Credit Card Fraud

[csmheli]

So...I recently made the decision to go ahead and get an Align 600N Pro and all the bells and whistles. I bought some kit from a couple of stores near me but placed 10+ orders with a bunch of different online stores (9 total) depending on who had what on stock and could ship it pretty quickly.

As it happens I did all of this with a brand new credit card that I had only used in these 9 RC Heli-related stores.

Yesterday and today someone has been on a massive shopping spree with my card :mad: buying glassware, crystal, electronics, etc. Most likely, they either work for one of these stores or the security on one of these stores is suspect.

Everyone I ordered from in the past 10 days...

Heliproz Inc.
Tower Hobbies
GrandRC
V-Blade (Campbell Manufacturing)
Fromeco
Rc Super Sales
ESPRIT Model
QuickUK
ReadHeli.com


Not accusing any particular store or individual, but does anyone else on the boards have any strange unexplained CC activity over the past couple of days and have also placed an order at any of the above stores recently?

Thanks,
C

[DebianDog]

Well I have bought from the following and never had an issue:


Heliproz Inc.
Tower Hobbies
V-Blade (Campbell Manufacturing)
ESPRIT Model
QuickUK
ReadHeli.com

cant speak for the other 2

[zeroman]

I have had "zero" problems from

Tower
Heliproz
ReadyHeli

I did have an issue with GravesRC and their desire to collect my name, cc number, expiration date, and verification number (from the back of the card) in an email.

They did cancel the order when I declined to provide the info.

Hope you get it all worked out!

Zeroman

[csmheli]

I have a pretty good idea which store is the problem, but I wanted to get unbiased feedback from the community rather than starting a witch hunt against any particular company.

The suspicious transaction is:

1. Order part as normal, no warning that it is out of stock (even though it's something that no other store seems to have atm), everything seems fine
2. Get an email the next day saying that the part I ordered is out of stock and that my card will be refunded and the order cancelled...no option to backorder
3. My card was never authorized or charged by the store in question
4. Over the subsequent 48 hours thousands of dollars in purchases are charged to my card...thank god the fraud department got wise in a hurry...

I seriously wish there was some way to have the CC company decline any and all charges that don't ship to my home address. It might inconvenience me once in a while when sending gifts, but it would be a small price to pay.

C

[DavidH]

I did have an issue with GravesRC and their desire to collect my name, cc number, expiration date, and verification number (from the back of the card) in an email.


If the email was from Graves, why would it be an issue if you ordered something from them? They need that information to charge your account. I give that information all the time when I place an order with companies and use a credit card.

The reason they cancelled the order, they had no way of getting there money and may have thought you was trying to scam them.

David

[fogger]

Gonna go out on a limb here and guess: it's rc super sales?


-Fog

[aristo]

Heliproz Inc.
Tower Hobbies
GrandRC
never a single problem and great service from all three

[invertmast]

Gonna go out on a limb here and guess: it's rc super sales?


-Fog

+1 i've done business with all of the 9 (without any issues) except RC super sales (never even heard of them until this thread)

[WillJames]

I too have done business with 99% of the list but one.....
No fraudulent charges so far..... 3+ years buying....

[HFG]

Why don't you give us your CC number so we can help you out better :Deal

[grandrc]

Zeroman,

Could you forward us the email that asked you to email your credit info? I want to look into this allegation. We would NEVER ask anyone to email us their credit card info because emails are not secure. All our customer credit card numbers are kept by our credit processing company (the bank), and we can't even see them.

It'll be very helpful to us if you can help us identify who asked you to email your credit card number.

Thanks,
Ed

[Graeme]

GravesRC = GrandRC ?

[DavidH]

Even if was Grand that wanted CC number, billing addy, expiration date and the verification number from the back of the card. If you placed an order with them they need all the information to be able to charge your charge when they do not have the card to swipe it. I would not be worried about any company asking for that information that I placed an order with, As for CC number, I send them in two emails. Send half 8 numbers in one email and the other 8 and info needed in another.

David

[txflyer]

ive placed 4 orders within the last month with grandrc.com and not a single problem..

[DJC]

Seems to me if you give them the CC info when your checking out that they would not have a reason to ask through an E-Mail message. Why don't you call the store or whatever and talk directly to them and if there on the up and up they should cancel the first order and let you resubmit the order if in fact there was some problem with there web site checkout.

Just my 2cents

In any case let all of us know who it was,I for one get worried each time I order unless it's with someone that alot of folks have had good results with.

[grandrc]

Oops, It's late last night. I didn't read carefully. It's GravesRC not GrandRC that Zeroman's referring to.
But in general, please phone in if you need to give us any credit card info.

Thanks,
Ed

[ChasHeliCop]

I ordered from GravesRC on Monday morning, my order was here on Wednesday by 12 noon, not any problems.

