Credit and Debit Card Fraud Issues

R Q

R Q

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2005
Location
Charlotte
I keep my accounts through Truist bank so I don't have to have several accounts spread everywhere but I keep getting fraudulent charges and have to continually chase them down and dispute them and then the bank cancels that card and opens another so the old one doesn't get used again but it continues to happen.
I have a company and personal VISA credit and debit cards, so 4 in total.
What's the most secure method or cards for everyday transactions? I have to have these in my pocket for personal and business needs.
I'm considering changing banks totally because Truist (BB&T) has gone to shit since their merger with Suntrust
If the fraud from a regular outside source, I have not been able to pinpoint it yet but oh boy if i ever could... (I have my suspicions)
 
I've started using cash more and more because this keeps happening -- I did switch all my accounts to bank of America from first citizens and Wells and BofA is a lot more on the ball catching fraud charges. That being said I find it being gas stations that are the main place my shit gets stolen. I also try and use PayPal when possible buying online instead of entering a card.

You would think that the card companies could work together and find where x amount of stolen cards just happened to be used at x location in the past week and be able to shut that terminal down but it doesn't seem to happen that way
 
Similar experience with Trushit here. I left Suntrust because they were terrible, went to BB&T, and then if they didn't end up merging together and bring all the bad of Suntrust.

I don't know what the recurring cause for CC fraud is, but I seem to have it happen every 2-3 years. Most recently it was NC4x4's fault with the Nitro Gear shenanigans. As least that one was clear cut and I know where it came from. I informed their fraud department, and notified Nitro Gear, but of course received no follow up from either party. I assume the CC companies just write it off and move on, but I agree 100% with @braxton357 that it should be really easy to track a pattern since they have everyone's charges and can see the overlap. Also, cash is king, and oddly enough, Paypal has become the new safer way to pay online.
 
There are options for one-time use CC numbers, too. I think Apple Pay and Google Pay both offer this.
 
Yes I'm going full Paypal online but Amazon still has to have a card on file for Prime and I use it so much that its totally worth it.
 
R Q said:
have a card on file for Prime
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I don't worry about fraudulent charges through Amazon. Random web portals, convenience stores, restaurants, etc, more likely. In any case, any time it's ever happened, BoA usually contacts me first. Sometimes my card has been identified as "possibly compromised" and they send a new one proactively. Other times they call to ask about questionable activity.

IIRC, the BoA mobile app will also track your location against your card activity to help flag fraudulent charges, if you're into that sort of thing.
 
I work for a bank and I will tell you that it happens everywhere. I tell clients this all the time, and they think I'm joking around when I say it, but the only way to not have debit card/Credit card fraud is to not have a debit card or credit card. and I know that people don't want to hear that or they have to have said cards for XYZ reasons, but I am starting to like Apple pay more and more. I've started using apple pay on my mobile apps whenever I do go through the drive thru, (which we were informed that a new scam going on is these drive thru fast food workers have there phone setup near the register and as you hand them your card, they will take a picture of the front and back before handing it back to you) and I never have to hand my card to anyone, now these apps do occasionally get hacked and then there is your card info stored on the app, but its a lot less detrimental than them having your entire card info.
 
I have one CC for Amazon and Groceries. Another CC for online ordering. Another CC for swiping at registers. And a Amex for large orders of $5k+. Work CC is a Amex as well. If i get fraud I know how it happened. Ive learned to recognize risky websites. If i cant get it on amazon, or direct from a manufacturers/distributors website I no longer purchase it online. Both my google account and my capital one online ordering CC allows for virtual numbers. Suffice to say i have not had a online fraudulent purchase in 4yrs plus since adopting the strict online ordering rules with the exception of two occasions with the CC used at registers/food joints.

My 2cents.
If youre avoiding all websites that are not "big brand" (better odds of secured servers), your next biggest risk is at physical places where you hand the card to someone.
CC fraud never really worries me. No matter who its through they are all obligated to remove the charge right away and go investigate it. Youre never out money, just your time and headache of getting a new card.
Debit Card on the otherhand is a big issue. Very few banks are even close to what happens with CC. Usually banks accept your debit card fraud claim. Freeze the card and give you a new one. And they take 90days+ to investigate it. While you pray you hopefully get that $600 charge back so you can pay rent. SOME banks will give you 50% or something while they investigate. Some banks are so bad if they cant find someone else to blame, they wont honor your claim (rare).
Point being - I learned a long time ago to never carry my debit card with me. If i can not accomplish what i need to in my daily travels with $XX,XXX in open credit in my pocket, and debit card attached to digital wallet for emergencies, then i need to stay home.

