Credit card fraud in an island

The bank called up my hubby this morning to verify if he has signed for a RM2,000 holiday package from some company. They notice a transaction around 5.00 am Malaysian time but they didn’t approve the transaction. Thank goodness!

We own only one card from one bank. So, this bank, UOB is normally very strict with approving online transaction. Whenever I pay for my Google Adwords using the credit card, even for USD50, they will phone the main card holder, my hubby. I own the supplementary card. I find it a chore to get such calls and usually, refrain from using credit card for any payment. If an outlet doesn’t have Paypal, I normally do not buy or use their service. I hate being asked by hubby, “DId you just paid USD50 to blablabla company?”

The bank officer told my hubby that credit card fraud is rampant in Langkawi. One of those smaller retailers are usually the culprit. But on looking back, we didn’t sign that many things using our credit. Even our liquor purchase was in cash as they give us 5% discount. We rented a 10-seater Kia Pregio and used only diesel and hence, we merely pay RM10-RM20 for the diesel each day.

To prevent the credit card fraud, the bank officer told us that some of those ‘sign up for a free credit card’ booths are risky because we do not know who are their temporary sales staffs. One of them may even take our credit card details and start charging to our account.

So, folks, remember not to pay with your card if the retailers look suspicious. Right now, they have canceled my hubby’s gold credit card but he has another platinum card from the same bank. Gee, why they never offer me a free platinum card as well?

I hope UOB managed to track which retail outlet leaked their card holders’ details and abused it.

Post Author: lilian

6 thoughts on “Credit card fraud in an island

    Inbaraj

    (December 20, 2008 - 4:05 pm)

    Credit card fraud in Malaysia is known globally. A lot of international e-commerce sites have already banned users with Malaysian IPs :-/

    appleblogger

    (December 20, 2008 - 4:28 pm)

    i agree with that. we should avoid something like this happen. i usually have use prepaid card if go for vacation.

    terence

    (December 20, 2008 - 11:57 pm)

    These credit card sales morons have all your particulars when they get you to sign up for a credit card. You give all your personal details incl your mother’s maiden name. And when they photocopy your existing credit card, they have the so called security number as well.

    Imagine they sign up 50 customers in a month and go on a ‘swiping’ spree.

    The ironic thing is, the banks still wants you to sign up for their cards by using this stupid way where you let them know your mother’s maiden name, the card’s security number and the other particulars like NRIC number, your mailing address bla bla bla. These info are queried when they call you for ‘verification’. Correct?

    To sum it all up, bankers are morons. Give me all your monies instead. LOL.

    Bryan

    (December 21, 2008 - 1:20 pm)

    Terence, you are so correct! Soon local banks also will go bankrupt. Haha… Btw, your avatar finally is showing.

    Calvin

    (December 21, 2008 - 2:51 pm)

    Gold … wah, ur hubby also very rich wo!

    titan

    (December 22, 2008 - 3:25 am)

    waah. i guess its good when they contact you. I always get call too.Its fine. they just want to confirm only.

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