Bank Fraud

[fluffymark]

Some despicable meanie has cloned my bankcard, and has been withdrawing 1000 american dollars from my account every day for the last week from banks in California. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Only noticed this morning when I got my bank statement. Phoned bank, who were very nice, and didn't know how it happened, but I should eventually get all the money back (which is lots), although not sure in time to pay rent next week, or even whitby costs. Meanwhile, I have no money.

Comments

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Holy shit. You got any idea when the copy was made and where?

[fluffymark]

That's the bemusing thing - I can't even think how it could have happened. All the valid entried on my bank statment were for places I trust (London Underground, Sainsburys). I've not used my card in a restaurant in months, when I went to Italy an Prague it was only ever used in cash machines, and i've not bought anything off the internet since December, and even then it was place i trust (amazon). I'm very careful with my card - so i guess the lesson t learn is that no-one is safe - this can happen to anyone, any time. Always check your statement.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

People who do that sort of thing often don't actually make the copy of the card for a good 6 months or so, because poeple who tend to only now and again check their bank statements, are more likely to check the one after a restaurant trip where the card got taken out of sight, then continue not really looking at the statements after that.

[fluffymark]

Eeeep. The evil meanies!! Very cunning.

Anyway, i'm pretty sure these people were hardly doing the sly approach. Even if i didn't look at my statements, i was certainly going to notice this amount of money suddenly having vanished.

[snow-leopard.livejournal.com]

EEp, poor bunny.
Money isn't a problem as I have that £50 for you and can lend you some if you need it.

[fluffymark]

Thankyou! *huggles*

May yet need more money, or a big overdraft.

[gnimmel.livejournal.com]

Moop, that's bad :(
*hugs*

[fluffymark]

II'm officially not a happy bunny right now :(

[sphyg.livejournal.com]

Eek! I must read my bank statement more closely.

[fluffymark]

It's something I do always on principle. I've found frequent case of me being overcharged, or not being refunded correctly before. But nothing ever as bad as this mess.

[ex-blackvelv826.livejournal.com]

*hug*

Wow, I'm glad you found out sooner rather than later, and very very glad your bank were so understanding. Get on their case to make them sort it out swiftly.

Dont forget to shred reciepts and statements before you bin them too. Guess that doesnt account for California *confused* Maybe someone sold your account details?

[fluffymark]

Could be recipts - i don't always fully shred them (i rip them up, but i suppose they could be reassembled) before hiding them in a few layers of bags and putting them in the waste. And I keep all my statements. And i'm certainly bemused by California - so was my bank - they'd have noticed and alerted me if it was somewhere like Nigeria or Afghanistan where my money was going, but don't seem capable of spotting fraud in America. I guess you're right, someone could have sold my details. But who??? Grrrrrrrr.

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Hugs

Gina

[fluffymark]

Thanks -i' m bit haken up, but i'm OK really. Now I know what's happening, and that i'll get things back. It's just annoying more than anything else now.

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Happened to me a while back with my VISA card. Only one withdrawal but a big one. So I do know how it feels.

Gina

[fluffymark]

Eeep! Didn't know you'd been a victim too. *hugs*

How long did it take them to restore the money to you?

They couldn't have picked a worse time to empty my bank account. Grrrrr.....

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Not really possible to compare since it was credit card rather than bank but I think it was only a wek or so.

Good luck.

Gina

[fluffymark]

A week would be OK - would be nice if i had money at whitby. :)

[aiwendel.livejournal.com]

ouch! Poor you, thats shit!
the bank should be able to refund quickly? give a big overdraft limit in the meantime?
i'm sure you could persuade them to be helpful somehow!
Good Luck.
*hugslots*
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[fluffymark]

Not sure on what timescale i'll get the money back. Soon I hope. But it won't be right away - they're sending me a form i have to fill in with details of all the fraudulent transactions, and then i send it back, so think won't be happy again until at least next week.

And i've just posted a lot of cheques out for bills, BT will direct debit my account today, and i have to pay the rent on the 9th. Eeep. I may need a large overdrafet to cover all of that. Not to mention my glastonbury deposit, and whitby expenses.

[ixwin.livejournal.com]

Aaaarghhh! Poor you!!

I'd be more than happy to lend you some money in the mean time - my bank account is almost embarrassingly flush(a good few thousand in credit) - so I'd honestly not miss a few hundred for a month or whatever.

[fluffymark]

Eeeee. Thankyou, you're so very kind. :)

My housemate catt has already got money out ready for me, so i think i'm covered for now. But thanks a lot anyway, for the offer! *hughughug*

[ixwin.livejournal.com]

Hey, you're welcome! *smiles*

And if you find you do need a bit more, the offer will stay open...

[fluffymark]

We'll see how things go. If i've not got the money back by this time next week, things will be looking pretty grim. Eeep.

And thankyou lots and lots and lots again. :)

[emarkienna.livejournal.com]

eep:( *hugs*
Don't hesitate to ask me if you need to borrow money.

And you sound more careful than me about things - I generally keep track of how much is in my account, but I never think of things like ripping up receipts etc.

[fluffymark]

Thank you lots! You're very kind! :) I have borrowed money for now, so am OK. I might be fixed by Whitby, but if not then i'll be asking for a bit of kindness there I guess.

And I was planning to be *good* at whitby and buy some drinks myself this time around. But if i have no money.....then.....

[yvesilena.livejournal.com]

Aaaaaaaaargh!

Whoa, they really picked their person to be despicably mean to there. They'd probably cry if they knew what kind of person they'd done this to. *hugshugshugshugshugshugshugshugshugshugshugshugshugshugshugs*

Looks like you have several people offering you money already, which I'm very relieved about because I'm semi-broke ('semi-broke' for me means 'have money for food' :)

Seriously though, I know I don't have much money, but always come to me rather than starve... I don't know what Casby would have to say about this, but as far as I'm concerned I'll always want to help you out as long as I have enough of the jingly stuff to feed us both!

[fluffymark]

Thankyou. You're lovely. You say the nices things about me *blush*.

Just found out i won't see most of the mone again for at least 2 months. Erkle. I've got enough overdraft limit to survive on for now, though.

And thanks for the food offer - much as i'd love to visit for meals and things - but it's going to cost me more to get to croydon than usually spend on dinner, which would make it a bit silly if that was the sole purpose of the visit. However if i happen to be in the area anyway, i'll drop in for a meal.
Although i'm not in any danger of starving yet, by any means.