Woman warns of credit card fraud
Visa used by online shopper to buy men's suit and pizza in Quebec
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, March 20, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A woman is warning residents to be mindful of over their credit cards after her information was used to buy a men's suit and pizza in Quebec.
Norah Higden said she checked her Visa account on-line earlier this week and was stunned to see that a $1,600 suit from Amsterdam and $100 worth of pizza had been ordered online and charged to her account.
"I reported it to Visa right away and they told me they would try to track down the person responsible and go after them," Higden said.
"I have no idea how someone was able to do this and neither does Visa. I just want to warn other people about what happened to me."
Higden said her card was cancelled and another one is being mailed to her. But she concedes that she doesn't know what might stop this from happening again.
"I do not do a lot of online shopping but I do some and I try to use a computer that is more secure than my home computer," Higden said.
She said she does not know if her online shopping activity is how her credit card information was obtained.
Higden said she is aware of the pay pass-enabled credit cards that can be used with a tapping system.
It allows consumers to pay with their credit card without actually keying in a personal identification number (PIN).
However, police have learned that fraudsters are now able to come up behind a person with a scanner to scan their credit cards and obtain the information they need to then replicate it and fraudulently use it online.
Higden said it is possible that's what happened to her but thinks it is unlikely.
"That's if you keep the card in a lower pocket or in a purse which I don't do," said Higden. "If I do bring my credit card with me I keep it in a breast pocket."
Higden said also heard that if one uses a tapping machine with their credit card at a store that someone could then come to the cashier after you and if the cashier isn't paying attention they could use a scanner and get the credit card number that way.
"The reason I contacted the paper was that I just wanted to warn," she said.
"I put it on Facebook to my friends, also as a warning. One friend said it happened to her in Iqaluit."
People should check their credit card statements on a regular basis, at least once a week, Higden said.
"I don't think Visa is going to make you pay for those charges but the quicker you catch it, the better," she said.
"I caught it within one or two days. He had one charge on the 14th, another on the 15th and I caught it on the 16th."
If shopping online, Higden advised to make sure that it's with a reputable company, although she admitted that might not make any difference.
"I don't know how they do it," said Higden. "I'm not a hacker."
At least one retailer in Yellowknife is now selling metal wallets. A sales clerk at Mark's clothing store said they are used to prevent would-be criminals from scanning credit cards in people's wallets or purses. The RCMP website states card holders should contact the credit card company immediately if unwarranted charges appear or they think they have inadvertently revealed their credit card numbers to questionable sources.
People should also contact the credit bureau and have fraud alerts placed on their credit reports. Contact police and report credit card fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. March is National Fraud Prevention Month.
