for added convenience. "EXCUSE ME?" A spat ensued. She won, though I got in my share of colorful euphemisms.
Ever since I have refused to do my banking with anything bigger than a local credit union who takes care of customers with nervous precision.
Re:Simple (sort of) solution: (Score:5, Insightful)
The right thing to do would have been to do more than return the ATM card to your ex-, but also remove yourself from the account.
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Sounds pretty straight forward to me -- he was sleeping with her and received financial gain. There's a word for that, I'm trying to remember it...um...
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I have a persona
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Not only can overdraft allow crooks to charge more up on your account before they're stopped, unless your bank is nice you're out of that money until the investigation is complete.
With a CC card, it's the CC company that's left holding the debt until the iss
Re:Simple (sort of) solution: (Score:5, Insightful)
Hmmm, I have about $150,000 of debt to three separate institutions, and not a single one of them is a credit card company. Well, not counting credit cards paid off within 30 days with no finance charges as "debt." I have about $50,000 available on my cards, and use it like a convenient checkbook that pays me money for using it and takes nothing from me in return. Anyone not using credit cards for all possible purchases is losing money.
If you were to use a debit card instead, then you stand to loose something, but once it runs out, it's gone and they can't keep charging more.
Debit (tied into your bank account) gives you less protection than a credit card. Also, if there is a problem and your charge account is frozen, if you have credit cards, you pull out another. Most people don't have a full backup checking account in case the first one doesn't work.
Credit is necessary in some circumstances, but for day-to-day purchases, you might be better off without one.
The way I see it, using a credit card for all purchases gives me rebates (cash, airline miles or whatever) protects my checking account from loss, and leaves a more trackable account history than checks or cash. Using credit cards is something people should do, not avoid. Now, the question of paying it off is a completely separate issue. Just like you shouldn't write a check your account can't cash, neither should you charge something more than what you can write the check for when the bill comes.
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Hmmm, I have about $150,000 of debt to three separate institutions, and not a single one of them is a credit card company. Well, not counting credit cards paid off within 30 days with no finance charges as "debt." I have about $50,000 available on my cards, and use it like a convenient checkbook that pays me money for using it and takes nothing from me in return. Anyone not using credit cards for all possible purchases is losing money.
Many non chain stores will discount you ~4.0% for using cash. So unless you make back more the 4% you sometimes lose money using credit. The 4% is the amount the credit company charges the merchant. Which is in fact where a large part of the credit companies revenue comes from.
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Where do you live? My understanding was that in the US the merchant agreements with the credit card companies prevented differential pricing. I think I read though that Australia passed legislating preventing this type of agreement and allowing differential prices.
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Nobody in the US does this, or at least not anybody i've ever seen during visits to stores in 14 different states and DC.
Re:Simple (sort of) solution: (Score:4, Insightful)
Agreed. My only debt is my credit card, which I pay off every month. I've had it for about 2 years, spent plenty of money (bought a HDTV, and a Laptop, along with all my gas) and yet I've never paid them a cent of interest.
The thing about credit cards is that they are a double edged sword. One edge is blunt, the other is sharp as hell. If you do what I (and the parent poster) do, it's a blunt sword. You use it to make life a little easier, you get a small benefit (1% cash back or whatever, depends on card and whatnot). If you screw up, they bleed you. Chances are you don't get 10% interest rates. Most people don't. But even 8-10% can be quite a bit of money.
But that requires you to be responsible. To pay your bill on time. To only spend money you already have.
If you don't do that, a credit card is a really sharp sword. Playing with credit cards (especially the "I'll move my balances to this new 0% card" game) is russian roulette. You know how sharp things like Ginsu Knives are (in the ads, not in real life)? Multiply that by 100, coat the sword in motor oil, and that's what a card is.
If you can't control you spending, you will get yourself into big debt. There is a decent chance that the debt will become normal to you. Once you get one card, it is easy for you to get another if "run out of money" (a.k.a. your up to your limit). You will dig yourself in DEEP.
