So I get an email from Bank of America today telling me that my account with them has been frozen based on suspected fraudulent charges. At first, I'm thinking it's a spoof or phishing expedition. So I logged into my account online (didn't use the links in the email).

Sure enough, it says that all online activity on my account has been frozen due to unverified charges and gives me a number to call (the same number as was in the email).

Sure enough, the agent I speak to confirms that there were 5 purchases made: 4 for about $1 each, and one for $100. After confirming that I hadn't even used the card since I paid it off in October, I was advised 3 of the charges had been denied and I wouldn't be responsible for the others.

I'm especially glad that I monitor my accounts so closely, having just taken the last 5 years to pay off almost $18,000 in accumulated credit card debt. (I'm at $0 credit card debt now. :banana:) I've worked really hard to be responsible with my cards now and I'm glad that BofA's fraud detection unit was on top of their game today.

Just wanted to give a nod to BofA and to good people doing good work. :thmsup:

Damn, I just went through this a few weeks ago except it was with my checking account.

I noticed a $4.95 charge for "SMART MARKET" on my account (I download my account transactions every night, too and do a quick check - you almost have to today.)

Had no idea who they were. Thought maybe it could have been an ATM charge or something stupid like that. Left them phone calls and emails over the course of a couple days. No response. For the helluvit Google'd them - they came up on MSNBC and CNN to name a couple.

They're a front company that skims small amounts off of credit cars and checking accounts hoping owners don't notice it. The money is sent through a string of accounts and ends up in Nigeria some where - y'know, where all those people live that will give you $10 million dollars if you send them $20,000 first for "document processing"? :mad: (BTW, why don't we have a smiley that flips the bird . . .)

Anyway, I closed my checking account, Xferred my money to all new accounts, needed new debit cards . . . blah blah blah . . . For what its worth reported it to the BBB, FTC, and FBI. My bank will refund the $4.95 and will file charges on their own, too.

People: Watch your accounts closely. Don't let any amount of money go unquestioned if you don't know exactly what it is for. ADDORC and I were lucky. After a small "test hit" to verify an active account, they could have taken thousands from us that we could have been responsible for.

/ Public Service Announcement :D

People: Watch your accounts closely. Don't let any amount of money go unquestioned if you don't know exactly what it is for.

:yes: x2!!

Best advice is above.

It happened to me too except they got my personal info and tried to open accounts in my name...eventually succeeded but none of the charges were held against me.

I got a call asking me if i charged 5k at some resort in NV and ig i had been to walgeens for 1500. I was just thinking who in the hell spends 1500 at walgreens?

But I had to fill out affidavits and crap, what a pain.

I did get new cards and was not charged for those purchases.

I had something like this happen two years ago or so.

One of my banks called and asked if I had been in the uk. I said no. They then told me Im on a spending speer in the northern uk. They then asked if I would speak with some uk law dog. I agreed and this uk copper joined in on the conversation. He then shared with me what he knew. And then asked if I would release a copy of the recored phone call to them. I agreed.

I then brought up our other bank. Yes we use two banks. Never put all our eggs in one basket.

It was a very wild hour. With my credit card companys calling and this one huge conference call going on.

Anyway. They ended up busting the group doing this in the northern uk. I was contacted by a uk fraud copper division. And was told the problems had been delt with and the perp's were in jails that would not be allowed to operate in the usa.

My banks and credit card co's. Handled all acct. number changes internally. So when we ordered our next checks. the new number was on them. Same with saving and other acct's. CC did the same. When our new cards came prior to normal exp. date. They had new numbers on them.

So over all it was pain free. After talking to one of our banks at a later date. They think it was a laptop stolen or lost by a SS employee that supplied the root data. The rest was pick and choose hacking. We thought it strange at that point we had never been contacted by a USA worthless FED LAW DOG.

Here our banks and a uk cop division are working hard on it. And the worthless usa terrorist cops are doing nothing.

And for the record. I don't think we got hacked here at the house. We have one computer that is nothing but our records machine and net purchasing box. Its only on when used and the cat-5 cable is only plugged in when we make a online purchase or bank online. And nothing is shared on it.

It made for a interesting couple of hours tho. :)

The banks are always more cooperative if you know your accounts day by day, have records of your own, so if something like this comes up you don't go "Uh D'Uh I dunno". This is from my local branch manager. Best advice given here from trip, check frequently and know every charge.

Remember cash? It is so awesome sometimes. One day, I think its realy going to catch on.

If I carry cash.... then there's always someone with their hand out.:dunno: I have a really hard time saying "no".... so it's easier to just say, "sorry, no cash".

We are in the process of changing banks to prepare for the move. I hope they treat us well, so we can stick with them long term. :paranoid:

I actually used cash today! Proud of me? I was careful where I went & which doors in used. When I went to pay for the last item, I pulled out money & low & behold a dollar bill ripped right in half!! I know it's been a while, but did they change them????:D


We haven't had credit card theft....(knock on wood) but someone at the bank took out 285.00 a few years back. Then 40.00. It turned out that an employee had been taking small amounts out & hadn't been caught in years. They ended up stealing well over a million by the time they were caught! Our bank refunded our lost funds the same day we reported it.

Crystle has had her wallet stolen & they assumed her whole identity! That's been a mess. It was 6 years ago & we still get calls.

I am proud. I switched to pretty much just cash now. Its a lot easier for me. We cash budget out money out and pull it out monthly. If we buy something online, we just move the money back to the bank.

Ya know, the cash thing is great. I need to switch over - swiping the debit card is way too easy and a lot less painless than physically handing your money to someone. Thk u professional genious.

they can try to take my cash, but they won't get much...i just have an account to cash my checks, nothing is really in it. then after i pay rent, food, and other living expenses there is really nothing to put in the bank, but hopefully that will change this summer when i get another job:D
i don't own a credit card, so they can't get to me that way.
i only have one "loan" besides my student loans, and that was for my projector, but that will be paid off this summer too, so i don't have to pay interest.:paranoid: