Debra called while I was on my way to lunch this afternoon. Somebody purporting to be the Capital One fraud department had left a message on the home answering machine saying that it was imperative that I contact them. They left a toll-free callback number. That got me to thinking, though. How could I trust the number? Anybody could call and say that they’re Capital One.
So I called the customer service number on the back of my card. After wading through several levels of menus and going around the loop twice, I finally started hitting ‘0′ until I got a real person on the line. After verifying my identity, the woman confirmed that the fraud department had called, and she transferred me to them.
Ten minutes on hold later, I got to verify my identity once more and the representative asked me about some possibly fraudulent charges: one for over $1,000 at the Boeing Store, and one for a two-year subscription to Experts Exchange–neither of which I had authorized. The card is of course being canceled and I’ll receive a replacement in the mail soon. But it got me to wondering about several things.
- Why were the charges refused? Perhaps the Web sites asked for the 3-digit security code and when the number entered wasn’t correct, they reported possible fraud? Or maybe the shipping address was different from my home address. I’m curious how Capital One decided that those charges were possibly fraudulent. It’s not inconceivable that I would have made those purchases.
- How the heck did somebody get hold of my credit card number? I guess that in itself isn’t terribly difficult, but you’d think that somebody who was buying a two-year subscription to Experts Exchange would be smart enough to know that he couldn’t make the purchase without the card security code and a confirmed home address.
- How many people would call a number left on an answering machine from somebody purporting to be the fraud department? I think it’s terribly irresponsible for Capital One to leave a callback number. I honestly thought the answering machine message was a scam. It would be more reasonable to say something like, “Please call the customer service number printed on the back of your card and ask to speak with the fraud department.”
Regardless, I’m happy to see that they were able to identify those unauthorized charges and prevent somebody from having fun at my expense. I hope they can track down the miscreant before he does real damage to somebody’s credit.
I had the same experience with my Cap One card, but someone tried to charge a total of 10,000 dollars from the Boeing Store. Seems strange.
I was trolling the web for info on Cap1. I used to work in their fraud department and part of the reason they were able to flag and decline the Boeing store and Experts Exchange transactions was probably because it is recognized fraud. The fraud system may have seen it and blocked it automatically.
Also, we have no illusions that some people are uncomfortable with returning a call to an unfamiliar number, especially when security verification is required. HOWEVER, my guess is that if we didn’t leave the #, people would complain about having to wait for CS then again for fraud. It’s kind of lose-lose.
If someone is uncomfortable, we always recommend and encourage people to call the number on the back of their card. So, we give the number and leave it up to you to decide how to use it. At the very minimum, it’ll inspire you to contact us which is what we want anyway.
Odd. I had the same experience.
Same credit card. Same call left on answering machine. Same fraud with Boeing store for about $1000. Capital One cancelled card and sent a new one.
I live in Indiana. Why the Boeing store? How did they get my credit card number? Why me or you for that matter?
I had the exact same thing happen to me yesterday, on my Cap1 card. It seems to me like some information was leaked or stolen from cap1.
just recieveda letter to urgently contact captal one fraud depertment due to unusual activity on my account all purchases must now be authorised by them.its horrible knowing that i now face the answer machine circus.
Interesting…the same thing happened to me…i caught some fraudulent charges that showed up on my account and contacted Cap1 about it. A few days later I get an automated phone call from the number (617) 231-2045 claiming to be the Cap1 fraud dept. They left an automated message to call 1-888-677-2847 by today, and a # to reference. I haven’t called b/c i thought it could be a scam. Does any of that sound familiar to anyone?
Experts Exchange somehow got my BofA Visa number and charged $189.95 at 2:10PM and 2:11 and then again at 2:32 and 2:47 (the last two were stopped by the bank fraud unit). The bank fraud division called me at 6:00 PM, named the culprit as Experts Exchange and gave me their number; I called and left a message with customer service - leaving no callback number. A Jenna called me back the next day (on the phone I used to call them) and said she would like to talk with me about “that account”, why the charges went through, it looked like someone was trying to use my card fradulently on their website, and if I called she might be able to help me! A complaint to the District Attorney for San Luis Obispo is underway. If four attempts on me (and I’ve never heard of this company before yesterday), how many others? What is up with Experts Exchange?
I just got this call, I did not pick up as I did not recognize the area code. they did not leave a message. However my Capital one card was comprimised in April with a small charge. they cancelled that card and sent a new one in May. Last week I got my bill and learned of $4000 in charges to a yahoo search site in $1,000, $250 increments…… I called the fraud dept and they cancelled that card. I have called the fraud dept and nothing has been found out or done with the exception of canceling my card.
now I sit here looking at another card they have sent and don’t think I want to activate it. It is a business account and I need to use it but I think I will apply with a different company. I googled the phone number that showed up on my caller id and I got this website. Sure sounds like their records have been leaked or comprimised.
I went through identity theft 4 years ago and it was nightmare culminating in my arrest of stealing cars! I sat in a holding cell for 8 hours until the mess got straightened out! This is nothing to fool around with. I have a new SSN, bank accounts………..life and still this has happened. Careful? after you go through ID theft believe me you are careful! I am in Ohio, my old SSN was sold across the country to several people. Nightmare, you bet!
You better check your Capital One interest rate after they sent you a new card. The same thing happened to me: the Capital One fraud unit called me and told me someone tried to use my card online (on a German web site). Then they cancelled my old card, which had a 5.90% interest rate and sent me a new card and a new interest rate of 10.90%. They refused to lower my rate back to the old rate, so I have since cancelled my account with them.
I just got a call from 617-231-2045 and didn’t answer it because the Caller ID came back unavailable. I was curious because they didn’t leave a message, so I googled the number and got this site. I called the number and got a recorded message to call another number. Just the other day I reported some fraud charges on my account and canceled the card. I’m just going to ingnore the call…gut feeling, especially after reading the above.