My best summary would be this: if you don't need a credit card, if you don't spend money... they are safe. If you "need" a credit card, if you like to spend money... they are very VERY dangerous.
There are things that could be done. Overturning that stupid ruling that let banks export usury rates. Ban advertising cards on college campuses (as well as promotions involving cards... no more "Buy one pizza, get one free when you sign up for a Visa card"). Make it illegal to give cards to people who are near their credit limit on most/all their cards already. No "loyalty" cards that have credit attached (i.e. what you see at Best Buy, Circuit City, Nordstrooms, Gap... just about everywhere. Mandatory financial counseling in school (Ohio is moving to something like this I hear) so that kids have a chance to learn this stuff the easy way.
And of course, credit card companies tend to be on the evil side of shady. But I think that of most banks at this point, cable companies, cell phone companies, and quite a few others. What can I say... I'm not a big fan of how many large companies are run.
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Start. At least once a year allow at least a small amount of debt to roll over (which you then pay in full the next month). It actually helps build your credit score to have it on record that you had a standing debt that you repaid. A bit silly I know, but that's the way the strange c
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You think CC cards are high? The complaints I've been hearing is about the payday loan places - many charge so much that their effective interest rate is 400%!! Heck, a federal law recently went into effect limiting the rate charged to military members and their dependents to 36%, and suddenly the payday loan places don't want to talk to military.
Make it illegal to give cards to people who are near their credit limit on most/all their cards
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Re:Simple (sort of) solution: (Score:4, Informative)
When you get scammed with a credit card, you call your card company, explain the situation, they say "Thank you Mr. X, we'll investigate it", and then a month or two later you'll get a refund. At no point during this situation did you actually lose any money. At worst your credit limit was artificially low for this period.
When you get scammed with a debit card, you call your bank, explain the situation, they say "Thank you Mr. X, we'll investigate it", and then a month or two later you'll get a refund. In the intervening period you have no money. If you are like many people and have no significant liquid assets outside your checking account, you may end up not eating for a while.
Also note that if you lose your debit card and someone starts using it with your PIN (that they may have scraped off a keypad you used just before they stole the card from you) then you are liable for the charges right up to the point where you call the bank. If a credit card is stolen then you are never liable for any charges you did not personally make unless your signature is present, and even then you are limited to $50/charge.
I personally never use my debit cards because the possibility of having the information stolen is too scary. On the other hand I use credit cards freely have no worries about getting them stolen, because even if someone steals my information the process for resolving it is painless. Of course I also watch what I spend and pay off my cards every month, so that I never get any finance charges. Some people are not capable of staying out of debt when carrying a credit card, and to them I would recommend sticking to cash or checks.
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A work mate of mine had his bank account emptied a few years ago. He spoke to the bank, contested the purchases/withdrawals, and he had his money back within a day or two.
True, he then had to contest the charges for going over his overdraft limit, but they were dropped too. The poi
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Your right. I just filled out a form on Discover's web site and they reversed the charge within a few days. Granted it was only about $30, putting it well below the cost of finding a replacement customer. However, since the chargebacks are usually passed straight back to the merchant, the amount of the charge shouldn't too be significant.
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If someone obtains your debit card number, they can empty the account(s) behind it and you have very little recourse, at least here in the USA. A debit card is the virtual equivalent of cash. It looks and feels like a "credit card", but the two are completely different financial instruments.
In contrast, if you promptly report a stolen credit card then you aren't liable for the charges the thief racks up. Yes, there's
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This is just horrible advice. Using credit cards actually provides sig
Re:Simple (sort of) solution: (Score:5, Insightful)
A lot of people gamble and get into trouble because of bad judgement. It's sort of like that. Basically a lot of adults act like kids, and you have to expect that as the norm.
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There really is no requirement for people to act as if compulsive behavior is uncontrollable.
The roots lay elsewhere...
