Credit card details sold on the net

Are your credit card details really safe?

Jonathan Richards has delivered a thought-provoking report for The Times in which he found that the credit card details of thousands of Britons are being sold by criminals in internet chat rooms, after they have managed to hack into company computer systems to steal your financial identity.

The full shocking details of Jonathan's reports can be found on our Borrowing page.

To have your say or tell us your experiences of credit card theft post your comments below.

Comments

[Barbara Irwin Newth]

Yesterday I learned that my M&S Money mastercard number was stolen from a company in Newquay. I'd used that particular credit card only once in the last eight months for an online transaction completed on 31 January, so it was easy for the bank to trace where the number was lifted from. I contacted the company in question to notify them that the security of their customer files had been compromised and they were totally gobsmacked. I'm certain I'm not their only customer to suffer this ordeal. Fortunately M&S Money flagged the unusual activity promptly and the card is now dead.

[Daniel Martin]

The first I knew of theft was when GE credit starting withdrawing money from my bank account via direct debit. I phoned GE, turned out somebody had applied for a Debenhams store card in my name. I called my bank and had the direct debit reversed then cancelled and wrote a letter to GE saying this. I wonder, as i've never a card statement from GE, whether my actual address was used. Perhaps GE didn't bother checking the application.

[Dawn Comps]

My Debit Card was stolen and used within what was probably 45 minutes or less with what could only have been a forgery of my signature as the PIN is only in my head. So much for the much hallowed CHIP and PIN only introduced from 14 February 2006. Good to know that a train company and large railway station in Central London is embracing the new CHIP and PIN rules. Would have thought they could more than afford to change their systems given the outrageous prices most (all?) train companies charge for their crap service if their excuse is that they have not been able to change their machines or systems.

[Sumera Rizwan]

I used to do my banking online (current account) with a well known bank. However, I no longer bank online.

On the 24th December, last year I received a letter saying that I was over my overdraft limit & that I would be charged a penalty. Someone had withdrawn over £1500 from my account. However, the withdrawal 'looked' as though it had been a payment I had authorised. There was details of a reference for 'glass' and a name. This came as a shock. I cancelled the debit card and my online banking account.

I would urge all that use online banking to regularly run a anti-virus on their computer. Use one that also detects trojans because that was what was on my system.

Although the bank did eventually give me back the money that was fraudently taken from my account, it was a lot of hassle and a traumatic experience.

My advice is to use a good anti-virus and always type in the banks website manually. Also, regularly delete temporary internet files. Be safe than sorry - I had to learn the hard way!