Defrauded – but how?

[moustachebandit]

So the other day I was delighted to find that my credit card was rejected when I attempted to make a payment. Checking online some ball bag has been using my details for their shopping.

Problem is I can’t work out how they have obtained my credit card number. I have used this card for a BT, a handful of in person payments (legitimate, well established companies) and 1 payment through Paypal. Interestingly shortly after the Paypal payment the st hit the fan.

So I call the bank they shut the card down, and balance is restored … or so I thought.

Now my current account is being defrauded. Awesome!

So I have been thinking where could a fraudster have got both my debit and credit card details – and the only place where those 2 card details have ever been stored in 1 place is PayPal. I have subsequently gone into PayPal, changed passwords, removed addresses and card details and also cancelled my current account.

Assuming Paypal is the culprit how did they get the card details, or the 3 digit code on the back? Even I couldn’t see my full card details when viewing them in Paypal as they are all x’ed out apart from the last 4. They haven’t made payments through Paypal, they have just used the details to buy goods through other websites (namely supplements and VOIP calls?!)

As a point:

I have done a check on my 2 month old Mac and it’s clean.

I have never, ever given anyone my details – ever.

I am very protective about my financial details.

I have seen all the scams. I have never ever followed a link in an email even when it’s legit, I access the information through the main site URL and seek it from there.


I am just totally perplexed on how they could have pulled this off given the above – unless I am missing anything obvious? Any suggestions?

Thanks

James

[mrmr96]

> Your petrol station
> Your wallet
> Your post
> Your bin
> Your computer
> Your bank

Loads of ways really, some more likely than others.

[moustachebandit]

> Your petrol station

Debit card maybe – but I have never used my credit card to buy fuel. Even if I did its not like I would use 2 cards to make 1 payment.

The purchases on either card are for similar items implying 1 fraudster.

> Your wallet

I don’t actually have one, the business card case I have for my business cards also stores my 3 cards and never gets left anywhere. My other credit card which isn’t registered on paypal hasn’t been touched.

> Your post

Always possible but then none of my other accounts have been touched – just the 2 paypal registered accounts.

> Your bin

Anything with financial or business information on is burnt

> Your computer

Clean as a whistle.

> Your bank

But again all my other accounts with the other provider are untouched.

[Lawrence5]

Missus got the same - theatre tickets on a credit card she never uses. Then checking everything else £50 worth of O2 top ups in her current account.

We are puzzled - I suspect the mail as she was having problem with not receiving statements when the credit card had a balance :-(

[Hoofy]

Your smart phone. Just heard apps are the latest way of getting bank details if you use apps to access your bank info.