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When we realize we don't NEED this junk and especially when we know how to wait for things ("good things come to those who wait", ain't you heard?), how to save up for stuff (this is one of my vices, I spend money like sand going through my fingers)
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Re:Simple (sort of) solution: (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:Simple (sort of) solution: (Score:5, Informative)
Of course they do. Then again, with things like payday loans and rent to own(effective interest: up to 400%!), there's plenty of people who get into trouble even without credit cards with an interest rate generally less than 30%.
Many people are not disciplined enough to do what you recommend.
True, of course even though I do the same thing, there are things I could theoretically do to increase my earnings/save money even more, but even though it should be fine, I consider it too dangerous or too much work.
For example, I could get a home mortgage for ~6%. My investment returns are averaging 10%. So I could theoretically make more money keeping my house mortgaged(essentially renting it), and going for that 4% marginal. Sure, I'd have to pay income tax on the 10%, but the interest for the house is deductible. Still, that means risking my house - for a measly 4% on average. Sure, some people do it, but I don't like it.
We'd probably be better off teaching fiscal responsibility and budgeting in HS, but even then - we can't make people listen, and that 52" plasma TV looks real good...
Here I am driving a 5 year old car(bought new, paid off, I plan to drive it at least 10 years. $300/month pays for a lot of repairs. Stuff left over once I decide to get rid of it can go towards buying a new car - possibly entirely. I also have a 7 year old 32" TV I bought on special, etc...
But there's people who make less than me running around with HDTVs and expensive cars etc... My only consolidation is that I'm much more likely to be able to retire early and with a better standard of living than them. My goal is to be one of those 'quiet millionaires'. You know, live modestly, but have no real financial worries.
you won't be a 'quiet millionaire' with that mind (Score:5, Interesting)
The fundamental risk in owning a house lies in the ownership itself, not whether you have a mortgage. If you live in a state where you can be forced to join a "homeowner's" association even after buying your house, then your house is at risk. If you aren't providing your own water and sewage service, then your house is at risk. Hell, if anybody else ever sets foot on your property (with or without your permission), then your house is at risk. Having a fixed-rate mortgage on your house does not risk your house in ways different from those. The currently-fashionable term for that 4% you're stupidly passing up is 'carry trade', btw. Yes, a few years ago the mortgage officer reacted like I was a three-headed alien when I insisted on a 30-year, fixed-rate, no-prepayment-penalty mortgage but that's the difference between 'safe risks' and 'Alan Greenspan risks'.
If you think buying your car outright means that you can budget the $300/mo that would have been a car payment for repairs instead of considering that money as not-yet-spent funds to purchase the car that will replace the one you're currently driving -- you will not become one of us. Financially, the difference between buying your car for 'cash' vs. on credit is that you save the interest costs and (if you did it right) had benefited from the returns made on the not-yet-spent funds but you still need to include that 'car payment' in your budget *every* month rather than just the months after your current car dies.
That said, you'd have to have rocks in your head to believe you will be able to average 10% investment returns over (roughly) the next two years.
Re:you won't be a 'quiet millionaire' with that mi (Score:5, Informative)
if you refuse to take an easy, reliable >4% return on an amount as large as those involved with a mortgage you will not become of one us (hint even if your tax rate is currently so low that the tax advantages accompanying the mortgage interest do not boost your marginal return above the 4% difference you cited, your tax rate will go up in time to add that bonus).
Your acceptance of risk is higher than mine. I'm a bit scarred in that I first started investing just before 9/11. Lost half my initial investment. On paper, I didn't pull it out, and it eventually recovered. Now, I will admit that I'm paying the minimum on my mortgage and investing instead. Then again, I got a sweetheart interest rate, much better than the 6% I could otherwise get. Still, I'm building equity in the house - which I want. Worst case I can still make it - it's just going to take a bit longer.
Having a fixed-rate mortgage on your house does not risk your house in ways different from those.
I have insurance for the other events. Home Owner's association? I could practically set up a firing range in my yard and the neighbors are more likely to come over and shoot with me than call the cops. As for fixed rate mortgage what I was really talking about was manipulating loans such that you have zero equity most of the time - think 'interest only loan'.
This way I still own my house if the stock markets crash and I lose my job.
If you think buying your car outright means that you can budget the $300/mo that would have been a car payment for repairs instead of considering that money as not-yet-spent funds to purchase the car that will replace the one you're currently driving -- you will not become one of us.
I think you misread me - the $300 payment that represented my car payment when I was still paying it off. What I'm doing now is placing that money into investments each month earmarked 'car'. It's a little more bookkeeping to keep track of the number of shares for that purpose, but whatever. It's a somewhat nebulous fund that's meant to pay for major vehicle expenses - not including gas or routine maintenance, but including buying a new car. Basically, I know that some major maintenance will probably be required between now and 10 years. That $300/month will more than cover that. If the maintenance is too bad, or the car no longer meets my needs, then the fund goes towards a new car; ideally buying it 100% cash. The 10 year point is merely a goal, not a end point. If I still like the car, I could drive it for 12. It's just that I figure after 5 I'll have plenty of money, even assuming some repairs, to buy a new car. The way I look at it - if I end up spending $900 in year 8 to get to year 10 I'm still ahead of the game.
Financially, the difference between buying your car for 'cash' vs. on credit is that you save the interest costs and (if you did it right) had benefited from the returns made on the not-yet-spent funds but you still need to include that 'car payment' in your budget *every* month rather than just the months after your current car dies.
That's what I meant. $300 monthly payment ceased going into GM's pocket and into my portfolio, earmarked 'car'. I just don't feel the need to mark it exclusively for 'new car', instead choosing to allow it to also be used for sane repairs on my existing vehicle - after all, I'm still ahead as long as it's costing less than $300/month to keep running in a suitable condition. Heck, if it reached $100/month to keep going, I'd be car shopping.
I'm firmly on my way to a somewhat early retirement - I'll have the $1million, after starting with essentially 0 as a teen. I could do it faster, but I do like some luxuries, like my $1200 gaming machine(built myself to save money). Of course, my last gaming computer was four years old when I replaced it, so it ends up being a lot cheaper than drinking at a bar.
Re:you won't be a 'quiet millionaire' with that mi (Score:2)
Re:Simple (sort of) solution: (Score:5, Interesting)
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Assuming an *Average* return of 10%, and that you invest half your income -
You'd be able to retire* in 8-12 years. 8 years would replace your lifestyle(you're used to living on 50% of your income), 12 years for full income replacement. Given that you are used to a lower lifestyle - that should cover the benefits rather nicely.
Of course, this is forgetting about inflation, pay increases, etc... Assuming a 5% pay increase each year, you'd need 9 years net in
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You can withdraw early from retirement accounts without penality as long as you take "substantially equal distributions" as calculted by various IRS formulas. There are sites that can guide you through it. The relevant term is "42(t) withdrawl", 42(t) being the part of the tax code that allows it.
Re:Simple (sort of) solution: (Score:4, Informative)
Seriously, keep the card in your checkbook with a register. When you buy something, deduct it from your checking account. Total up those expenses when the bill comes, verify charges are good, and send them a check in full each month.
Re:Simple (sort of) solution: (Score:4, Insightful)
But most of what credit card companies do is too much, even for me.
For example, look at this [cnn.com]. Bank of America gave this guy a big credit limit at a "fixed" rate of 6.9%. Then he borrowed on that for wedding expenses, at which point it immediately shot up to 20%. Now, we can debate the merits of going that far into debt for that purpose. And certainly, the fine print allowed that. But advertising a 7% rate that becomes 20% if you have the audacity to actually take the offer? It's legalized fraud.
And on top of that, you have to get a credit card to exist in the financial system, even if you don't borrow against it.