EDIT: Also living life on CC, dumping income into HELOC, and using HELOC to pay the CCs - also helps to drop the debit card life and its inherent risks and adopts better a rockefeller mentality lmao
 
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ckruzer said:
I have one CC for Amazon and Groceries. Another CC for online ordering. Another CC for swiping at registers. And a Amex for large orders of $5k+. Work CC is a Amex as well. If i get fraud I know how it happened. Ive learned to recognize risky websites. If i cant get it on amazon, or direct from a manufacturers/distributors website I no longer purchase it online. Both my google account and my capital one online ordering CC allows for virtual numbers. Suffice to say i have not had a online fraudulent purchase in 4yrs plus since adopting the strict online ordering rules with the exception of two occasions with the CC used at registers/food joints.

My 2cents.
If youre avoiding all websites that are not "big brand" (better odds of secured servers), your next biggest risk is at physical places where you hand the card to someone.
CC fraud never really worries me. No matter who its through they are all obligated to remove the charge right away and go investigate it. Youre never out money, just your time and headache of getting a new card.
Debit Card on the otherhand is a big issue. Very few banks are even close to what happens with CC. Usually banks accept your debit card fraud claim. Freeze the card and give you a new one. And they take 90days+ to investigate it. While you pray you hopefully get that $600 charge back so you can pay rent. SOME banks will give you 50% or something while they investigate. Some banks are so bad if they cant find someone else to blame, they wont honor your claim (rare).
Point being - I learned a long time ago to never carry my debit card with me. If i can not accomplish what i need to in my daily travels with $XX,XXX in open credit in my pocket, and debit card attached to digital wallet for emergencies, then i need to stay home.

EDIT: Also living life on CC, dumping income into HELOC, and using HELOC to pay the CCs - also helps to drop the debit card life and its inherent risks and adopts better a rockefeller mentality lmao
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One reason I love Civic. Twice we've had fraud, and they immediately return the money pending investigation and overnight a card next business day. We don't use any credit cards.
 
For debit cards...I'm pleased with the BoA protection...they've actually caught alot on my personal card...I'll get a text asking 'did you just spend X.XX at ZZZ, click Y or N'. That said, I just had to go through closing one card and opening another, because I accidentally processed a payment I thought my wife had made. My wife also had a BoA card that was never used over the 3 years we had it, with $0 in the account...and the only reason we knew of the fraudulent charge was because of the overdraft notice. Professionally, I'll only use AmEx, by far the easiest and most responsive customer service and fraud protection, in my opinion.

As far as cash is concerned, group chat knows how I feel...it's getting tougher and tougher to access your own cash. I've been told no less than a dozen times in the last year I'd have to wait a few days/weeks to get the amount I requested. One was a set of tires, told I'd get a $200 discount for cash, tried to withdraw $1300, told I couldn't do it and the atm was capped. Tried to grab cash for a case of bourbon at a different bank, couldn't pull out the $2k. Tried pulling out $15k for a deposit on something, and was told that was literally more than the bank had on hand. Another bank I tried withdrawing $130k from a business account for a $20k cash discount on a piece of equipment, and was told I'd have to wait 2 weeks. With some of the 1099 site crews I have, I've been caught a little short if a project gets finished early and I wasn't anticipating it.
 
UTfball68 said:
As far as cash is concerned, group chat knows how I feel...it's getting tougher and tougher to access your own cash. I've been told no less than a dozen times in the last year I'd have to wait a few days/weeks to get the amount I requested. One was a set of tires, told I'd get a $200 discount for cash, tried to withdraw $1300, told I couldn't do it and the atm was capped. Tried to grab cash for a case of bourbon at a different bank, couldn't pull out the $2k. Tried pulling out $15k for a deposit on something, and was told that was literally more than the bank had on hand. Another bank I tried withdrawing $130k from a business account for a $20k cash discount on a piece of equipment, and was told I'd have to wait 2 weeks. With some of the 1099 site crews I have, I've been caught a little short if a project gets finished early and I wasn't anticipating it.
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I can't say I've ever had this happen. BoA will let you pull $1k out of an ATM (there's a quick-cash button for it), and might let you withdraw more, but I've never tried. Getting cash at the counter has never been a problem for me either. I pulled $6k out on a Friday afternoon a few weeks ago. $130k is a different story. They're going to have to order the cash to make that happen.
 
shawn said:
I can't say I've ever had this happen. BoA will let you pull $1k out of an ATM (there's a quick-cash button for it), and might let you withdraw more, but I've never tried. Getting cash at the counter has never been a problem for me either. I pulled $6k out on a Friday afternoon a few weeks ago. $130k is a different story. They're going to have to order the cash to make that happen.
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I think some of it has to do with size of the town and time of the week too. Seems like my places get cash deliveries on Tuesday. Meaning, a town of 1500 people on payday Friday, won't have what I need...but the $1300 tire scenario happened in Salisbury on a Wednesday afternoon. I've certainly been to other branches and pulled out sizable chunks, but I never imagined anything sub-$10k would be a problem. 5 years ago, even, seemed like the only problem over $10k was not making an error on the 8300 form.
 
