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

[bigred1]

I had my butt scanned at the casino. Some kind of mobile scanner. Someone went on a $7,000.00 spree for the next couple of days before I caught it. Debit card and my bank reimbursed me and gave me a new card.

 

[SoonerP226]

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.

My dad had it happen to his company credit card last year or the year before. He had to stop for gas out in the middle of nowhere west Texas, and just happened to get a pump with a skimmer on it (IIRC, it was a fairly active Stripes, not a little mom and pop shop). The PITA part was getting the replacement card, as the job was literally driving up and down the highways.

 

[Ethan N]

My dad had it happen to his company credit card last year or the year before. He had to stop for gas out in the middle of nowhere west Texas, and just happened to get a pump with a skimmer on it (IIRC, it was a fairly active Stripes, not a little mom and pop shop). The PITA part was getting the replacement card, as the job was literally driving up and down the highways.

I always carry more than one credit card, especially when far from home. Obviously not as easy when you’re talking about a company card, but presumably your dad could submit for reimbursement of expenses charged to his personal card.

Before I was self-employed, I had the option to use a company card for travel, but I and all my coworkers charged everything to personal cards to get the points. I think the company preferred it that way too. I only traveled for work 2-3 times a year, but it was usually to Silicon Valley, so it added up. For some of the longer trips, I got $30-$50 back in points by using the right cards for the right things. Airfare was normally billed directly to the company, but one time there was a screwup with my reservation, and I got to charge the fare to my credit card. That was pretty great.

 

[dennishoddy]

I always carry more than one credit card, especially when far from home. Obviously not as easy when you’re talking about a company card, but presumably your dad could submit for reimbursement of expenses charged to his personal card.

Before I was self-employed, I had the option to use a company card for travel, but I and all my coworkers charged everything to personal cards to get the points. I think the company preferred it that way too. I only traveled for work 2-3 times a year, but it was usually to Silicon Valley, so it added up. For some of the longer trips, I got $30-$50 back in points by using the right cards for the right things. Airfare was normally billed directly to the company, but one time there was a screwup with my reservation, and I got to charge the fare to my credit card. That was pretty great.

I'm a points chaser with American Airlines. Before retiring, had to travel a lot on airlines, picked up all dinner tabs and booked hotels. I did it for the entire group and then filled out expense reports with receipts to get my money credited back to the CC. Racked up an amazing amount of points.
The company evidently hired some brother in law to run an inhouse travel planner department so didn't get to use my points card anymore.
The idiot scheduled a trip from OKC to Detroit for four techs on double time during the weekend travel by sending us to Houston with a 4 hour layover, then to St Louis for another hour layover and then on to Detroit to save $100 per person in fares while costing the company thousands in labor costs. I had scheduled a direct flight of about 3.5 hours before the "travel planner" took over. Even bringing up the discrepancy with upper management, the "travel planner" still had the job. Sweet deal while it lasted though.

 

[Aries]

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.

This is true, years ago I listened to a radio talk show of a guy name Bruce Williams, who was kind of a "business expert", callers would ask him various financial questions (mainly). An older woman called once and talked about using her credit card at a gas station, and she made a point of telling him how careful she was to NEVER let the card out of her sight. He said, "Well, once you drive off, he has printed your card out on a receipt and still has a copy of your card number." (Obviously, this was when they printed on the rollers, before everything went electronic). He basically told her the same thing, just report the fraudulent charges, the CC company will reverse them, and move on.

 

[stick4]

I'm not seeing how the card could be used at a gas station if only the card number was stolen. Can't type in a card number at the pump or inside the store.

 

[Ethan N]

I'm not seeing how the card could be used at a gas station if only the card number was stolen. Can't type in a card number at the pump or inside the store.

They copy the card’s magnetic stripe to a blank card. That’s the motivation for the switch to chip cards. Gas stations have an extension to the deadline for switching to chip readers though, so that’s often where thieves will use a stolen card these days.

 

[Fredkrueger100]

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.

I just had the same thing happen. Went to the grocery store and my card got declined. Thankfully my wife was there and used hers. I was told a charge for $4.11 was done in Mesquite Texas. They denied the charge and automatically froze my card. I went in and got a new one yesterday. Crazy stuff but I’m glad the bank had my back.

 

[John6185]

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.

I got my car tag sticker the other day and the clerk gave me the registration paper and said, "It is a requirement now that you have this paper in the car." Also, now if we trade-in a car we take the old tags off and put them on the new car. I didn't ask why, I figure it's because too many people are running around with the car tags on the car they bought without insurance or benefit of a driver's license. I'm all for that, also I did call OG and advise the manager and he said he'd make note and follow up if there are any more complaints. Nope, can't prove he did it but he had the card for at least 30 minutes-probably longer.which in my book makes him suspect although I do use that particular card at service stations and not my debit card-ever. It's just one of life's lessons but somewhere someone is paying for these lessons.

 

[jrusling]

I have my credit union send me an email on every authorization or charge. It has saved me some problems over the years.