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Potential phishing email and travel reminders

Several weeks ago, I had a fraudulent debit card transaction with my Chase checking acct for 9.95, which I contested. (I’ve used the debit card only twice in two years for in person purchases.) Received replacement debit card a few days later.

Then about a week after this, I received an email from chase stating my credit card had attempted a purchase for 16cents and was declined. Then there were two links to either say yes, i approved, or no, I didn’t . I was suspicious and didn’t want to click on links. On the surface the email looked legit. So I called the number on my credit card, (email was legit), cancelled the card and I had a new card in a couple days. We were home so not a big deal.

But a good reason to always travel with two different credit cards, and two unique number debit cards, in case this happens overseas. And a reminder to not click on links- call financial institution instead. I updated the credit card on all my lodging reservations on booking.com.

Posted by
3524 posts

Thank you Karen for the reminder. Watch your ATM and credit card charges. Good advice to always call bank security instead of responding to what appears to be bank email. You just never know what's real and what isn't.
Scammer/fraudsters do test purchases under the reportable amount to test the cards. Several years ago I had a $20 charge on one of my BAC CC for perfume, which I would never buy, same day I bought TrenItalia tickets. BAC cancelled the card and issued a new one. BAC alerts are for over $25 but also for international purchases and anything suspicious. Be sure you have alerts set up on all your cards.

Posted by
678 posts

I received an email from chase stating my credit card had attempted a purchase for 16cents

Karen,

The low amount suggests that someone probably bought your CC # on the Darkweb and was trying to see if it's a valid card. I ran into the same thing a few years back when someone tried a $1 charge on my card from Paris. I automatically cancelled the card and was issued a new one. You did all of the right things by CALLING your credit card issuer and cancelling your card.

A lesson for us all.

-- Mike Beebe

Posted by
1742 posts

One other reminder (I remember reading on a post awhile ago). I was reviewing our car rental voucher (from Autoeurope) and states you have to show the credit card reservation was made with. So guess I bring a worthless card also.

Posted by
3524 posts

Karen, I ran into the same problem with AutoEurope. I was new to traveling in 2019 so didn’t plan ahead. Definitely take the worthless card. Also call them, which I didn’t do, to explain the hack attempt and replacement card info.