UTfball68 said:
I think some of it has to do with size of the town and time of the week too. Seems like my places get cash deliveries on Tuesday. Meaning, a town of 1500 people on payday Friday, won't have what I need...but the $1300 tire scenario happened in Salisbury on a Wednesday afternoon. I've certainly been to other branches and pulled out sizable chunks, but I never imagined anything sub-$10k would be a problem. 5 years ago, even, seemed like the only problem over $10k was not making an error on the 8300 form.
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It's exactly this, size of bank day of the week and how much they like you as a customer. Something like 20k they almost certainly have but if you don't bank there you'll get the "we can have it in 4 days". Maybe you just come off as shady
 
shawn said:
I can't say I've ever had this happen. BoA will let you pull $1k out of an ATM (there's a quick-cash button for it), and might let you withdraw more, but I've never tried. Getting cash at the counter has never been a problem for me either. I pulled $6k out on a Friday afternoon a few weeks ago. $130k is a different story. They're going to have to order the cash to make that happen.
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As you may know Lin works at a bank now.

It's weird the stories I hear of cash withdrawals to their regulars. Since we arent in the grage I probably shouldnt say more
 
I went to change banks today because Truist is a shit show anymore. Once at the chosen bank I didn't do it because their credit cards are only third party with high rates and fees. But banker boy was very honest about it and recommended some additional security on my home/office PC which could possibly be the issue with the hacking. I really do like the Truist online banking, I can view everything and move money very easily between accounts as needed, and pay bills easily online too. I know they aren't the only bank with this but before I do anything I have some security measures to take.
I got some good tips from y'all here that I'll be adding to my plan also.
 
Suntrust was good ..... after the merger we got tired of fighting with them over stupid crap and card issues.
We are now at First Horizons ...... meh ..... but no card issues and they are pretty quick to reverse most things that common pop up with all banks.
I really want to go to the state credit union ( wife works for FTCC ) and just use my paypal card for everything.
 
Lizooki said:
Suntrust was good ..... after the merger we got tired of fighting with them over stupid crap and card issues.
We are now at First Horizons ...... meh ..... but no card issues and they are pretty quick to reverse most things that common pop up with all banks.
I really want to go to the state credit union ( wife works for FTCC ) and just use my paypal card for everything.
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"PayPal card"?
 
R Q said:
"PayPal card"?
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Yup. They have credit and debit.
Use like a normal debit and you have quick, easy access to you PP money without having to pay the percentage or wait for a "to bank" transfer.
 
Lizooki said:
Yup. They have credit and debit.
Use like a normal debit and you have quick, easy access to you PP money without having to pay the percentage or wait for a "to bank" transfer.
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Okay, I went to my account and didn't see it yet. I'll look again
Never mind I found it.
 
Lizooki said:
Suntrust was good ..... after the merger we got tired of fighting with them over stupid crap and card issues.
We are now at First Horizons ...... meh ..... but no card issues and they are pretty quick to reverse most things that common pop up with all banks.
I really want to go to the state credit union ( wife works for FTCC ) and just use my paypal card for everything.
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i used to only do suntrust but back in like 09 there were so many clearing issues. a charge could take a week to show up. in those days i was living paycheck to pay check. ended up having to ditch them due to how often it was messing me with my bad money habits back then. i switched to usaa and havent looked back since
 
ckruzer said:
i used to only do suntrust but back in like 09 there were so many clearing issues. a charge could take a week to show up. in those days i was living paycheck to pay check. ended up having to ditch them due to how often it was messing me with my bad money habits back then. i switched to usaa and havent looked back since
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Sounds about like my times there… deposit a check, a week later pay bills and boom insufficient charges…. “Check hasn’t cleared yet” funny the company writing the checks used the same bank
 
Noel said:
Sounds about like my times there… deposit a check, a week later pay bills and boom insufficient charges…. “Check hasn’t cleared yet” funny the company writing the checks used the same bank
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That is exactly what happened with me.
I would get -600 plus dollhairs in total. Each insufficient charge from bill incurred the $35 fee. They racked up. The check would finally clear and i would still owe like 200 to bring the balance back to zero, with no funds until next check.
It was hard to dig out of that hole, without help
 
Not necessarily related but why is it I have a loan with bank X and my paycheck gets deposited at the same bank yet they can’t draft the monthly loan amount without taking 3-5 business days? It’s all in house and make believe money in the computer-inter-space? Yet I can go buy something at the store and by the time I’ve reached the truck it’s already done gone from the account? How is certain banking tech so slow?

Don’t even get me started on external agents trying to draft in a timely manner like say my Kubota payment. Anywhere from the 1st to the 11th of the month it comes out even though my Kubota account says it’s supposed to draft the 3rd of every month.
When I’ve called Kubota to ask WTF it’s always the banks fault??
 
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