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It Happened to Me! Someone Hi-Jacked My Debit Card & Did Some Midnight Shopping!

By Barbara Hensley

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Properties

April 04, 2011 02:54 PM

Do I feel violated? YES!!! Someone went on a midnight shopping spree using my bank debit/credit card!

The card is always in my possession! I am the only one using it! This must be pretty safe, right? WRONG!!!

The bank called me asking about several charges, which were not mine. It seems someone shopped in an Apple Store and at Avon On-Line in the wee hours of the morning. NOW, I would never have been shopping at that time - if I am awake at that time, you can bet I will be on ActiveRain!

The bank had to close out that card, which means I am without a card for that account for a couple of weeks while a new card is being issued. Only bothersome thing about this is all my business charges are automatically deducted - website, Realtor.com, ActiveRain, letterhead, MLS dues, etc. etc. Gosh, I hope I am not disconnected or cut off from something!

I will have to go by the bank and fill out dispute forms. It will get settled, but what a pain. Worst thing is the fear that someone could have cleaned out my bank account, had my bank not been on the ball!

Thank goodness, my hometown bank caught these charges and made the call! I don't know what made them question the charges, perhaps the time of night the charges were made.

Bottom line, we should check our accounts daily. My card number could have been taken at a store where I shopped or someone could have managed to get into my computer. I never shop on line unless I am on my PC, never from a laptop or iPad.

Scary stuff! Be forwarded, if it happened to me, it could happen to anyone. You may want to check with your bank to be sure what their policy is when this happens.

I do love doing business with my hometown bank, American National Bank of Texas. I am a real person at my bank, not a number. Another good reason for doing business with the hometown folks!

Shop, Bank, Dine....Do It All With The Hometown folks!

Living & Loving Rockwall County, Texas

My Kind of Hometown

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Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities

Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Barbara - Oh boy, that is no fun--I know, I had a similar experience and had to close accounts--what a nightmare.

Apr 04, 2011 03:32 PM

Steve Shatsky

Dallas, TX

Hi Barbara... that's unsettling for sure! I'm glad to hear that bank was so on top of things. It's nice to have a relationship with a local bank, not just a local branch of a national bank!

Apr 04, 2011 03:35 PM

Bob "RealMan" Timm

Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND

Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

What a bummer! I hope they can figure out who did it with store security footage. It shouldn't be to hard unless it was done on line but then again they would have to have an address to send the goods to. I'm guessing they will catch who ever did it.

Apr 04, 2011 03:36 PM

Robin Dampier REALTOR®

Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC

Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Indeed very fortunate the bank noticed and called. I think many financial institutions now monitor such things since it was costing them big bucks big time to cover costs of disputed purchases.

I receive a email daily on my credit card balance to try and watch out for those "midnight illicit purchases."

Hopefully you don't have too much hassle getting it all straightened out. I've heard stories that make a nightmare look good.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Apr 04, 2011 03:37 PM

Barbara Hensley

RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX

Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Fred - Good idea to use more than one bank. Too bad these low life scumbags control our lives by making us take all the extra measures to keep what is ours.

Norma - I am on it, hopefully, getting things taken care of quickly. It is scary to say the least!

Steve - yes, I would not trade my local bank for anything. They have several branches around the area, but they are local all the way! You can reach anyone at the bank you would want to reach, go in and sit down at the President's desk, etc. No big national banks for me!

Bob - I hope so too! I hate to see guys like this get away without being caught. Bad guys should suffer the punshipment, right???

Sue - Hopefully this will be taken care of quickly. I have heard other stories that make mine seem small. The very idea of someone having access to my bank accounts is mind blowing. It is one thing to have someone charge something on a charge card, but a bank account?

Apr 04, 2011 03:52 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Barbara, This IS such a pain and scary how much damage can be done. This happened to me a few years ago..fortunately my credit card company called me quick so not much damage was done. They just need to get your number and they can make up cards to use in other states. Not cool. Sorry it happened to you.

Apr 04, 2011 04:17 PM

Praful Thakkar

LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA

Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Scary? That's an understatement.

