Credit Card Fraud

[Escapee]

I heard on the radio this morning a lot of talk about credit card fraud on the increase, they are saying it has specifically increased with new cards being intercepted before they reach the card holder.

I had a letter from Barclaycard yesterday, and both corners of the envelope had been lifted and sealed back down. I am not a Barclaycard customer so didn't actually think that much about it, the letter was quite thick containing an offer to apply for their card. I guess it contained all the information required to assist someone with stealing my identity, it has made me think that all this unwanted junk mail is in fact not just an invasion of privacy but a potential for fraud.

Where was my letter tampered, Sorting office or Postman?

Originally Posted by Escapee

Where was my letter tampered, Sorting office or Postman?

Maybe not at all. If only the corners were affected then no-one would have got in to the envelope.

However, if you really do think it was tampered with, then report it to Royal Mail: http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/j...diaId=15500193

Also, check this out: look for the word 'tampered'. http://www.channel4.com/culture/micr...hirdclass.html

I personally make a habit of shredding anything and everything with any personal details (including address!) - so those credit card offer leters, which usually are pre-filled with those details - also get shredded.

Just because I'm paranoid does not mean they're not out to get me.

[Gareth]

sorting office - apparently it's very common practice. I've never understood why banks don't use courier firms - sure it'd cost them a helluva lot more money than a 1st class stamp, but I'm confident that in the long term, they would save money as they would have less fraud to investigate, etc... and they'd be able to get a great discount for the amount of cards they send out every year.

[andygrif]

I'm with HSBC and they always used to insist that you went to a branch (you could pick any one you liked not just the one where your account was based) to collect new cards. You then had to sign a slip to say you were collecting it, they went away to check your signature on the computer and then they made you sign the card before their eyes.

Now I know this is quite staff intensive, and I guess there's a maths professor that has worked out how inefficient it is compare to possible losses, but HSBC now send their cards through the post like everyone else....not even Recorded Delivery.

[Dave Stones]

Originally Posted by andygrif

I'm with HSBC and they always used to insist that you went to a branch (you could pick any one you liked not just the one where your account was based) to collect new cards. You then had to sign a slip to say you were collecting it, they went away to check your signature on the computer and then they made you sign the card before their eyes.

Now I know this is quite staff intensive, and I guess there's a maths professor that has worked out how inefficient it is compare to possible losses, but HSBC now send their cards through the post like everyone else....not even Recorded Delivery.

i still have to go pick up my cards from an hsbc branch, with photo/signature id...

[allieyoung666]

I have to from the RBS, we had to take in our birth certs, driving li and my passport, it may be unneccssary at the end of the day, but it is nice to think that they are thinking of you. I would ring barclayard to make sure that nobody has applied!!!!

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by ScaredWebWarrior

Maybe not at all. If only the corners were affected then no-one would have got in to the envelope.

However, if you really do think it was tampered with, then report it to Royal Mail: http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/j...diaId=15500193

Also, check this out: look for the word 'tampered'. http://www.channel4.com/culture/micr...hirdclass.html

I personally make a habit of shredding anything and everything with any personal details (including address!) - so those credit card offer leters, which usually are pre-filled with those details - also get shredded.

Just because I'm paranoid does not mean they're not out to get me.

I do shred everything, I'm very carefull. Although it would not help in this case, because it was tampered with before it even got delivered to me.

I think both ends were ripped and replaced back down, enough for someone to see there was not any account type info or cards inside. If it had been a letter from my own credit card company, the alarm bells would of rung, and I wouldn't of opened it any further.

I did have a problem a number of years ago whilst involved in a court case involving a postman, I had a few letters from ths solicitor and the insurance company tampered with. The post office were not keen to take the problem seriously, I guess it would of looked bad if an employee was proved guilty of such a thing.

I suppose it's similar to the situation where a woman I had a relationship with, worked for the callcentre of my bank and had obviously gained my account information. The bank fobbed me off, but she couldn't of known what she knew without access to my account statements, the paper copies were in my safe, she didnt know where to find the key and she was never left alone long enough in my house to search for it. The bank admitted my account was looked at by someone during the "Week" she worked at the callcentre, but said it was another temp and probably a mistake.

Originally Posted by Escapee

I did have a problem a number of years ago whilst involved in a court case involving a postman,<snip>

I suppose it's similar to the situation where a woman I had a relationship with, worked for the callcentre of my bank and had obviously gained my account information. <snip>

Crickey! I think I'd be more than a little paranoid in your circumstances too.

Even if Royal Mail are not interested in pursuing the matter when you report it, if you have reported it, and sometime later you end up with a fraud problem, then the evidence that you reported it might just be enough to prove your case if anyone is doubting you.

You don't need to trust the system to get it to work for you!

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by ScaredWebWarrior

Crickey! I think I'd be more than a little paranoid in your circumstances too.

Even if Royal Mail are not interested in pursuing the matter when you report it, if you have reported it, and sometime later you end up with a fraud problem, then the evidence that you reported it might just be enough to prove your case if anyone is doubting you.

You don't need to trust the system to get it to work for you!

I think it's a little difficult after ripping it open without a second thought on my part though, I just thought of it as junk mail as I haven't a Barclaycard.

I mentioned it in work today, and one guy said he worked with someone in the South of England who had his details stolen by some guy in the USA. Apparently the guy went into a computer shop twice spending a couple of grand a time.

Apparently the guy had to get his works to provide evidence of the swipe card system log, and his boss had to write a letter stating that he was in the UK and not the USA at the time the equipment was purchased.

It's scary what's going on these days!

Originally Posted by Escapee

I think it's a little difficult after ripping it open without a second thought on my part though, I just thought of it as junk mail as I haven't a Barclaycard.

It's not about whether the issue can be investigated or not, but to make sure there is a record of the incident. Then no-one can later suggest you made up the story, unless they also want to suggest you had a long-term plan to defraud them.

[NitroNutter]

Originally Posted by Escapee

I heard on the radio this morning a lot of talk about credit card fraud on the increase, they are saying it has specifically increased with new cards being intercepted before they reach the card holder.

I had a letter from Barclaycard yesterday, and both corners of the envelope had been lifted and sealed back down. I am not a Barclaycard customer so didn't actually think that much about it, the letter was quite thick containing an offer to apply for their card. I guess it contained all the information required to assist someone with stealing my identity, it has made me think that all this unwanted junk mail is in fact not just an invasion of privacy but a potential for fraud.

Where was my letter tampered, Sorting office or Postman?

The source of Identity fraud is not really based on junk mail and stuff you put in the bin without shredding, this is in fact a myth put together to pass the buck back to the end users while the real fault remains un-addressed, which is deep rooted flaws in the system.

ID fraud is very easy to do, and rarely involves someone making a hit upon your dustbin.

[AndrewJ]

I find best way to get rid of anything personal is to simply burn it especially old cards, and bank stuff.

Those ash bins with the funnel work a treat for it

[NitroNutter]

Originally Posted by AndrewJames

I find best way to get rid of anything personal is to simply burn it especially old cards, and bank stuff.

Those ash bins with the funnel work a treat for it

funny that because the main source for ID theft information starts nowhere near your bin, and rarely ever gets to that point either. Best bet is stay off any registers one in particular, for that is where they will get your name and address and that will then become your previous address for everything they apply for in your name.

[AndrewJ]

Hmm mind you I do tend to avoid loans and current accounts, I am just paranoid and prefer to be safe then sorry.