How is a credit card cloned?

**ekleesangel** · 10:11 PM

Hello,
It was a very bad day. Someone copied my credit card and used the physical form (must be a fake card) in a store. Fortunately, the card company contacted me and took care of it.

I think the credit card cannot be copied without the original card.
Fortunately, (or unfortunately) my credit card has been used in only one local grocery store since its activation. So, the store seems suspicious. The store manager keeps saying they don't know.
I mentioned this to the card company's security people, but they are just saying my case has been taken care of.

Is the credit card physically copied without the original card? I have never used this card on the web and never used in the other places. I feel like I should call the local police. Although there would be no loss on my account, I still need shop at that store and I want to feel relaxed.

**jeffysdad** · 12:54 PM

I think it's unlikely that your card was copied from the original. I think what is more likely is that someone obtained your card number and imprinted it on a blank card that was either stolen from a legitimate supplier of blanks or was imprinted on a counterfeit blank card.

In the last year or so I've had two instances of attempted fraud, both caught by the banks involved at no cost to me. In one instance the fraud occurred on an account that I had NEVER used to buy anything. It was only used for one balance transfer.

If I were you, I wouldn't be too worried about it. If it happens again you're covered and at most are on the hook for $50. I would recommend:

Don't use a debit card; protections not the same.
Monitor your account online and set up all the appropriate e-mail card alerts so you are apprised of activity.
Sign up for electronic statement delivery (avoid statement theft from your postal box).
Shred your old receipts, statements, etc.

**ekleesangel** · 01:18 PM

It makes me relaxed. I have worried about the possible crimes in the local stores. So, maybe I don't have to worry about it. The card security people should have told me that.
Thank you for the security tips.

**Cucumber** · 11:33 PM

Is is really that easy for these crooks to just take a blank credit card and re-program it with someone else's info? I would think they would encrypt it but I guess even encryption can be broken because look at all the computer hacking that goes on.

Right now there's a big scam going on in the Southern California area of charges just shy of $100 (like $99 and some change) showing up on peoples' credit card accounts at multiple gas stations all at once. It happened to me and luckily I caught it on day two after there were two of these charges. Do you think this is being done using a cloned credit card or do you think it's a scam that the gas stations are in on??

**jeffysdad** · 04:41 AM

I wonder why it's just less than $100. I've never heard of that. With one of my attempted frauds someone used the card at a gas station for just a couple bucks. I think they do that to see if it will work. I know that I've had my account flagged once when I bought a couple bucks of gas on accident because the pump wasn't working right. Banks look out for those weird gas station charges.

**DGenerateKane** · 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by jeffysdad

I wonder why it's just less than $100. I've never heard of that. With one of my attempted frauds someone used the card at a gas station for just a couple bucks. I think they do that to see if it will work. I know that I've had my account flagged once when I bought a couple bucks of gas on accident because the pump wasn't working right. Banks look out for those weird gas station charges.

My bank would call me for every transaction over 100 on my first debit card for probably a year. Which did no good stopping the 94 something charge that I found on it the day after I got a call from them about a charge I made. :/

**fffresh** · 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by jeffysdad

I wonder why it's just less than $100. I've never heard of that. With one of my attempted frauds someone used the card at a gas station for just a couple bucks. I think they do that to see if it will work. I know that I've had my account flagged once when I bought a couple bucks of gas on accident because the pump wasn't working right. Banks look out for those weird gas station charges.

I believe it must have something to do with charges of $100 or more needing to be rung up inside rather than at the pump. I believe the pay-at-the-pump transactions only allow up to a certain range.

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How is a credit card cloned?

I have no particular knowlege on this, but...

Thanks.

That's weird