Marguerite
Active Member
We've had an odd experience. We'd been getting computer messages for the last couple of weeks, saying that we needed to give various groups our credit card details ASAP because the details they had were due to expire at the end of August. husband & I were talking to each other and commented that we usually don't have this problem - by the time the reminders come in, we've already got the new cards.
But for some reason, not this year. I'm not sure, I think he even thought to contact the bank to find out when the new cards were supposed to arrive.
Now, husband is one of those Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) types who checks every purchase slip against the statement when it comes in. That way we never go over our limit, we always know roughly how much we've spent. Not many people are as strict about it as he is, but it is a very useful way to be.
The new cards finally arrived, in Friday's mail. Great - only a week to spare. Cutting it a bit too fine. Then over the weekend difficult child 1 wanted to make some purchases online. He doesn't have a credit card of his own; usually husband will make the purchase for him and then they immediately transfer the $ amount from difficult child 1's bank account to the credit card balance.
But for some reason, the purchase just wouldn't go through. husband checked the records; he even asked me if I'd used the card in the last few days for a medical procedure or tests, perhaps. Nothing. Hmm, maybe a glitch.
Then today (during business hours) husband was back at work and checked the credit card balance online, as well as looking at recent purchases - and found that before we had even received the cards (husband & I have a card each for the same account, but with our own names on them) someone had used BOTH cards to make big purchases. Each purchase was just under A$2000. Someone has apparently bought tickets to some stage musical or opera in Italy. What the...? And since both purchases are on the same account, it means we are overdrawn badly. It's crazy - we only ever use this card for medical expenses.
husband has notified the bank. Tomorrow husband has a day off work, he was going to spend the day getting some odd jobs done at home. But now - looks like we have to go out and sort out this mess.
If husband were not such a stickler for keeping close tabs on our purchases, this might not have come to light for another three months. Some people might not even notice, but just think they hadn't watched their spending closely enough.
At this stage, our theory is - someone either intercepted our mail (probably while we were away), used our cards and then put them in the mail after a week or so, carefully sealing up the envelopes again. The activation codes also come in the mail, but on a different day. husband got the activation code already (although if someone is intercepting our mail for a while and then sending it on, they could easily do the same with the activation code).
Another possibility is that someone is doing this on a larger scale, possibly intercepting the cards in bulk soon after they are taken to the post office. Highly illegal and a big crime problem.
But tickets to opera in Italy - a lot of tickets. Scalpers? Using scalping to launder money?
It's probably a waste of time but I did fish the paperwork out of the recycling bin. Although I doubt that anyone will bother to check for prints. It will be cheaper for the bank to not investigate, but to simply pay up and claim it on insurance. The thing is, if we haven't kept the paperwork then we CAN'T use it.
I was wondering whether to call the police. husband feels that we've told the bank, there's really nothing else we can do or need to do. I'm not so sure.
I'd love to know what has happened and to get some answers.
We'll know more tomorrow.
Marg
But for some reason, not this year. I'm not sure, I think he even thought to contact the bank to find out when the new cards were supposed to arrive.
Now, husband is one of those Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) types who checks every purchase slip against the statement when it comes in. That way we never go over our limit, we always know roughly how much we've spent. Not many people are as strict about it as he is, but it is a very useful way to be.
The new cards finally arrived, in Friday's mail. Great - only a week to spare. Cutting it a bit too fine. Then over the weekend difficult child 1 wanted to make some purchases online. He doesn't have a credit card of his own; usually husband will make the purchase for him and then they immediately transfer the $ amount from difficult child 1's bank account to the credit card balance.
But for some reason, the purchase just wouldn't go through. husband checked the records; he even asked me if I'd used the card in the last few days for a medical procedure or tests, perhaps. Nothing. Hmm, maybe a glitch.
Then today (during business hours) husband was back at work and checked the credit card balance online, as well as looking at recent purchases - and found that before we had even received the cards (husband & I have a card each for the same account, but with our own names on them) someone had used BOTH cards to make big purchases. Each purchase was just under A$2000. Someone has apparently bought tickets to some stage musical or opera in Italy. What the...? And since both purchases are on the same account, it means we are overdrawn badly. It's crazy - we only ever use this card for medical expenses.
husband has notified the bank. Tomorrow husband has a day off work, he was going to spend the day getting some odd jobs done at home. But now - looks like we have to go out and sort out this mess.
If husband were not such a stickler for keeping close tabs on our purchases, this might not have come to light for another three months. Some people might not even notice, but just think they hadn't watched their spending closely enough.
At this stage, our theory is - someone either intercepted our mail (probably while we were away), used our cards and then put them in the mail after a week or so, carefully sealing up the envelopes again. The activation codes also come in the mail, but on a different day. husband got the activation code already (although if someone is intercepting our mail for a while and then sending it on, they could easily do the same with the activation code).
Another possibility is that someone is doing this on a larger scale, possibly intercepting the cards in bulk soon after they are taken to the post office. Highly illegal and a big crime problem.
But tickets to opera in Italy - a lot of tickets. Scalpers? Using scalping to launder money?
It's probably a waste of time but I did fish the paperwork out of the recycling bin. Although I doubt that anyone will bother to check for prints. It will be cheaper for the bank to not investigate, but to simply pay up and claim it on insurance. The thing is, if we haven't kept the paperwork then we CAN'T use it.
I was wondering whether to call the police. husband feels that we've told the bank, there's really nothing else we can do or need to do. I'm not so sure.
I'd love to know what has happened and to get some answers.
We'll know more tomorrow.
Marg