(And then there's the whole issue of why the risk-free rate is so low despite the non-existent savings rate for Americans...)
Re:Bank of America is a big SOB (Score:3, Informative)
I used to be a BoA customer for about 4 years just as a casual card holder. Last year I had some unexpected expenses that basically maxed the card at at about 2 months of my income which over all isn't critical to me. Then about a month later I get a letter saying my interest rate is going from 7% to 20%.
I called them up and asked why in the world was my interest rate being increased since I have never had a late payment in my life a
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What, you think people give stuff away for free? Believe me, you have more than paid for those perks. You just don't realize it.
Cash Users Subsidize Credit Users (Score:3, Insightful)
In the form of higher prices due to interchange fees, higher prices I'd pay even if I used cash. Using a credit card is a no-brainer. Take the 30-day interest free loan and a refund of 1-5% of the interchange fee. Of course, actually carrying a balance is equally a no-brainer; don't do it.
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Ironically, CC companies call those people "Dead-Beats". However, as a commuter, I can safely say that I will continue to use my gas credit card to continue to save 5% on all my gas purchases. A cost that I'd have to pay independent of using a debt or credit card.
Cheers,
Fozzy
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who would cross-sell with such losers? (Score:5, Insightful)
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They're all a bunch of bastards (Score:3, Informative)
Then the credit card company merged with a major US bank. A couple of years later when my old card expired later they sent me a new card with a letter saying that my credit limit increase to $24, 000 was pre approved. I rang their (Indian based) call center to tell them I wanted to complain saying I didn't want this limit and when the call center staff told me that I couldn't go back to my old $500 limit I told them I refused to let them activate the new card and wanted my account cancelled. Six months later I'm STILL trying to get them to cancel my account, the new card has never been activated, I've never confirmed my new credit limit and they keep charging me fees (including some penalty fees) on a card that has no debt run up on it, That has never been used, that I no longer want and that I've asked them to cancel. Next step is that I will lodge a formal complaint with the Banking and Financial Services Ombudsman that arbitrates Credit Card disputes in Australia
Re:They're all a bunch of bastards (Score:4, Funny)
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IANAL, but what they have done sounds like intermeddling. They "provide a service" which you haven't requested and then try to charge for it (like a kid mowing your law at random then claiming you owe him money).
Also it appears you have no contract with this new company. You never accepted the new terms of contract by accepting, and they can't say you are bound by the old contract to agre
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Virtual Account Numbers (Score:5, Informative)
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Like the article mentioned, virtual account numbers are great for online purchases. It's one of the first features I look for. Citibank and Bank of America's virtual card services are both pretty nice, allowing you to set a spending limit for each number, as well as expiration dates. I believe Citibank also locks the number to the first merchant who charges to the virtual account.
I've been using those numbers with MBNA, now BoA, for almost a decade. So far the biggest problem is their fraud department. MBNA actually made a public statement a few years back that they have never had a single case of fraud involving the virtual numbers. Yet their fraud department has been, and as of this sunday, still remains completely ignorant of them.
For those who don't know, you have to log in to a flash application using the same username/password that you use for access to your online stateme
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Card Activation is not necessary (Score:2)
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Activation is just loss-prevention (Score:3, Informative)
Legally, I believe the account is open when the paperwork is signed. It has to be closed using appropriate measures.
"Activation" procedures are just added by the issuers to reduce fraud and other losses. "CC protection" may be expensive, but it's not fraud. Activation only applies to the card sent, not to the account.
Nothingto see here, move along.
Not a scam (Score:2)
The easiest way for them to recover this is by applying the fee to the credit card. It's the stupid consumer's fault for not reading the contract and destroying the second, third, etc notices. From the sound of it, the company did everything they coul
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Riiiiight... Can I have some of that Kool-Aid, my friend?
They are looking for payment for the activation process which, while has negligible cost, still cost them money.
And I should care about this why? If they don't want people to sign up then immediately cancel, stop forcing minimum-wage-slaves who have more to worry about than losing their jobs over meeting "store" CC quotas to push the sponsorship-of-the-week on us.
Yeah, this
ShopSafe vs Progressive/Populist politics (Score:2)
My rules of thumb.... (Score:5, Interesting)
- Get on the OPTOUT list to stop preapproved offers.
- Don't accept a card with a yearly fee, unless there are travel or purchase rewards that you're sure you will use.
- If you have good credit, ignore all offers above 10-12% (excepting rewards cards). I have a 7.9% national city card.
- Don't open new credit card accounts if you're about to buy a house or car.
- Reject offers at the register. There's no possible way you can read the fine print at the checkout.
- Only consider accepting an offer at the register if the discount is at least $50. 10% of $500+. Deactivate the card after a few weeks or so.
- Don't ignore a bill sent to you on a deactivated card. It won't go away on its own.
- Don't signup for insurance through your credit card company. Buy insurance directly from an insurance company.
- Don't transfer debt onto a new card unless its free. No percent fee and no minimum fixed fee.
- A free transfer to a low or zero interest card is not a bad thing, so long as the introductory rate is long enough to be worth it, such as 9-12 months, and the non-introductory rate is fair.
- Don't use convenience checks tied to the credit card. After the temporary rate expires, they nearly always apply as a cash advance (which is much higher rate).
- When not traveling, don't use ATMs outside the bank's network.
- Use a debit card for cash advances and groceries. Use a credit card for travel, online purchases, shipping, and other purchases.
- Occasionally check your online statement history for unexplained purchases. I do this at least 3-4+ times a month, usually at work as an excuse to goof off for a moment.
- Setup a minimum fee payment schedule on all your credit cards within each respective card company even if you rarely carry balances. Don't use a 3rd party bill-pay for credit cards. If the bill-pay is down, you'll be held responsible if you're late. You have a stronger case for dropping late fees if it's your own credit card company's fault.
I pretty much stay out of trouble following those rules.Re: (Score:2)
Re:My rules of thumb.... (Score:4, Informative)
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why no credit gouging laws? (Score:2)
But the current Bush DOJ rules approach is to favor businesses over citizens, and to favor lenders over citizens.
Unless there is some political way to prevent this process, lenders will bleed most of Americans dry and then people will wake up to the fact that China is the largest American lender and essentially controls all lender activity in the US. .
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What if that adult has the intelligence of a child?
Before I get modded down into oblivion hear me out. I came home to the significant other watching Oprah, which wasn't surprising. What was surprising is that it caught my ear and I sat down to watch. It was on people with credit "issues". It blew my mind how many people have no idea about anything financial.
I can't believe people don't know what compound
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Finance topics would be economics, accounting, investing, and personal finance. One for each year: freshman to senior class.
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Sorry, there IS reason to be very alert because there is enough margin in regulations for people to scam the crap out of the average Joe. And remember, going to court costs money - the money they just took.
There are ways to make money ethically, it just appears more and more that few bother.
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When slashdot gets boring? :)
Seriously, though, in addition to your frequent spot-checks, you should reconcile your bill every time you pay it.
Make sure not only that all the charges are valid, but that each charge is exactly the amount you signed for. I've caught restaurant charges "mysteriously" having a higher tip written in -- a $7 t
One big tick for ANZ (Score:2, Interesting)
Last night, wife ordered some kids' name stickers from a company that the kindy had a flyer for on the bulliten board - paid $30 for it over the internet by credit card.
She then went browsing for antique books and visited a number of such sites locally and internationally, no payment forms started on any.
Wife is lovely by all measures, bar tech-savvy.
Phone call next morning from our bank - ANZ - "we believe you have been scammed".
Yep, sometime
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irrelevant (Score:2)
Old fashioned (Score:4, Funny)
Our government just gives out everybody's personal details [bbc.co.uk].