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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Police for credit card fraud

22 replies

Phoenixxx · 19/01/2020 08:00

No idea where to place this thread but i've just been yet another victim of somebody fraudulently using my card to make several purchases. I have had the card with me the entire time but I know the c*s are crafty, and it can be done via ATMs and the like.

Fortunately the money will be refunded to me, the bank were excellent and fast-acting. They said they will be looking into the case, but do you think it's worth me going to the police ?

It's a theft, just as if I went into a shop and helped myself to whatever I wanted, the police would rightfully be involved. I'm sick of this happening to so many people. Has anyone been to the police over this and had the person caught ?

OP posts:

Finfintytint · 19/01/2020 08:05

The bank should make a report to Action Fraud but they don’t often do this.
Police will just refer you to ActionFraud.

Original poster

Phoenixxx · 19/01/2020 08:09

Ok thanks for letting me know, i'll have a look at action fraud !

OP posts:

VikVal81 · 19/01/2020 08:13

To be honest, as most of my family are in the police or as for my dad, retired copper, this has come up when anyone of us has have been hit (believe me it happens a lot across the country) and the answer is...Waste of time. You can report it if you wish but as stated above it just gets referred to Action Fraud. A lot of the scamming believe it or not it done from within other countries, there is a chance it could be from the ATM obviously if you have never used it online but there is a chance it could've been scanned while in your purse without you even realising.

Biker47 · 19/01/2020 08:16

I wouldn't bother personally, save your time and energy, the two times it's happened to me I just went to the card company, and got the money back and that's where my involvement ended, they ask you if they can refer to the police after their investigation usually anyways.

MRex · 19/01/2020 08:19

My bank called once to check if I was on another country trying to withdraw cash, then after some to and fro they confirmed the other bank security were holding the woman awaiting police. So sometimes they get caught. Mostly they call when it is me making a purchase they consider odd, but two other small events got caught quickly. If you suffer a financial loss then you should follow up with police, but if your bank suffer the financial loss on your behalf then I'd leave it with them to do the reporting and follow-up. I know it makes you feel uncomfortable, but there isn't anything useful you can do, it's the bank algorithms that will work out the likely place where your card was cloned.

We have a man who takes parcels from front doorsteps round here. He only got away with my tights, and Amazon sent more free of charge, but he's had plenty from other doorsteps. In principle it would be good for him to be prosecuted, while the items might be lower value it feels more personal to steal from a front garden than from a bank.

Frenchw1fe · 19/01/2020 08:25

When it happened to me I was told to go on line and report it there.

Original poster

Phoenixxx · 19/01/2020 08:30

Thank you for the replies. I just can't believe how many people get away with it, it's disgusting.

OP posts:

Alyic · 19/01/2020 08:40

It has happened three times to me, each time notification from the bank, one of these was over £10k, that time I was told by the bank to report to the police and was sent a form to fill in and asked to give a copy of the completed form to them. That time they weren't great a refunding me and only part of was it flagged as fraud, ignoring the form I'd sent back, all the fraud items were outside UK.

It got to be a nightmare, carrying forward each month the fraud amount and adding interest. Wrote in with as much evidence as I had, partly refunded again, leaving about £2k outstanding, which I did eventually get cleared.

Looking at you HSBC

Xenia · 19/01/2020 08:45

Report it on line to Action Fraud as it does not take you long and I think it is very important they are aware of just how many cases there are. I think we should devote more resources to it (starting with the £300m we give to Pakistan a year in foreign aid some of which could be better spent at home and on this issue). Action Frauded is funded with £11m a year from the state or so. I think it should be more.

Original poster

Phoenixxx · 19/01/2020 09:43

Awful to hear some of these stories. I've just reported it to Action Fraud, and i'll be very wary now.

OP posts:

MrMeSeeks · 19/01/2020 09:52

Dont bother

msmith501 · 19/01/2020 10:08

There was a programme on Radio 4 two weeks ago that discussed this. Apparently, despite the names, Action Fraud do not actually take action in a criminal investigation sense. What they do is look at the cases reported to them and if they think it's worth it, they forward them to another party who on turn report them to the police to follow up.

There are similar reports but with slightly different processes described redd-monitor.org/2019/12/14/action-fraud-is-er-a-fraud/

LordofFraud · 19/01/2020 10:18

Someone in my house right now works in fraud.
Apparently, the bank bulk-report this, so it will at least get recorded, although probably not investigated.

This person has also advised that the most common way this happens is data theft from when you've shopped online. Ideally make sure all your passwords are unique and frequently changed - you can use a password minder for this.

sueelleker · 19/01/2020 10:29

When my debit card was stolen, the bank wanted a crime number from the police before they could chase it.

DGRossetti · 19/01/2020 10:55

No idea where to place this thread but i've just been yet another victim of somebody fraudulently using my card to make several purchases.

If it's repeatedly happening, you have a problem with someone close to you. Rather than worrying about the correct reporting channels you'd be much better off investing the time and energy into sorting out your personal security. How are the fraudsters getting hold of your card details for a start ? Is your post secure ? If you make online purchases is your PC/tablet/phone free of malware ?

Is it possible someone in your circle is accessing the details ?

Did your bank issue new cards and numbers after the first incident ?

Original poster

Phoenixxx · 19/01/2020 11:02

Sorry, I meant that it's happened to so many people rather than it's happened to me frequently.
But thanks for those suggestions, I will be extra vigilant.

OP posts:

DGRossetti · 19/01/2020 13:54

A little tip, for free, is to totally obliterate (you may need a hot iron) the last 3 digits on the back of your card(s) - the CV2 you need for online purchases.

There is never a need for anyone you buy from in person to ever see them so you're reducing the chances of your card details being used online.

Another little tip is to remember the 3 digits before you zap them

PigletJohn · 19/01/2020 14:53

Action Fraud is a con

It is intended to make the victim feel that their complaint is being investigated

In fact, you might as well write your complaint to father christmas and send it up the chimney.

Finfintytint · 19/01/2020 14:57

Action Fraud will hand over any viable investigations to police if they come up with a possible UK suspect. Otherwise, yes, it gets binned.

Celticrose · 19/01/2020 15:16

I can block my card online from being used online and also in any area outside the UK. I have a card for my mums account as I am a mandate holder authorised by her. I tried to purchase shoes for her online st her request and couldn't understand why the payment wouldn't go through. Then I got a text from the bank to say that someone was trying yo use the card etc. This is when it dawned on me and I had to go into my online banking and lift the blocking to enable the purchase. Also when I use my card online I get a text message from my bank with a 4 digit code which I need to input to let the payment go through. This is only for this one purchase and changes if I make another purchase. It is a bit of a nuisance but it makes me feel more secure.

blubberyboo · 19/01/2020 15:21

If the bank refund you then it is the bank who have suffered the loss and therefore the bank is the victim.
They will report it via their internal processes but will reserve the right to ask you for assistance if the police make further enquiries

user1479305498 · 19/01/2020 18:04

One thing to mention, I was caught out by a very cheap 'trial offer' online on something for £4.95 postage only (item was worth about £20). Basically they then started taking £70 a day debits off my credit card.. I picked up the issue after around 5 days as only have a low limit on that card and got a text from capital one to say I was over my limit-- which I knew I couldn't be. I did get it all back but was quite a bit of hassle, so moral of the tale is I only buy online from sites I know and if something looks too good to be true, it may not be your custom they are after but your card details!!!!

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