SCAM ALERT...

[Podunkadunk]

All,
I checked my online bank statement today (as I do every day) and saw a charge for $9.40 from a company called HBS, out of California. My statement read that I was charged this amount, by these people and listed this 866-214-7845 as their phone number.

I did a reverse phone search, nothing came up. Then I did a reverse phone search with a pay site I use for information. Nothing!

Then I googled HBS + California + 866-214-7845. That's when I found a site that lists it as a scam. Apparently, they "fish" your account for the small fee of $9.40 or $9.45, then hit your account hard.

I immediately called my credit union and cancelled my debit card and they are sending me forms to fill out to report the fraud and be recooped my lost money.

Everyone beware. I use my debit card just as everyone else...nothing fancy and nothing out of the ordinary...if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.

CHECK YOUR STATEMENTS.

Podunk

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks for the heads up. It is good that you caught it so soon. Most folks do not check their accounts that often until its too late.

 

[Bird]

I don't check my credit card and bank information online every day, but I do check them 3 or 4 times a month. We use credit cards almost exclusively (but pay in full every month) and the debit card has never been used for anything except to obtain cash at ATMs and that's almost never. But it is nice to be able to check online without waiting for the statements in the mail.

Glad yoiu caught your problem early.

 

[TheKid]

Just happened to me last month. Had a phone call from my bank on the answering machine asking me to call their credit card securities department. There was a charge to my account for $1.14 form a tent and awning company. They were suspicious so they didn't post it or charge my account. Had a new card in a week.

Two years ago some cashier at a department store thought it was OK to use my wife account to charge things from the catalog. Some of the items were on back order and the letter informing them of the back order was sent in the mail which made it a federal mail fraud case as well.

All three people involved are currently serving time in a federal prison.

 

[WTA]

I got ripped off a few months ago by someone in canada buying 1200 bucks worth of gas on my business card.

I never did figure out how that happened. That card number was never given out online. Only over the phone to a few vendors. When it's not in my hand it's in my wallet which is only about 3 inches from my .45 so I know for a fact noone ever saw the number on it. These scammers are just too smart these days. Everyone needs to be checking their account often or else.

We got our money back but it was a pain. We live an hour away from the bank and had to make several trips to town and to the police department.

 

[RedRocker]

I'm with Bird cept I don't use a debit card at all.

 

[Podunkadunk]

I have some neighbors down the road who don't have debit cards. When I was telling them what had happened to me, the lady of the house told me that she won't even check her bank statement online. She's afraid someone will hack in, etc.

She also stated they won't buy anything online using a credit card...afraid to key in the number on the online form.

I asked how they pay their bills, to which she stated, "write a check and put it in the mailbox".

128-bit encryption is a heck of a lot safer than any mailbox!

I didn't argue with her (it ain't TBN) haha. They're mid/upper fifties and pretty set in their ways.