What city and state were the charges for the misc. merchandise purchased in ? ? That should narrow it down a little, unless they were internet purchases.

[jlr]

If the email was from Graves, why would it be an issue if you ordered something from them?

I don't want to speak for zero, but for me it would be an issue. When I go to a secure website I know to whom I'm giving the information - assuming you trust DNS and certificates, which I do - because I initiated the communication. When I receive an email, it is very difficult to know who really sent it unless it is digitally signed. An e-commerce vendor should collect all the data it needs on its secure website.

If someone called you on the phone and had some knowledge of a recent purchase that you had made, would you give them anything and everything they asked for? Or would you call the vendor yourself and inquire if there was a problem with your recent order?

I'm not taking sides and I have nothing against Graves, just pointing out what I see as an issue.

--Jeff

[DavidH]

Yes I understand what your saying. But Zero made a bold statement about Graves RC without any other explanation. If I had received an email from someone I placed an order with. I would call them first to ask about the email. The online stores are suppose to be secure, but sometimes the information provided does not go thru. Had that happen a few times. Takes about 5 minutes or less to pick up the phone and call the vendor and give them the information they requested. It was evident that Zero had made an order from Graves, because he said they cancelled the order.

David

I don't want to speak for zero, but for me it would be an issue. When I go to a secure website I know to whom I'm giving the information - assuming you trust DNS and certificates, which I do - because I initiated the communication. When I receive an email, it is very difficult to know who really sent it unless it is digitally signed. An e-commerce vendor should collect all the data it needs on its secure website.

If someone called you on the phone and had some knowledge of a recent purchase that you had made, would you give them anything and everything they asked for? Or would you call the vendor yourself and inquire if there was a problem with your recent order?

I'm not taking sides and I have nothing against Graves, just pointing out what I see as an issue.

--Jeff

[MA-Vegas]

I always use Pay-Pal and obly buy from dealers that support that form of payment. My favorite shopping place is Heliproz. They are the best!

[jlr]

Agreed - If I wanted the stuff I would just give them a call and straighten it out.

--Jeff

[zeroman]

Heli Freakers,

I didn't mean to start a firestorm, but in MY view, the actions of the particular vendor were outside the norm, and in fact opened me up to risk I was unwilling to accept. And I contend anyone using this method for and Internet purchase bears the same risk.

To clear up some interpretation problems, the vendor collected name, CC#, and exp date to process the transaction through the e-site. The CCV code was later requested via email. It was obviously unclear in my original post. I apologize.

In MY view, if you provide CC Name, CC Number, CC Expiration Date, and the CCV code on the back of the card directly to a person to write down, or even have access to it through correlating other other records, you have given away the card. That's all four numbers to the four number combination lock. That is why I did not call the vendor. Verbal or email or stone tablet would have had the same effect. In MY view, it's an insecure transaction. I try to avoid those.

It's not that I don't trust this vendor, but if they needed the verification code for the transaction to process, then it should be collected by their secure internet purchase solution, not requested by the vendor via email post transaction. To need it and not collect it is at least poor business practice, and again I contend an unsafe way to do business, for both sides in reality.

I bear no ill will to the vendor, but in my view (having made too many internet purchases), this process was suspect, as it was different than any other I have ever made. I might as well have sent them a photocopy, front and back, of the card in question. It's the same information. It is just as open to potential fraud, and it wasn't stolen, I would have voluntarily given it too them.

I am not accusing this vendor of anything immoral or illegal, but as I stated in my original post, "I had an issue" with this method of purchase. It opened a door too wide to walk through, and a trust beyond what I am willing to extend.

I still view their site, I like it, but I will not buy from them in the manner they requested. I am pretty sure the Credit Card Companies would be with me on this one.

Zeroman

[aristo]

actually the first three cc# name and expiration are all the combination lock anyone needs zero.the ccv number on the back is just a way to verify that you are in physical possession of the card,it is put there as another form of protection for you.
but i do agree i would have just telephoned them and read it to the owner/manager

[ViperDrags66221]

CSMHELI: (http://helifreak.com/member.php?u=35913)

I have seen rc super sales posting on the "other site" RR if you need to post to them/him.

I hope it all works out for you!


Brian:cool:

[flyoz]

I have made many purchases from here in Oz using PP and CC. I prefer PP.
I did have one problem after purchasing from 3 well known RC shops in teh USA my card was debited some $1800 USD.
The bank was on it that night and called me. I emailed the 3 stores and the bank also followed thru with the seller who sold Mr/z X 1800 worth of goods.

The bank covered the loss but it left me a bit rattled.
I believe it was 1 crook at one of the Stores and have held of buying there about a year.
Their service was great as wastheir response when I notified them of the possible fraud so I tried em again this week.

Goods notified as sent so now Ill just keep a wethered eye on my CCard.

Its a damn shame how one bad person can poison so much good will.

Maybe we should re introduce the stocks and public shaming.