Every Saturday morning,I have breakfast with three of my car buddies This past Saturday we decided to try a newly opened small restaurant. When it was time to pay the bill, I gave the server my VISA credit card and she went back to the cash register to process the card. I could see her, from where I sat, and as she headed back to our table, she took a detour and went out of sight towards the kitchen. She then reappeared, and brought my card and the printed receipt back for signature.
On the following day, I needed to check on a previous purchase and went on line to look at my VISA account. I saw the restaurant charge from Saturday morning, but I also saw multiple charges from later on Saturday that I did not make. My VISA card had been hacked, compromised, call it what you want. Not the first time this has happened, but I think I have a solution to keep it from happening again. I'll get to that shortly.
I called VISA,identified the bogus charges and they cancelled the card and said a new card would be sent overnight.
Here is what I think happened........The server, when she took a detour, she copied or photographed my card, front and back.
As I reviewed my VISA bill details, I found that a "test" on line charge, (usually a small amount) of $26. was made. When that charge cleared, another on line charge for $250.00 was made one minute later. Then another on line charge for $350.00 was made one minute after the$250.00 charge.
The only way these charges could be made on line is for someone to have the credit card number, the expiration date AND THE THREE DIGIT CODE on the back of the card.
But how do I keep someone from seeing those three numbers? I REMOVED them! I took a piece of 320 sandpaper and carefully sanded them off. Now there is a blank white box where the three numbers once appeared.I can easily remember the three digit code, and the only time I need it, is when I'm ordering something on line, and I always do that on my computer at home.
I pass this on to the '57 FORUM Members hoping that it may save you the aggravation that I've gone through.
John
P.S. I ran this past Rich before I posted it,and he blessed it.
Sorry to hear you had this problem. How close are the police to catching the perpetrator?
Curious...did you go back and have a discrete and out of sight/sound discussion with the business owner?
And notify law enforcement with a suggestion as to what may (and likely did) have happened?
Inquiring minds want to know...
Good thing you caught it so quickly.......and good thinking on the 3 digit number removal.
Quote from: mustang6984 on 2025-12-18 17:23Curious...did you go back and have a discrete and out of sight/sound discussion with the business owner?
And notify law enforcement with a suggestion as to what may (and likely did) have happened?
Inquiring minds want to know...
Hugh........No I did not as I can't "prove" what I think happened. My law school training says let it go, as I don't need the aggravation of a law suit.
I truly believe that removing the three digit code will stop this theft. The vast majority of the time when you use a credit card, you have control of the card as it is in your hand, thus , No Problem.
In my opinion,the problem arises when you hand over your card for processing, and you can not see what is going on, as was the case with my card.
The bogus charges were removed from my account, and things are back to normal....If there is such a thing as normal these days.
Yea...it just galls me that she might well go unpunished...and do it again and get away with it then.
Make sure you have the 3 code written down somewhere.
I memorize the card number, expiration date, and the three digit code. Yea, I know, I'm a little nuts.
Good info thanks!
About a year ago I put a wanted post for a good used brake booster. I got a reply from a Texas parts dealer that said he had a NOS one for $450 I gave him my CC number etc. A total charge of $478 my CC company called me and asked me if I had just made that charge to a company in India. I said no a company in Texas as we were talking 2 other charges came in one for $1798, and one for $683. I said cancel everything.
As I was talking on the phone i brought up the parts dealer web sight. I looked legit and was said to be in Texas, in the next month i got messages from 2 other parts dealers with web sights that had a NOS booster. I knew it was a con but I called them just for fun and asked if this was the booster for 55 Ford with 4 factory disk brakes they of coarse said it was. I said "Oh too bad my car has drum brakes" and hung up.
Just went through that with my card. I'm with USAA, they do a great job monitoring usage. December 12th a questionable charge showed up, they locked it down, emailed me, after a short call a new card was overnighted. For the next week a bunch of "check if the card was valid" hits showed up along with two huge charges. All fraud. I too monitor my card, only weekly, but still look at it. That is a great idea John, going to do the same!