My bank is freakin' impressive

[TNT]

I got a call this Sunday afternoon from my bank's Fraud Prevention Department... after putting them through the wringer, I was convinced they were who they said they were...

Bank: We have unusual activity on your card. Did you make any charges today with Such and Such, Inc? [very legitimate internet company].
Me: No. Absolutely not.
Bank: Well, we have two charges from them that we don't think came from you.
Me: Good lord. How much were they for?
Bank: Each was $18.53.
Me: Okay...
Bank: Did you make a charge with such and such last night?
Me: Yeah, that I one I did.

So, we went through the list of recent charges... it seems the two charges today were the only ones that looked bad.

Bank: Okay... we'll cancel this card.
Me: Great... but... how could you possibly know that two charges for $18.53 weren't legitimate?
Bank: We have ways... but for security reasons, we don't reveal them.
Me: I'm impressed.

[kerrisan]

O_o Ooooh, special.

I'd feel pretty safe banking with them, I think. "We have . . . 'ways' . . ." :lol:

[TNT]

O_o Ooooh, special.

I'd feel pretty safe banking with them, I think. "We have . . . 'ways' . . ." :lol:

It actually kind of scares me. It's a debit card and I've pretty much given up on cash... my bank statement each month runs many pages. I doubt I would have even noticed two $18.53 charges.

They have 'ways'... I'd love to know what they are.

[kerrisan]

I wonder if any bank employees (former or not) are allowed to divulge the secret . . . ?

[Sandman]

Chinese water torchure?

[Primer]

the patterns of types of stuff bought in the past?

It'd probably throw up red flags if I tried to make a charge at a place like Victoria's Secret, or some "upper" scale department store or restaurant!

[Rapscallion]

Oddly enough, when I was with GK and happily crashing snowmobile 3000 miles from home, they raised not an eyebrow on my credit card. I took a little cash out of an atm using my debit card and I got panicked phone calls from them when I got home. Same company, for that matter...

Rapscallion

[LionMan]

I know they usually look for lots of activity on a card over a short time. I got a call a few months ago because I bought 3 things online (all 3 items totalled to maybe $60), but because each was a separate charge, I got an automated call.

[TNT]

the patterns of types of stuff bought in the past?

It'd probably throw up red flags if I tried to make a charge at a place like Victoria's Secret, or some "upper" scale department store or restaurant!

I don't think the company itself raised any red flags... it was Yahoo! and though I've never done business there that I can recall, it wouldn't be a big surprise if I did.

After thinking about it for awhile, my guess is that it had something to do with location. I'm not sure if banks track such things, but if an internet transaction supposedly from me came from an IP address in the Ukraine, I imagine there'd be questions.

Now the bigger issue is beginning to sink in: someone hacked my card, almost certainly from the internet. There's a security breach somewhere... but where?

[BookstoreEscapee]

It actually kind of scares me. It's a debit card and I've pretty much given up on cash... my bank statement each month runs many pages. I doubt I would have even noticed two $18.53 charges.

That's why I never use my debit card online. I always use a regular credit card, that way if something does happen I have some recourse. Someone gets hold of my debit they can wipe out my checking account before I even know what's happening. Mostly I shop Old Navy online and I use their store card for that. Other things I'll use my Discover cuz I get the cash back bonus.

[ThePhoneGoddess]

Banks look for the same things we look for---certain patterns. For instance, multiple orders made to the same merchant all within a couple hours of each other will raise big red flags, especially if its an over the phone merchant, like putting minutes on a prepaid cell. Most card thieves, once they get a hold of a card number, will use it numerous times right away. Like they'll use the card to put $50 on 4 different cell phones, one after another, then they will stop using the card.

The bank will also look at the kinds of merchants you frequent. If you spend lots of money at a local Christian bookstore, for instance, then all of a sudden they see charges to an internet porn site, that will flag it. Or if you live in New York and most of your purchases are made there, and charges suddenly start appearing from a gas station in Oregon, that will flag it. Or if you tend to frequent expensive restaurants, and suddenly they find charges to several fast food places, they'll flag it.

On this charge, there are several things that could have flagged it---do you never ever charge it over the net? many people don't use their debit on the net, so if a bank suddenly sees an internet charge on a card that's never had them before, they'll flag it. Also, your guess about IP address is correct, if it's an IP from far away they will call.