Well, It Happened I got Scammed-Sort Of...

John6185 · May 13, 2019

I took the family out to Olive Garden Sunday and rather than have the Son pay the tab, I gave my credit card to the male server when he served drinks and told him to give me the bill. I didn't get it back until we finished the meal and he brought me the receipt to sign.
Today I checked my TFCU account and the CC account and found that I had two $1.00 charges for today. So I contacted TFCU and they said that the charges were for a gas station in Harlingen Texas. I told them to cancel the card and I'll go in to a branch and get a new card.
They said if charged do appear within he next few days they'll fill out a fraud report.
This one instance is the only time the credit card has been out of my sight and I made a grave mistake in my opinion and it won't happen again, next time I'll go to a TFCU ATM and get cash. To heck with building up points!
Just a word to the wise, I'm sure it happened to some of you guys also but some haven't been hit yet.

mr ed · May 13, 2019

I'd be on the phone to OG corporate raising a stink.

rickm · May 13, 2019

Thats why i got a second debit card and just keep the minimuim on it to keep the account open and when i need to use it i transfer funds from my main account into the second for just what i need. Been there and had to do that too.

Glock 40 · May 13, 2019

It happens, banks know it and are setup to deal with it. Get a new card don't loose any sleep and move on. Unless you are going to shred everything you own and have all your mail sent to a lock box. Never keep anything in your car with your name on it like registration or insurance. That is what criminals are looking for when you think they were just stealing your change. You can be scammed in so many ways its insane. I could go on and on.

NightShade · May 13, 2019

Probably be a good idea to let the manager at the olive garden know as well that they may have a thief stealing card info. If you have the receipt still that makes it even easier to figure out who need to kick rocks.

Aries · May 13, 2019

A server wrote your credit card number down, then went to Harlingen, Texas and made two $1 purchases on it? Mmmm, I dunno....

Sometimes though they will charge small amounts to see if a number is valid. Sort of like phishing. I'm just saying, it may be coincidental, and not have anything to do with the server at all.

Or maybe I'm missing something...

I've had fraudulent charges on my corporate credit card 2-3 times, and on my personal card at least once. I believe as long as you report it, you cannot be legally held responsible for fraudulent charges on a credit card, or maybe it's anything over $50. Debit cards are different. As above, get a new card and don't worry about it. It's still safer than carrying cash.

Ethan N · May 13, 2019

$1 charges at gas stations are usually authorization charges to make sure the card is valid before allowing the customer to pump gas. OP should expect to see actual charges for gas in the next couple of days.

I don’t worry about fraudulent charges. It’s inconvenient to have to be issued a new card number, but it’s no big deal in the end. Doesn’t cost me anything. I’ve had cards replaced due to fraudulent charges probably 8 to 10 times in the last 10 years. That’s part of why I never use a debit card except at ATMs. With credit, unauthorized charges are reversed immediately after I call the bank and I don’t hear anything else about it after that.

Ethan N · May 13, 2019

Also, to OP, it’s possible the Olive Garden server stole your card, but it doesn’t have to be out of your sight to have the information stolen. There are card skimmers on ATMs and gas pumps all over the place.

MacFromOK · May 13, 2019

Had a card scammed several years ago, apparently by someone with a credit card number generator.

Scary thing is, they didn't even need my name.

Apparently, the first/last name starting letters are tied to the card number. So they just fabricated a fictitious name starting with those letters, and the charge went through without a hitch. I found it on a credit card statement.

This was back before the 3 digit security numbers, but some businesses don't even require those now to make purchases over the phone.

Scary stuff. :/

TwoForFlinching · May 13, 2019

Happened to me in Lawton last weekend. A $75 charge for what the bank called 'China Escorts Unlimited' out of Australia. Filled out the form, waiting to get that money back. Gas pumps are the most targeted point of sale in the US. I too have gone mostly cash. I'll still trust Walmart and Amazon.

Well, It Happened I got Scammed-Sort Of...

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Aries

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