Here’s How To Protect Yourself From Credit Card Scams
Published March 13, 2019 at 12:10 am
Credit card scams are quickly becoming more and more subtle, which is why the more information made available to the public, the better.
Credit card scams are quickly becoming more and more subtle, which is why the more information made available to the public, the better.
Peel Police are reporting that local businesses are greatly being affected by ongoing, intricate credit scams in the region, where card holder victims report that purchases using their credit card have been made over telephone or through email.
Business owners usually receive an email or phone call from a first time customer who wants to purchase their product for immediate delivery or pick up. This customer will usually also provide potentially multiple credit card numbers over the phone or email.
These card numbers may be declined until one is successfully authorized.
Videos
This customer in question would then send a driver to pick up the items, the driver being hired through online classified ads or delivery service. They will then deliver the items to another location where the items will then be turned over.
Eventually, the business owner receives a notification through their merchant payment service that the credit number is indeed fraudulent, resulting in a charge back to the local business for the transaction amount.
As a result of the commonality of these scams, Peel Police have released a slate of new ways in which you or business owners can protect yourselves.
For starters, the public is being asked to not accept credit card orders over the phone or by email from a new client who you have not done business with in person.
If a credit card transaction is declined, do not allow the customer to provide a number of different subsequent credit card numbers as substitutes, and upon delivery or pick-up of items, request to see the actual credit card used to make the purchase and take a copy of delivery person’s Ontario’s Driver’s license.
In addition, if you are making a delivery to a customer, verify the address and confirm if it is associated to the customer’s residential or business address.
Finally, it is important to carefully examine any identification provided to determine if it is counterfeit. A link for further details can be found here.
Other information on credit card frauds and scams can be found on Peel Regional Police’s website, or contact the Fraud Bureau at (905) 453-2121 ext. 335.
insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising