Declined: How to avoid the credit card swipe scam
Security.org: 63% of Americans have experienced credit card fraud
(InvestigateTV) — The number one reason a credit card charge is declined is insufficient funds, according to Discover, but the Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns cards might also be declined as part of a crafty scam.
“It’s just another twist on the same scam,” Melanie McGovern with the BBB said. “They’re trying to get your info!”
McGovern said they have received multiple reports through their Scam Tracker about this deceptive scheme.
One customer reported making a purchase online and after entering their credit card info, the page refreshed asking them to use a different card. When they tried the same card again, they got the same error message. Moments later they received a fraud alert from their bank saying their card was charged $2,500 and declined.
Shocked, the customer told the BBB they never attempted a purchase worth that amount.
“Now my personal email, address, phone number and credit card number have been exposed,” the customer reported to the BBB.
“What we’re finding is they’re not only getting one credit card number, they’re getting two,” McGovern shared. “Because the person wants the item, they want the service so if they’re sitting with their wallet next to them, they might say, ‘oh, my Visa was declined, let me try my MasterCard instead.’ So that’s where it’s becoming problematic. The card didn’t actually decline. You gave your information to that scammer, they kept it, and then when you put the second card in, the same thing happened.”
She advised consumers to make sure a site is legitimate, and if a transaction is declined, call the credit card company immediately to double check.
“Ask them, ‘hey did my card get declined? Or did the charge go through?’” she said. “And then you can put that fraud alert on your credit card—possibly get our money back, stop the scammer from using your card number.”
Bottom line: if something seems off, don’t rush to enter another card or repeat the purchase.
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