Fraudulent charges on card used for gaming

[labeled]

Well, damn. Woke to a 50 charge from the itunes store overnight (really? why would anyone even bother with that? I don't get it). Card is cancelled, charge is being investigated, etc etc. What a pain in the ass.

Just wanted to remind everyone to take advantage of their online banking and keep an eye on their accounts.

eta: I only deposit at two (accredited, Rival) casinos, who've recently switched processors. The last time my card was compromised, it was just after a processor switch, as well. Also, the new processor does that "extra dip" thing. I dep 25, they take 26.01, etc. :\

Edited again to add: Def. casino related, no doubt - called the bank where I have another card - ithad an attempted charge last night as well which was declined due to lack of funds. I use that card for gaming and gaming ONLY (and not all that often), and have only deposited ever at the aforementioned accredited US facing Rivals.

 

[Mousey]

grrrr ... So sorry this happened. And what is it with the iTunes charges??? some else's card that was hit had iTunes charges on it ...

And I wholeheartedly agree... we must watch our accounts like a hawk... and that doesn't mean waiting till the monthly statement shows up in the mail.

Good luck!

 

[labeled]

grrrr ... So sorry this happened. And what is it with the iTunes charges??? some else's card that was hit had iTunes charges on it ...

And I wholeheartedly agree... we must watch our accounts like a hawk... and that doesn't mean waiting till the monthly statement shows up in the mail.

Good luck!

Thanks. According to the bank rep apparently itunes is a "known safe" account for many, so it might be used to test the waters to see if there are funds available, and if the account holder will catch it. Which makes more sense than someone really wanting Season 1 of Game of Thrones or the complete works of Bob Marley or whatever, I guess.

I'm disappointed that it definitely points to the casino (and I've pm'd Ms Sloto to let her know). But really, the only other place spend online is at Amazon, so even if both hadn't been attempted I'd be pretty sure it was casino-related.


We're at a point where it doesn't matter how safe the casino group is, if they're only as safe as some processor based out of Beijing who might be gone tomorrow anyway. (The CSR was cool about the recent international charges, btw - I just told him "believe it or not, those are fine" and that was that.) Long story short, not worth it anymore.

 

[harrys99]

And I wholeheartedly agree... we must watch our accounts like a hawk... and that doesn't mean waiting till the monthly statement shows up in the mail.

If you are using your bank/checking account that you also use for living expenses you must check it every day.

Had I not checked my account the very day that $1500 in fraudulent charges hit my account, my rent check would have bounced.

 

[anniemac]

I am sure I would be horrified at how many 'unauthorized' charges try to go thru my card and are kicked back because of lack of funds.

I only keep enough on my gaming card for one deposit at a time and this card is one I can toss in the can if need be. It is in no way tied to any real bank account so if it is compromised I won't lose anything.

I check my bank statements daily, sometimes twice a day, just to make sure all is OK. After the identity theft thing, still ongoing, I have become way more careful. Nobody gets my real banking information anymore except my local utility companies. All other bills or purchases get routed thru a bank prepaid.

It's a sad state of affairs when we have to be so vigilant about out personal information.

 

[vinylweatherman]

This is getting way out of control. Some explanation as to what is going on is needed. This is a big problem for players as they are pressured into eating the fraudulent charges rather than risk being blacklisted by casinos as a "chargebacker" and having winnings confiscated.

I can't see how these incidents can be accidental, this is deliberate criminal fraud that is taking place, and on a rapidly escalating scale. The source needs to be traced, and preferrably dealt with before the problem becomes big enough to catch the attention of the US banking authorities.

If there is a criminal investigation that points the finger at online casinos trying to dodge UIGEA, it will be a propaganda coup for those wanting a hard line stance against any form of internet gambling, who will have the proof that the bullshit spouted in defence of the initial reasoning behind the necessity of UIGEA is substantively true.

I can imagine the statement:-

"This recent surge in fraudulent charges against the cards of US citizens has been traced to the offshore casino industry after a thorough investigation by the FBI and Homeland Security agency. As argued by Sen ######## in ####, this proves that offshore gambling is largely a front for the funding of organised criminals and terrorists. US Citizens should refrain from using these establishments as they are liable to be defrauded of large sums of money and have their personal details used for criminal activities".


Oddly enough, there is a report that UK and EU banks have seen a sudden surge in card fraud, despite the fact that online gamblers and casinos have no need to use dodgy processors to disguise the transactions.

Putting the blame wholly on online casinos and their processors may not necessarily be correct. There may be a security breach that does not relate to the compromise having needed the cardholder to have used their card at a specific merchant, hence merchants the cardholder has used get blamed as the only possible source of the breach.

What about cards that have NEVER been used at an online casino? Have these been hit by fraudulent charges or attempts?

