<p>Parents - if this happens to your student take care of it right away. Got a call from someone purporting to be with bank asking D to call her about possible fraud. Concerned that this might be someone trying to get D’s personal info I called bank to verify telephone number - no one could verify telephone number, but transferred me to the fraud department. Of course, since I am not on D’s credit card they would not tell me anything, but did urge me to have her call them.</p>
<p>I recommend calling the number on the credit card statement - you never know if it might be someone trying to obtain personal id like social security card number, credit card number, etc. Usually an automated call is received - not an in person call.</p>
<p>D is at school on East Coast. Credit card number was used in Utah and Nevada. D used card only once in September - at a local restaurant. Restaurants are notorious for skimming operatives - there was a big ring in DC earlier this year. The only other place she used it was at the University bookstore.</p>
<p>Sent D an email plus info on what to expect when she called fraud department - this has happened to us so I was able to tell her what to expect. She said this was really helpful as she knew what to expect when she called.</p>
<p>Charges were not hers so card was canceled. New credit card mailed to home address which means quick turnaround mailing to D at school as she has trip planned with friends over her university’s fall mini break.</p>
<p>There are also papers she needs to sign affirming the charges were not hers and the papers need to be returned to the bank in a timely manner.</p>
<p>Hope this helps someone - I read that the best way to avoid skimming is never let your credit card out of your sight when you go to a restaurant. I thought about it and at most restaurants I frequent - the server does take my credit card and then brings it back.</p>
<p>So - any suggestion to avoid this type of scam are welcome.</p>
<p>Basically your card number can be grabbed at restaurants, at hotels, etc. I was recently in Mexico and there were loads of reports of skimmers being put on certain ATM machines. I had read up on the problem on trip advisor and was careful to avoid those t machines and to cover the pinpad with my hand when putting in my pin number. With an ATM the situation is more sticky because you are dealing with your bank and they can’t necessarily verify that you didn’t get the cash.
As far as credit card skimming, check your statement online daily. Call number on the card itself immediately if you see charges that are not yours. Make sure the credit card company has your cel phone number. If the fraud department calls you call them back right away.<br>
I have had Amex and MC call my cel when I’ve been travelling. In both cases the charges were legitimate. The Amex situation was different. I checked into a hotel in Vegas and the clerk didn’t process my card correctly. Amex called me right away and I raised a big stink with the hotel manager. It is possible she was trying something but in this case she didn’t get away with it. (Basically she swiped my card but didn’t authorize a charge on it. There is no way I could have known that this had been done.)</p>
<p>We use one-time-use cc numbers for online purchases - Discover provides this service for free. Perhaps something like this for regular cc purchases would be useful. Say a credit card good for a certain period of time. I usually pay cash for restaurant purchases as do our kids. They don’t have credit cards yet. Our son does have an ATM card on my account but he has never used it. Identity theft is a massive problem and it’s amazing that we have no really strong protections against it.</p>
<p>For a student who travels abroad (three month+ residences in two different countries in the past two years) and within the United States (living in at least three different cities) a credit card has been very handy.</p>
<p>Debit cards or ATM cards are actually much riskier than credit cards. Anyone who obtains your debit or ATM information can drain your bank account and the money is gone forever. Just check with your bank to see what they say.</p>
<p>D prefers not to carry a great deal of cash as there are robberies on her campus. Just last week a freshmen was robbed (the robber had a gun) right on a main street deep within the campus. Campus security is another topic though.</p>
<p>Related to the OP’s post: if your student is traveling outside of the country, I strongly encourage you to have your kid take the steps needed to give the credit card bank the authority to talk to you, the parents, if there are questions about charges or fraud. </p>
<p>Our kid’s credit card was frozen because of suspicious activity when he was traveling abroad (and was dependent on the card). The international access phone number provided by the bank did not work on his phone and the bank was not set up to skype with him as an alternative. I could have been the middle man and relayed the information back and forth but my kid could not reach the right people to authorize me to handle it on a weekend, in the middle of the mess. He had told the bank he would be abroad before he left but no one had suggested the extra step of designating someone like a parent as an authorized contact. </p>
<p>I think credit cards get flagged for possible fraud when used abroad even more often than when they are used here. IMO, it is something you can expect to happen and should plan for in advance. The other lesson learned: send your student abroad with more than one credit card.</p>
<p>Greta - yes, D has two credit cards as well as bank accounts at two different banks! Power of attorney is always updated and signed before she goes abroad.</p>
<p>Good hint on the telephone call to the bank to authorize parent to speak to bank on their behalf. I had not thought about that and we will do that next time.</p>
<p>On a personal note every time I take a trip out of state I have to call the credit card company - otherwise my card is declined after the first day.</p>
<p>When our youngest D was in France for a semester, I received a phone call from the credit card company asking if she was in Manila. Of course she wasn’t, but her credit card number had been used there. They canceled her number, sent us a new card, and I sent it to her. It was a hassle. However, she was very grateful that I was on her account. </p>
<p>If my D had just allowed the credit card company to talk to me, I would have wanted a specific power of attorney to handle the situation. If the information gets lost on the computer, or the person you are talking to isn’t the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, they might not let you discuss the account. It is so much better to be safe than sorry.</p>
<p>After a trip a few years ago, a number of strange charges showed up on our card. The cc company called us, and the charges were reversed, card canceled etc. This year, the cc company sent us a letter that they were issuing a new card due to dubious charges (a hand keyed entry out of the country). They also stopped the charges. </p>
<p>I read in Reader’s Digest (I know a real financial journal) that it is better to use the credit function of your bank debit card rather than use your pin in restaurants, supermarkets etc. There was less chance of a drain on your account or some such thing, but I can’t say I really understand it.</p>
<p>I am less concerned of on line theft, although maybe I should be. I try not to use the card for many small purchases, but use cash.</p>
<p>On the issue of not carrying a lot of cash - years ago when I first moved to Manhattan, a woman I worked with told me that I must carry 50-100 dollars at all times, so that if I was mugged, it would be enough money to not get beat up. She was a native. What would that amount be now? 500? or would 100 be enough? I don’t live in the city anymore.</p>
<p>We were the victims of credit card fraud last week and cannot figure out how it happened. DH is primary card holder while college son#3 and I also have cards. Son #3 is only one who actually uses the card now. Credit card company called with recorded announcement of possible fraud which was explained to me in person when I called the company back. Cc company told me charges were made to a grocery store in FL and that it was charged to my son’s card. So we canceled son’s card. Two nights later DH checked account on line and there was another big charge – to Wal Mart in FL. When I called credit card company this time, I was told that it was my DH’s card that had been used for both purchases. So we ended up canceling his and my card as well. That meant son was without credit card for textbook purchases (when it wasn’t even his card number that had been stolen). We still cannot figure out how this happened as my DH’s card has not been used in months and he keeps it in his desk drawer. Furthermore, the credit card company could care less about tracking this fraud and explaining to us who did it and how.</p>
<p>PS We’ve had the situation mentioned above – son traveling abroad when something goes wrong with his credit or debit card. We cannot get involved because we are not co-signers. Son has had to spend mucho time and energy resolving these issues. </p>
<p>Before we or any of the kids travel abroad, we let the credit card company and ATM bank know where we will be abroad. Prior authorization is helpful.</p>