WARNING !!

[cma1]

just a friendly warning to all my biker family.

last week my wife bought a virgin mobil hotspot to use while we were on vacation. it came with a folder telling how to activate it, this required she call virgin mobil.

she called the 800 number and was led through the long process of activating the device by some guy that sounded like he was in india. everything seemed to be going as planned, the device was activated and he sold her 30 days of service on her credit card.

the next morning while she was paying bills, she found a $3,400.00 charge on our credit card at a boutique in dubai. it was charged to her card, a card never used for anything but this sort of thing, so we knew exactly what happened.

we went to our bank and reported this, they began the process of stopping the charge (too late, visa had paid it) then we called virgin mobil who connected us with a series of other people off shore, who basically said, sorry dude ! thats what you get for dealing with offshore people, (severly paraphrased)


so now we are in the second day of waiting on fed ex to bring us new cards, while the bank works with visa to get it taken off our account.

take this as a warning folks. all these companies that have shipped jobs overseas, and companies like virgin mobil who make a big deal about being american, but employ thieves in 3rd world countries to steal from us.

never ! ever ! give your credit card number to anyone over the phone.

[Valkorado]

Scary when the thieves seem to be employed by the companies nowadays.  Good luck getting that mess cleared up.

[WamegoRob]

companies like virgin mobil who make a big deal about being american...

Glad to hear your bank is taking care of you.
But I have always been under the impression that all of the "Virgin" companies were the Englishman Richard Branson's deal.

[Valkpilot]

we went to our bank and reported this, they began the process of stopping the charge (too late, visa had paid it)

Federal law limits your debit or credit card fraud loss if you report quickly.  Based on what you said, you shouldn't be responsible for more than $50.


http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0213-lost-or-stolen-credit-atm-and-debit-cards

[cma1]

yeah, the credit union has already refunded the money and ripped it out of the business in dubai's account. too bad they lose and the moron from virgin gets to keep his purchase, but any business that will take a $3,500.00 charge on an american visa, without a security code or i.d. deserves to lose the sale and the mechandise. got new cards delivered by fed ex this morning and all is well. will never give credit card info. on the phone again.

[cookiedough]

seems like thieves have nothing better to do even ones working for companies thinking they can get away with it.

I once was on vacation 20+ years ago in Arizona bought a small trivial item at a gift shop on my credit card and when I went back a few weeks later and reviewed my credit card purchases something like a 2,000 dollar charge was from that store vs. say a 10 dollar charge for my item.  Well, got on phone with my credit card company and they went to bat for me even showing me the fake signature that was not mine on a fake charge at the store. 

Even had to dispute an improperly done service work on my ATV from a worthless ATV dealer store that left me high and dry not repaired after a 3rd attempt.  Found out they used the wrong farm implement solenoid part kept blowing out for my warn winch after each first use.  I had one heck of a time getting my money back on that faulty repair but did get it back after several heated debates with ATV dealer owner and credit card company. 

Moral:  check credit card statements monthly if not more so since there are dishonest people all around us and NEVER trust ANYONE period in this screwed up world.    Sad, but absolutely true.

[cma1]

had that sort of thing happen with some idiot in elk snout, virginia selling mustang parts. i ordered a large amount of parts that seemed to never appear on my doorstep. i called to ask what was up and try to get a tracking number, the guy got all pissy with me and said he was going to hold delivery because i questioned why i had not gotten it yet - huh ? i googled him and found he was doing this sort of thing to everyone and every mustang club on the internet was warning everyone to stay away, he had a F rating with the BBB. i printed it all out and took it to the credit union. they promptly refunded my money and took it out of his visa account. it pays to google anyone you are ordering stuff from over the internet. you are correct, too many theives out there.