Classic British Flight Sim

Just for info. Barclaycard (and probably other Card Issuers) now have automated fraud detection systems. Questionable transactions will be queried using an automatic phone system. Which you'll probably think is Spam and ignore .... I did!

I have a Barclaycard which I keep purely for online use and check it online weekly.

My mobile was called by an 0845 number today and I ignored it. Later I googled the number and found a forum where several posters claimed that it was a genuine call from Barclaycard Fraud Detection. I decided to call back, ensuring I gave no details. Even the call back was to the automatic system and I had to establish my identity by choosing the correct info from three or four choices that they gave me. One of which was a list of recent transactions on my card. If I didn't recognise one I had to press a key which put me through to an advisor, which I did. He went througn my transactions and told me that there had been nine transactions over recent days, all of about £35 and all to online betting or gambling sites. As none of these were genuine, he cancelled the payments and cancelled my card. The amount is about the same that I spent online last week on a Hong Kong based jewellery website so it seems likely to have originated from that transaction.

So no harm done, but the point of the post is to make you aware that Card Issuers are using this method of contact so don't automatically assume that an 0845 caller is Spam - it may be in your interest to follow it up!

Ian :roll:

Good reminder, but only 9 x £35

A year ago Barclaycard e-mailed me to say they were querying a £900 payment :o . Again it was to an online betting site but they stopped it and all was ok :kissu: At least they seem to be keeping track of unusual spending.

Why is there not better security on these betting sites? I ordered some chocolates from Thorntons today for Mothers' Day and had to provide both the three digit code and the Barclacard Secure number.

I guess the gambling sites don't care who pays them so why worry about security? :-(

So check your statements!

(Sorry about the rant)

Ian

Why is there not better security on these betting sites?

I'm guessing they're limited by what's common between all the various cards and accounts, i.e. owners name and address, card number and the confirmation number thingy on the signature strip. If they're taking bets from around the world that may well be it, a lot of countries have far more basic levels of online banking than the UK.

I'd wager that many of the betting sites are just fronts for laundering card payments. Putting my cards on the table, I'd state that I haven't made any payments to any gambling site but they've got my card details from somewhere else and are just using false websites to extract payments from it. I'd put money on the fact that they keep the amounts small in order not to trigger the anti-fraud software - but in this case not successfully?

What are the odds on that, then? Looks like the card companies have pipped them at the post and all bets are off!

Ian

speedbird591 wrote: Putting my cards on the table,Ian

I wouldn't if I were you Ian.... stung once and all that......

I'd put money on the fact that they keep the amounts small in order not to trigger the anti-fraud software - but in this case not successfully?

So you admit you ARE a betting man then Ian!

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Like t'other Ian, have never used any online gambling site so I guess Barclaycard spotted my apparent £900 initiation fairly easily.

Do the fraudsters even know the names of the card users or do they just make up a card number (not so difficult) and then use any name and address? Knowing that the credit card that had the fraudulent activity had only been used infrequently (and for purchases from reputable companies), I have to suspect that.

Ian

Yes indeed mate. While we're making frivolous posts.. the serious side of things must not be forgotten. I for one would hate to think that some git had been betting with my money.. money that I don't have :@ It's certainly good to see the banks keeping their fingers on the pulse.. even if your chances of walking into a bank and borrowing money off them are about as high as winning the lottery ;-)

You all know what my 'trade' is and I recently had a visit from our 'Business Account Advisor/Manager'. He offered us 2 pieces of advice to help ease us through the current financial climate..
A) Try and get a reduction in our rent..
B) Apply for a business loan to bridge any shortfall.. WHICH WE MAY NOT GET AS WE'RE A HIGH RISK BUSINESS.. THIS FROM SOMEONE IN A BUSINESS THAT'S JUST HAD MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF TAX PAYERS MONEY THROWN AT IT!

Now.. where's that valium :doho: ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Not a laughing matter mind you Dave. We are just wating for RBS to phone for the perrenial 'Do you wish to come in and discuss your account' rubbish..... Oh how I will love hearing SWMBOs response to that!

I wish my credit card provider was so keen on solving fraud. At the end of January I checked for my statement on line and saw there was an amount for a mobile phone company prepay. I told my card company this was not my transaction, they said they would check and write to me. I got a letter from them giving me the phone number of the mobile company so I could sort it out! Obviously as I have no account with that mobile company they could not help me, my soon to be former card company have finally got off their kilted backsides to investigate their error on my account. I am particularly peeved as being an English taxpayer I have had to watch billions of pounds being sent to Scottish banks. Perhaps they are really trying to make me cough up more in their hour of need.