 

[dinahbrand]

I only use a prepaid card for itunes. I won't even use my credit card because there have been too many instances of itune fraudulent charges. I recently made a purchase at Marshalls and only used cash because twice they got hit during the holiday season with their servers being compromised.

Nothing and nowhere is safe. You just have to check your account and hope you don't get targeted. Sorry to hear this happened.

 

[labeled]

This is getting way out of control. Some explanation as to what is going on is needed. This is a big problem for players as they are pressured into eating the fraudulent charges rather than risk being blacklisted by casinos as a "chargebacker" and having winnings confiscated.

I can't see how these incidents can be accidental, this is deliberate criminal fraud that is taking place, and on a rapidly escalating scale. The source needs to be traced, and preferrably dealt with before the problem becomes big enough to catch the attention of the US banking authorities.

If there is a criminal investigation that points the finger at online casinos trying to dodge UIGEA, it will be a propaganda coup for those wanting a hard line stance against any form of internet gambling, who will have the proof that the bullshit spouted in defence of the initial reasoning behind the necessity of UIGEA is substantively true.

I can imagine the statement:-

"This recent surge in fraudulent charges against the cards of US citizens has been traced to the offshore casino industry after a thorough investigation by the FBI and Homeland Security agency. As argued by Sen ######## in ####, this proves that offshore gambling is largely a front for the funding of organised criminals and terrorists. US Citizens should refrain from using these establishments as they are liable to be defrauded of large sums of money and have their personal details used for criminal activities".


Oddly enough, there is a report that UK and EU banks have seen a sudden surge in card fraud, despite the fact that online gamblers and casinos have no need to use dodgy processors to disguise the transactions.

Putting the blame wholly on online casinos and their processors may not necessarily be correct. There may be a security breach that does not relate to the compromise having needed the cardholder to have used their card at a specific merchant, hence merchants the cardholder has used get blamed as the only possible source of the breach.

What about cards that have NEVER been used at an online casino? Have these been hit by fraudulent charges or attempts?

I agree with what you've written, but want to point out that my everyday credit card (with a CU that I've kept completely separate from my gaming) as well as debit card from the CU has never been compromised. If attempts hadn't been made at both gaming-related accounts, I'd be more willing to chalk it up to coincidence.

 

[labeled]

I only use a prepaid card for itunes. I won't even use my credit card because there have been too many instances of itune fraudulent charges. I recently made a purchase at Marshalls and only used cash because twice they got hit during the holiday season with their servers being compromised.

Nothing and nowhere is safe. You just have to check your account and hope you don't get targeted. Sorry to hear this happened.

Very smart. I just had to check my iTunes account, and found that it had been disabled, since I haven't used it in several years. Upon resetting the password, it shows my last purchase as 2008, so at least I know it wasn't that account that was hacked. Oh, it also shows as "no credit card on file" so I'm clear there.

I should've mentioned that I also run MalwareBytes at least once every two weeks, as well as use an updated anti-virus and firewall. Nothing fishy anywhere.

 

[anniemac]

VWM,

I can say that only the cards that have been used for gaming have been hit but my 'real' bank card hasn't. Now whether it is because I use my gaming card more or I am hypervigilant about my bank card, I can't say.

I think we see more US fraud charges because that is what we can use to deposit. Outside the US, you have so much more options. So when a fraudster steals our information, it's a card of some kind. It's an easy crime that can net alot of money quickly. Most times the money is gone by the time people realize they have bought $1000 worth of bicycle parts from Dubai.

I know I sound crazy but I have 2-3 disposable cards that I use for gaming, I have 1 bank prepaid card that I use for everyday and I have my 'real' bank account. Sometimes it requires a bit of juggling but at least I don't have to wake up to all my money being gone. LOL!

 

[labeled]

VWM,

I can say that only the cards that have been used for gaming have been hit but my 'real' bank card hasn't. Now whether it is because I use my gaming card more or I am hypervigilant about my bank card, I can't say.

I think we see more US fraud charges because that is what we can use to deposit. Outside the US, you have so much more options. So when a fraudster steals our information, it's a card of some kind. It's an easy crime that can net alot of money quickly. Most times the money is gone by the time people realize they have bought $1000 worth of bicycle parts from Dubai.

I know I sound crazy but I have 2-3 disposable cards that I use for gaming, I have 1 bank prepaid card that I use for everyday and I have my 'real' bank account. Sometimes it requires a bit of juggling but at least I don't have to wake up to all my money being gone. LOL!

Yeah, even though I keep a few layers of separation, because this particular bank is aggressive about restricting access (and the other is a CU, and CU's in my experience can close accounts at the drop of a hat - that's the one I just keep for gaming only, for the most part) if I have two international transactions in a row I do keep quite a bit of my money there, so I can use it for gaming, then make a purchase on Amazon, gaming, then pay a bill or get gas, gaming, etc - it could've been much worse than $50. What I'd like to find is a PP card that doesn't require my social security # and also accepts international transactions.

