Keeping your cards safe during the holiday season is necessary as thieves get especially sticky fingers during the gift giving season. Just one of the hundreds of examples of credit card theft, Houston Police have recently been searching for a man alleged to have taken credit card and then used it at a fast food restaurant, gas station, grocery and drug store. Still at large, the fugitive stole the card from a vehicle outside a person’s home.
Stealing Your Card
Not just during the holiday season but all year round, consumers need to beware of credit card theft and the various methods utilized by thieves. With consumers under pressure from merchants and families to buy gifts and with tight financial budget constraints, crimes involving theft will only continue to increase. Cash, wallets, cards and even your purchases are not safe from thieves. Recently, police have a suspect who stole a card from her co-worker while she was out on the floor working. Interestingly enough, the surveillance revealed the woman making purchases with the stolen card at the very store, Toys R Us, she was employed at (or used to be employed). The police went to the home of the worker only to find all the items bought with the stolen card, carefully wrapped and placed under a completely decorated Christmas tree. The total value of the merchandise was $700. Police have said they are planning to charge the woman after they complete their investigation.
Not Just Stealing Your Cards
There are last minute thieves just as there are last minute Christmas shoppers. Police have identified that some creative robbers don’t bother with the credit cards and wasting their time shopping. They go straight for the merchandise. As holiday shoppers get out of their cars, unbeknownst to the driver, an unknown vehicle sidles up beside them, and unloads the ‘stuff’ they just bought. Before they know it they have been robbed. Next time you are in the check out lane take extra precautions. Lt. Barry Hovis of the Cape Girardeau, Missouri Police Department warns that, “People steal credit card numbers. They may just reach in a purse and grab your wallet and you won’t know it until you get to the register”. They may not even have to reach into your purse; with the new cell technology some enterprising individuals are even taking pictures of cards while you pay, to get your number. Later they can use the number on line to make purchases. Or worse.
Fake Cards
Not only do merchants worry about stolen cards but during the holiday crunch, the use of fake cards is on the rise. Embossing machines, credit card readers, computers and blank plastic cards were found recently in a Salamanca hotel room that suspects were using to manufacture bogus credit cards. The Buffalonews.com reported that seven people were arraigned recently after being accused of stealing information from individual bank cards and using the information to manufacture bogus cards. The cards were then used in local casinos in Niagara Falls and Salamanca to withdraw $198,700 in funds. The thieves were discovered when three people, from Ohio, called the Seneca Niagara Casino to report that someone had stolen their information and used their credit card numbers to withdraw money. The Seneca Niagara Casino security forwarded the information to the local state police. The state police found that 22 – $2,000 cash advances were made from two Seneca Casinos. Unsure of how the credit card information was obtained but police ask people to be aware that skimmer devices are often used to glean card numbers from unsuspecting customers. Electronic skimmers can be attached to ATM machines, pay at the pump gas stations, or by disreputable restaurants or merchants.
Watch very closely when using your credit cards and be very aware of your surroundings when making purchases with your cards. Thieves have become very opportunistic with skimmers and alternative devices that can easily steal valuable account information from unsuspecting people..
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