My identity has been compromised!

**Mr. Mulder** · 05-17-2006, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by Cheese

Originally Posted by Mr. Mulder

you need a Phoenix firewall, not even Chloe O'Brian could bypass a Phoenix firewall.

Bah, I bet she just made that up so she didn't have to bother and try. I always make up shit like that when I don't want to fix some noob's computer.

"Sorry, mum but your machine probably has that new SoupRades2006 virus you'll have to get it fixed at the shop."

I think PCWorld fix that for about £1000, 000 000 - they'll even throw in a "health checkup"

**Buffalo** · 05-17-2006, 05:22 PM

Thanks for the response.

Before doing my online banking I always wash all internet traces & cookies etc using window washer.
I have AVG & Sygate installed, i've been using for 4 years+ without any problem, I also have Pestpatrol running in the background, so i've done my bit.
This looks like someone has used my details from a transaction i've made last week, so with a bit of luck I will get a refund............hope.
I don't know how data is stored on places like, paypal, ebuyer, vodafone.
and who can gain access to this data?
It's now put me off a bit using my card on the net but what can ya do.
this is a first for me, been buying and selling on the net 4 years+ without a prob till today.
someone must have known my Card Verification Number, don't think there are many sites that accept a transaction without it.
I guess in time computers with have a sim reader for card transactions on the web, it's going to be the only way to go.

**lynx** · 05-17-2006, 06:10 PM

When are you going on holiday?

Currently there are a lot of people offering cheap holidays over the phone. In practice they are working from home and booking the holiday for you over the internet. The problem is that they need the security verification numbers to do that, and those numbers are supposed to verify that the person making the online purchase actually has the card in their hands.

If you've given those numbers out over the phone (it could actually be any purchase) then you may well be screwed in getting your money back.

**Chewie** · 05-17-2006, 11:02 PM

I think I'd like Lloyds to contact me if they think there's been unusual activity on my account, but that's not the case.

About 18 months ago my Delta card suddenly stopped working and when I phoned them I found that their fraud dept had put a block on the it due to two ebay purchases. It happened again two months later.
It's nice to know that there are unseen wheels turning but a courtesy call wouldn't go amiss.

Mind you, couple of years ago my uncle received nasty letters from Mastercard about paying off a card he didn't have. Turns out that they'd issued a new card (old was expiring) through the normal post, with no safeguards - at least Lloyds send a messenger needing a signature at the cardholder's address - and someone had taken such a liking to it they'd bounded off to Ireland for a spending spree.

**Barbarossa** · 05-18-2006, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by Chewie UK

and someone had taken such a liking to it they'd bounded off to Ireland for a spending spree.

The reason for that is that some backward countries, such as Ireland, still process credit card transactions using the old carbon copying machine, and don't verify the card details electronically with the provider while you wait.

**Chewie** · 05-18-2006, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Barbarossa

Originally Posted by Chewie UK

and someone had taken such a liking to it they'd bounded off to Ireland for a spending spree.

The reason for that is that some backward countries, such as Ireland, still process credit card transactions using the old carbon copying machine, and don't verify the card details electronically with the provider while you wait.

We used the pre-chip&pin carbon paper & roller where I used to work. With it, vendors had a 'floor' amount and anything over that needed an authorisation code which you got over the phone.
In 12 years I only saw about five payments declined, one of which was a 'retain card' and another was a regular customer finding out his card had been cloned.
What I find appalling with all this chip&pin shit is the fact that the banks and card companies still have the right (and will excercise it, too) to reclaim payments that were authorised with pin number verification.