Low tech credit card scamming - Credit Card Forum

Mogul of Pineapples · 09-13-2008, 09:46 PM

I know everything we hear about credit card fraud usually involves high tech things like hacking corporate databases and what not, but I saw a clip on NBC news about a very primitive form that's been effective.

They take an old credit card, razor blade, and glue and cut off the letters and replace them with new letters. They mess up the bar code on the back so it doesn't scam. When the card gets scanned by the cashier it won't work, so they will manually type in the numbers on the card, the fake numbers.

I would think they would look sh*tty enough where it wouldn't fool anyone but apparently enough cashiers fall for it if they're made half-way decent. The sure way to tell is flip over the card and see if the numbers on the back match the numbers on the front.

On that note do you think any scammers have a credit card embossing machine? Something to emboss those numbers on printed cards? I wouldn't be surprised if some organized crime group is doing something like that but it hasn't been detected yet. If con artists can make fake IDs and fake documents I don't see why they can't make fake credit cards too.

Cucumber · 09-14-2008, 09:17 PM

Hey ma it's just like playing cut and paste like I did in art class.... except with credit cards!!!

What a joke. It's nice to know that by law we're not responsible for a penny of whatever scam they're doing.

Mogul of Pineapples · 09-15-2008, 01:16 PM

I don't understand how one can cut off numbers and glue them to another card. I would think such a thing would look hideous and never could be passed off as real. If there are cashiers that cannot recognize such a blatant attempt at fraud that is really horrendous the USA has dumbed down the masses to this point.

Tens years ago I recall waiting in line to pay at my local pet store. The man who was paying had credit card numbers wrote on an index card he unfolded from his wallet and handed to the cashier. “My credit card broke but here’s the numbers, you can call it in” as he handed the index card over. The cashier didn’t appear the least bit suspicious. He called in to have the numbers manually processed and the man walk out with his several bags of merchandise. I never did hear what the outcome of that transaction was, but if employees are this ignorant or idiotic, I almost blame them more than I blame the thief.

robert.loehmann · 09-15-2008, 01:25 PM

I don't understand how one can cut off numbers and glue them to another card. I would think such a thing would look hideous and never could be passed off as real. If there are cashiers that cannot recognize such a blatant attempt at fraud that is really horrendous the USA has dumbed down the masses to this point.

Tens years ago I recall waiting in line to pay at my local pet store. The man who was paying had credit card numbers wrote on an index card he unfolded from his wallet and handed to the cashier. “My credit card broke but here’s the numbers, you can call it in” as he handed the index card over. The cashier didn’t appear the least bit suspicious. He called in to have the numbers manually processed and the man walk out with his several bags of merchandise. I never did hear what the outcome of that transaction was, but if employees are this ignorant or idiotic, I almost blame them more than I blame the thief.

09-13-2008, 09:46 PM	#1
Mogul of Pineapples Centurion Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Where the smog from the 101 freeway coats my home's windows... Posts: 279	Low tech credit card scamming I know everything we hear about credit card fraud usually involves high tech things like hacking corporate databases and what not, but I saw a clip on NBC news about a very primitive form that's been effective. They take an old credit card, razor blade, and glue and cut off the letters and replace them with new letters. They mess up the bar code on the back so it doesn't scam. When the card gets scanned by the cashier it won't work, so they will manually type in the numbers on the card, the fake numbers. I would think they would look sh*tty enough where it wouldn't fool anyone but apparently enough cashiers fall for it if they're made half-way decent. The sure way to tell is flip over the card and see if the numbers on the back match the numbers on the front. On that note do you think any scammers have a credit card embossing machine? Something to emboss those numbers on printed cards? I wouldn't be surprised if some organized crime group is doing something like that but it hasn't been detected yet. If con artists can make fake IDs and fake documents I don't see why they can't make fake credit cards too. __________________ “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.” -Warren Buffett Current Cards: American Express: Blue Cash, Simply Cash Bank of America: Visa Financial Rewards Platinum Plus Chase: Rewards Visa, Amazon Visa Discover: More Current Everyday Card: American Express Blue Cash

09-15-2008, 01:16 PM	#3
Mogul of Pineapples Centurion Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Where the smog from the 101 freeway coats my home's windows... Posts: 279	I don't understand how one can cut off numbers and glue them to another card. I would think such a thing would look hideous and never could be passed off as real. If there are cashiers that cannot recognize such a blatant attempt at fraud that is really horrendous the USA has dumbed down the masses to this point. Tens years ago I recall waiting in line to pay at my local pet store. The man who was paying had credit card numbers wrote on an index card he unfolded from his wallet and handed to the cashier. “My credit card broke but here’s the numbers, you can call it in” as he handed the index card over. The cashier didn’t appear the least bit suspicious. He called in to have the numbers manually processed and the man walk out with his several bags of merchandise. I never did hear what the outcome of that transaction was, but if employees are this ignorant or idiotic, I almost blame them more than I blame the thief. __________________ “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.” -Warren Buffett Current Cards: American Express: Blue Cash, Simply Cash Bank of America: Visa Financial Rewards Platinum Plus Chase: Rewards Visa, Amazon Visa Discover: More Current Everyday Card: American Express Blue Cash

09-15-2008, 01:25 PM	#4
robert.loehmann Green Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 23	The masses are even dumber than I thought... I don't understand how one can cut off numbers and glue them to another card. I would think such a thing would look hideous and never could be passed off as real. If there are cashiers that cannot recognize such a blatant attempt at fraud that is really horrendous the USA has dumbed down the masses to this point. Tens years ago I recall waiting in line to pay at my local pet store. The man who was paying had credit card numbers wrote on an index card he unfolded from his wallet and handed to the cashier. “My credit card broke but here’s the numbers, you can call it in” as he handed the index card over. The cashier didn’t appear the least bit suspicious. He called in to have the numbers manually processed and the man walk out with his several bags of merchandise. I never did hear what the outcome of that transaction was, but if employees are this ignorant or idiotic, I almost blame them more than I blame the thief. Last edited by robert.loehmann : 09-15-2008 at 01:27 PM.

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09-14-2008, 09:17 PM	#2
Cucumber Centurion Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The beach of Zuma Posts: 146	Hey ma it's just like playing cut and paste like I did in art class.... except with credit cards!!! What a joke. It's nice to know that by law we're not responsible for a penny of whatever scam they're doing.