I had a tough time - when my only 'credit card' was hacked - new to the country and about to leave for vacation in DC! Perhaps I can write a whole story about it...but thanks to my NATIONAL bank, I received my card in mail before I left for vacation.

Scary? That's an understatement!

Apr 04, 2011 05:39 PM

Brin Realty Associates Team At Bean Group

Bean Group | Brin Realty Associates - Amherst, NH

Amherst NH homes and Southern NH real estate

Hi Barbara, So scary to have this happen. I too was a victim a couple of years ago and funny thing, I have an overnight message as well and need to return a call to my bank about "questionable charges"...

We need to always be alert and monitor our bank accounts regularly! Hope you get it straight without too much trouble Barbara.

Apr 04, 2011 10:57 PM

Gabe Sanders

Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL

Stuart Florida Real Estate

Hate this kind of stuff Barbara. What's worse, is that typically they don't even go after these guys, just put in our charges as the cost of business.

Apr 05, 2011 12:37 AM

JoAnn Moore

The Mortgage Market of Delaware - Georgetown, DE

Home Loans in Delaware

Hi Barbara, Sorry this happened to you. Thank you for warning us though. You are very fortunate to have a very personal bank.

Apr 05, 2011 01:09 AM

Barbara Hensley

RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX

Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Cindy - WOW, I am hearing it has happened to many of our AR friends. Sad situation and a real pain to handle.

Praful - sounds like you have a story to write about. Mine was a debit card on my bank account so it is a different process for replacing than a credit card. Either one (debit or credit) it is a pain.

Rene - get on the phone to your bank. Hopefully the charges in question are yours.

Gabe - you mention something even more unthinkable - that these low life guys will be allowed to get away with it.

JoAnn - we do have to always be "on the careful" to protect accounts and identity. Hopefully I will get this cleared up shortly.

Apr 05, 2011 02:33 AM

Will Hamm

Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO

"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Oh Barbara, There is something wrong with people when they do this to others. Don't they know what will happen to them down the road. I feel your pain. Glad you like your bank and you are not just a number. Have a great Tuesday.

Apr 05, 2011 02:45 AM

Barbara Hensley

RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX

Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Hi, Will - I agree, what is wrong with these people!!! For some, this is a way of life. Thanks for the comment and wishes for a productive day to you.

Apr 05, 2011 03:55 AM

Belinda Spillman

Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO

Colorado Living!

Barbara. I am so sorry this happened to you. The Apple Store? Hope they got some good stuff while they were busy spending your money. Must have been a female - Avon.... Thank goodness for great banks!

Apr 05, 2011 04:12 AM

Barbara Hensley

RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX

Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Belinda - that is a clue - had to be a woman! Whoever it was shopped in the wee hours of the morning.

Apr 05, 2011 04:23 AM

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good post. All of us need to be alert for credit card fraud. The information can be stolen any place where we might use a charge card.

Blooming for home buyers this spring!

Apr 05, 2011 04:25 AM

Barbara Altieri

Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT

REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Barbara -- I've had this happen to me three times already. The first two were all internet purchases and the last was a bunch of purchases in Canada. I learned after the first time that I needed a second major credit card as it also took me at least a week to get my new card. All three times, I had no idea this had happened until I received the call from the bank.

Apr 05, 2011 06:03 AM

Barbara Hensley

RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX

Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Hello Roy - thanks - hopefully being alert will keep us somewhat safe, then we just have to react!

Barbara - Wow, three times! I guess this is something we live with in order to do our business on the Internet.

Apr 05, 2011 06:38 AM

Kim Inman

Mountains to Lakes Real Estate, Inc. - Harriman, TN

CRS, Broker/Owner

Barbara...how awful, I'm so sorry this happened to you. I have nightmares (not real nightmares, just imagining nightmares) that this will happen to me too! You're right, it is a very good idea for us to keep daily tabs!

Apr 05, 2011 07:51 AM

Barbara Hensley

RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX

Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Kim - it is a nightmare! I know it could have been worse...but it is bad enough.

Apr 05, 2011 08:57 AM