When the universe wants you to quit playing it wants you to quit in a big way, huh?

 

[anniemac]

Labeled,

You're not going to find any kind of bank card, prepaid or otherwise, that doesn't require your SS#. It is the way that you are identified as who you are. And that is why it is so easy for thieves to steal from your bank once they have it.

 

[labeled]

Labeled,

You're not going to find any kind of bank card, prepaid or otherwise, that doesn't require your SS#. It is the way that you are identified as who you are. And that is why it is so easy for thieves to steal from your bank once they have it.

Fair point, of course.

ETA: Apple is attempting to refund the charge, which may or may not work, as the card has been cancelled. Bank's reply was 'wait and see.' Joy. <--sarcasm.

 

[rolltide_93]

Interesting post!
Around the same date this post was started, my bank let me know my debit card had been locked due to fraudulent charges were attempted and it was made to iTunes. It came at the same time I made a small deposit to a online casino, which, I have not done in some time. Luckily no money was taken. I had to order a new card with a new number and now afraid to make any deposits.

 

[labeled]

Interesting post!
Around the same date this post was started, my bank let me know my debit card had been locked due to fraudulent charges were attempted and it was made to iTunes. It came at the same time I made a small deposit to a online casino, which, I have not done in some time. Luckily no money was taken. I had to order a new card with a new number and now afraid to make any deposits.

Hey, sorry to just see this, very interesting. Would it have been to an accredited group, by any chance? (I want to reiterate that I don't blame the group, per se, but the shifty set of processors they seem to be using here and there - the same ones that overcharge on every deposit, for instance. Let's face it, it shouldn't surprise anyone that shifty processors are out there in this industry.)

 

[cpdnd31]

Well LOL I was hit twice and both times I used just that card for gaming. Now all I use is vouchers and prepaid. The first time the bastards use my card over the weekend after they emptied out checking my savings kicked in after savings was gone the credit line kicked in they got over 10 grand... i did get it refunded some right away and some like 20 days later. Learned lesson hard way now savings is no longer connected to checking..

2nd time checking acct and they bought tickets on line over 3 grand worth and some other crap. However ticket company called to confirm info and I blocked card right away. So everything fell off after a week I think.

It was a pain in the ass to get everything fixed and I used the excuse of my kids playing online when bank and police questioned everything.

However unless I was scanned with card in my purse I think it was do to online casinos as well.

 

[silcnlayc]

I too got a charge against my card for $75 from Itunes about a month ago, had to cancel card, but the bank called and asked if I made it cause I keep a minimum in my account also to keep this from biting me.

I haven't had another like it since I stopped playing a particluar casino, but can't remember which. It is an odd one though.... Strange how it goes around for the same thing...Itunes today, new shoes tomorrow! And dont even have to leave home

I am sure I would be horrified at how many 'unauthorized' charges try to go thru my card and are kicked back because of lack of funds.

I only keep enough on my gaming card for one deposit at a time and this card is one I can toss in the can if need be. It is in no way tied to any real bank account so if it is compromised I won't lose anything.

I check my bank statements daily, sometimes twice a day, just to make sure all is OK. After the identity theft thing, still ongoing, I have become way more careful. Nobody gets my real banking information anymore except my local utility companies. All other bills or purchases get routed thru a bank prepaid.

It's a sad state of affairs when we have to be so vigilant about out personal information.

 

[rolltide_93]

Hey, sorry to just see this, very interesting. Would it have been to an accredited group, by any chance? (I want to reiterate that I don't blame the group, per se, but the shifty set of processors they seem to be using here and there - the same ones that overcharge on every deposit, for instance. Let's face it, it shouldn't surprise anyone that shifty processors are out there in this industry.)

The casino I deposited with is not listed by casinomeister but I have used them in the past with no problems but think it is with these shifty processors where the problem is. Just another hoop to jump through and bullet to dodge we have to go through here in this great nation!

 

[gambler777]

VWM,

I can say that only the cards that have been used for gaming have been hit but my 'real' bank card hasn't. Now whether it is because I use my gaming card more or I am hypervigilant about my bank card, I can't say.

I think we see more US fraud charges because that is what we can use to deposit. Outside the US, you have so much more options. So when a fraudster steals our information, it's a card of some kind. It's an easy crime that can net alot of money quickly. Most times the money is gone by the time people realize they have bought $1000 worth of bicycle parts from Dubai.

I know I sound crazy but I have 2-3 disposable cards that I use for gaming, I have 1 bank prepaid card that I use for everyday and I have my 'real' bank account. Sometimes it requires a bit of juggling but at least I don't have to wake up to all my money being gone. LOL!

Hi Anniemac, If you could pm me and tell me what disposable cards you are using, I would truly appreciate it. Thanks