cash don’t work in BFE after certain hours but the pumps do…with a card.

 

I have alerts set on all our accounts. They text us individually on any transaction instantly and also the email is my wife's on mine and my email on the wife's. So we both see all transactions within seconds. We have Android phones but I downloaded the Apple Woosh for the sound applied to them. All our unused cards are frozen online. A couple we have had a long time and give me the best rate charging foreign currency don't notify for a few days. We don't use them anymore.

Have in the past had a couple of problems. Someone got control of the wife's charge card and charged some $100 gasoline charges to it. Again the wife's debit card that we had only used a couple of times to keep it active. We were out of the county at the time. Someone used it to sign up for a $ 9.99-a-month TV download.

Had a girl in a drug store charging my card and have problems calling her manager over. He told me in very broken English no problem and grabbed his old-fashioned paper transfer machine and swiped it.

Sorry rascal had two forms in it. A few weeks after I got back into the country, they used it to rent a car to my card. My card setup however dated for foreign use had expired and the Charge Card company called me and ask was I still away renting a car. They thanked me for using foreign travel card notification.

They have handled everything. Appears they just eat it. Not worth their effort to get their money back.

Card skimmer. No seal broken to look for. Drop down thru this attachment to see how it works. It stores your card and the pump still works.

https://www.rd.com/article/gas-pump-skimmer/

 

One thing I wanted to add. On a gas pump, at least in California, there is an "official" sticker that goes on the door seam. If you open the door, the sticker is broken. That is one way, but not for certain, to notice if something may be wrong.

Well, the thieves also have the sticker or know how to keep from breaking it.

Yes, there is a master key for the pumps that weights and measures has. The station has a separate key for their pumps.

The pump from the outside will look normal. But, a scanner can also be put into where you put your card into. These are usually noticeable since the card hole does not look right.

Tom

 

Never pump from a unit with the Weights and Measures seal broken.
Always check that your scanner looks the same as the next pump's scanner.

Never use debit cards. You're always covered with credit cards.
Regularly check account purchases to make sure that you recognize the charges.

The bank called me once and reissued a card without explanation. Just noted 'fraud'.

I reported a recurring charge when I didn't recognize the payee. The CC company cancelled the charge and reissued the card.
Not a big concern for me when it happens.

 

I just use my watch.

 

We all could stop a lot of the scam nonsense if a contactless payment was used. The merchant NEVER gets your credit card number.


Google or Apple pay

 

We still have a few stations that pumps don’t take cards so just fill up and go in and pay.

 

What about the tap feature on most cards? Is that secure, or at least more secure than inserting the card into the scanner?

 

If the card has a chip or tap, they recommend carrying it in a foil lined cover.

My credit union supplies them. Interestingly, card company doesn't send them with a new card.


Only true way to be really safe is a foil dunce hat also. Be sure it's rolled to a sharp point. Latest fashion trend.

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You can get a rfid blocking wallet. They're only readable when removed.