| Author |
Message |
SoldierHawk
Moderator
Title: Warrior-Poet
Joined: Jan 15 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6113
|
Hey guys,
I just found out that my credit card number has been compromised. Luckily I caught it early, froze the card, and my bank has so far been more that gracious about getting the charges off my account. That's the good part.
Now I want to figure out how this freaking happened. A virus scan (MacAfee) and two spyware scanes (Spybot and Malwarebytes) turned up nothing. Could it be that something is hiding from me in my actual comp, or could they have intercepted my number a different way? The only recent online ordering I've done is via amazon a few days ago. I've never had a problem with their security before, but you never know I guess. Assholes like this are creative. Thoughts? Suggestions?
|
| William Shakespeare wrote: |
| Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. |
|
|
    |
|
Slayer1
Title: ,,!,, for you know who
Joined: Sep 23 2008
Posts: 4274
|
I intially would say a Keylogger must have been in one of your Sys folders and McAffee (which is PoS anyways) considered it to be a resource of some sort. I'd say try using a different scan from like AVG or some of the more archiac ones like Window washer or TrojanThis.
|
|
|
  |
|
UsaSatsui
Title: The White Rabbit
Joined: May 25 2008
Location: Hiding
Posts: 7565
|
Unless you have your credit card number sitting in a file on your computer, it's unlikely it was stolen that way.
The assumption that it was swiped off your computer isn't necessarily a good one either. My guess is they got it the old fashioned way. If you work at a retail store, for example, it's VERY easy to rip off credit card numbers. I remember when I worked at a gas station, I was able to watch someone pay at the pump, wait until they left, print out their receipt from the inside register, and bam, it had their credit card number on it. That's not common at all anymore (it was 10 years ago), but it's possible.
Also, restaurants are a common place card numbers get stolen. Remember your credit card is out of your sight for a long time, it's not hard for them to jot your number, date, and security number down quickly.
|
|
|
  |
|
SoldierHawk
Moderator
Title: Warrior-Poet
Joined: Jan 15 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6113
|
^ very true.
Ah well. I guess if it happens again I'll have to be a bit more worried. For now, it should alright. Thanks guys.
|
| William Shakespeare wrote: |
| Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. |
|
|
    |
|
Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24886
|
There have been several instances where retail chains had their computers hacked and credit card numbers were compromised. It is possible that is what happened.
There was also an incident a couple of years ago, where the Boston Globe accidentally sent out subscribers' billing information with several batches of papers.
Someone also could have dug through your trash for it.
|
|
|
     |
|
Slayer1
Title: ,,!,, for you know who
Joined: Sep 23 2008
Posts: 4274
|
Sears did that to my dad now that I can remember clearly.
|
|
|
  |
|
username
Title: owner of a lonely heart
Joined: Jul 06 2007
Location: phoenix, az usa
Posts: 16135
|
or, if someone is patient enough, they can set up a camera to record people at the ATM. this is a scenario from Art of the Steal by Frank Abignale.
|

| Klimbatize wrote: |
| I'll eat a turkey sandwich while blowing my load |
|
|
     |
|
GPFontaine
Joined: Dec 06 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 11244
|
Once a year my workplace makes me run this:
http://identityfinder.com/Products/Identity_Finder_Editions_Enterprise.html
You would be amazed how much information lingers on computers. Still... if you are running a current modern antivirus with up to date definitions, a spyware prevention software such as Windows Defender, and you are smart about what you do, you should have no problems.
|
|
|
   |
|
|
|