Disney Resort guests scammed

[The Mom]

Just curious - how was the scammer able to make purchases without the card present?? I can't imagine you can buy anything just by telling the cashier the number?!?
Unless they are calling WDW and ordering things like tickets, etc that you have to pay over the phone for. If that's the case, I hope there's a way for Disney to void them out so they can't ever be used!

If they're really professional, they have "blank" credit cards, and just imprint all of the information on them. The machine is not very large, so they can do it in the car or even in a bathroom stall! So they do have what appears to be a legitimate card in their hands. I know, because it happened to me several years ago.

I have "check ID" written on the back of mine. I've heard that stores do not have to accept it (because it's technically not signed) but I've never had a problem.

 

[maryszhi]

its a cruel world out there. its terrible how people take advantage of people, especially on vacatation. i think there needs to be more sec. measures on all purchases, especially online. most places require a gov. issued id or sometype of other to prove. i feel sorry for everybody who had this happen. and hope they find the culprits

 

[Sam02]

I have "check ID" written on the back of mine. I've heard that stores do not have to accept it (because it's technically not signed) but I've never had a problem.

99.999% of the time having "check id" is fine. But then I have it as well and 99.999% of the time no one checks the back of my card. There are places where you won't be able to use the card unless you sign it. I used to work at a casino where we could not accept the card unless the person signed it. I can't tell you how many times I got yelled at. I just had to apologize, say it was policy and I was doing it to protect them from fraud. Course I was thinking of course their signature will match that way, how much protection is that?

It's just become a matter of choice for me that I NEVER give out a cc# unless I have initiated the call myself.

 

[WDWFigment]

If they're really professional, they have "blank" credit cards, and just imprint all of the information on them. The machine is not very large, so they can do it in the car or even in a bathroom stall! So they do have what appears to be a legitimate card in their hands. I know, because it happened to me several years ago.

I have "check ID" written on the back of mine. I've heard that stores do not have to accept it (because it's technically not signed) but I've never had a problem.

I, too, have check ID, and I had my card declined at the post office once for not having the signature, so I signed it right below the "check ID". I haven't had a problem since, and most places still ask to see my ID.

 

[Adventure]

I used to work retail and lots of customers would fit their signature and write "check id" in the small space provided. I was always commended by people for asking to see their id. Most stores never even touch the credit card anymore because you swipe it yourself.

 

[ImaYoyo]

This is actually a long-time scam. Weird though that this is the same story that I heard happen at the Wilderness Lodge in 2003. I wonder if it was the same scammer...

Anywho, moral of the story is, if someone offers you something like this, simply reply by saying "Sure, I'll head down to the front desk right now to take care of it. Can I get your name and number so as to reference you with the Front Desk Cast Members?" and for goodness sake, DON'T GIVE ANY INFO OVER THE PHONE!!!

 

[kcw]

The majority of telephone or online sales only require a name, the CC number and the expiry date. Some are now asking for the three digit security number on the reverse of the card.

that was my first thought too, but JoeH said that when it happened to him, all the charges were from on property... so that couldn't really include internet purchases? :shrug:

 

[DisneyEverest]

This is unbelievable, I can't believe someone would do something like this.

 

[JoeH]

Did the catch the Guy?

I just got a call from the Sherrif's office that they caught the guy and he has confessed. They want me to file a police report to prosecute the guy. I have his name and number but just curious if anyone in the Orlando Area heard about this in the media yet. I'm in MI and just want to be sure it's not another scam.

Thanks,

Joe

 

[Passport]

Never heard anything about this in the news or in the paper.

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

I just got a call from the Sherrif's office that they caught the guy and he has confessed. They want me to file a police report to prosecute the guy. I have his name and number but just curious if anyone in the Orlando Area heard about this in the media yet. I'm in MI and just want to be sure it's not another scam.

Thanks,

Joe

I have not heard anything new about it, but YOU should call the Sheriff and reiterate what was told to you.

Never EVER give out ANY personal information - full name, mother's maiden, SS#, credit card info, mailing address - UNLESS YOU INITIATED THE CALL!!! If you get a call from, let's say, Sears, asking you to verify ANY information at all, tell them you will call the customer service number on your card and give the requested information to the customer service rep. My husband and I have had our identities stolen or compromised THREE TIMES since August 2004, when Hubby was pickpocketed at a Red Lobster in New York.

Don't ever give out or even CONFIRM personal information without initiating the call - these ID theif creeps will call you, give you info to confirm - your name, address, phone number - then ask you to give another bit of pertinent info. This person calling you may already know your name, address, phone number, credit card or bank information, and may ask you to confirm your mother's maiden name - BOOM! Numerous fraudulent accounts can be started with just that info.

Also, if you do any online banking, bill payments, etc., periodically check to see that your personal information is still correct. It's usually under a link marked 'profile' or something similar, and will give all your contact information. The last time we were targeted, they actually somehow gained access to our online banking, changed the mailing address and phone number, and went wild with online charges. Of course, the bank attempted to call and verify the fraudulent charges - but these guys had changed the number; the bank wasn't calling us.

We learned all this the hard way. So far, all three instances of ID theft have cost us a total of $2581, and we were only able to recover $986 of it.

 

[NCState]

I was always commended by people for asking to see their id.

I always thank the person that asks for my ID. If they don't ask I still show them.

 

[raiden]

I still do not understand. How was this guy making charges with no card? Lets say he doesnt have something to imprint a card with. Which I think would be a long shot that this crook had one. Especially with all the info that the cc companys put on the stripe, even if it was a fake card i still do not believe it would work and likely trigger some kind of flag. Some peoples children.

 

[Captain Chaos]

I still do not understand. How was this guy making charges with no card? Lets say he doesnt have something to imprint a card with. Which I think would be a long shot that this crook had one. Especially with all the info that the cc companys put on the stripe, even if it was a fake card i still do not believe it would work and likely trigger some kind of flag. Some peoples children.

A lot of website, you only have to put in the CC number and name... Most sites are now asking for the 3 digit ID on the back of the card.. However, a lot fo major online retailers don't... And they also give the option to send to an address different than the billing address... So, it is very easy to do.... You would think all the online stores would be wise to the scams... Yet, they aren't....

 

[jtced]

I always thank the person that asks for my ID. If they don't ask I still show them.

Thank you! This is a must for me too. When I worked retail I always noticed the ones that have Check ID on the cards never had a problem to show you the ID and were very thankful that you did so. I've never had a problem with my signature not being on it. (The ID is a gov issue with my legal signature and photo on it.)

 

[JoeH]

Arrest Made

I did confirm with the Disney Security Investigator and with the Sherriff's office. Filed my police report online and they will prosecute the guy.

Wife learned a good lesson from this.

Now we're planning our next trip to WDW Oct 26-Nov2.

Thanks,

Joe

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

I still do not understand. How was this guy making charges with no card? Lets say he doesnt have something to imprint a card with. Which I think would be a long shot that this crook had one. Especially with all the info that the cc companys put on the stripe, even if it was a fake card i still do not believe it would work and likely trigger some kind of flag. Some peoples children.

The implements needed to make a fake credit card are not hard to come by. Just need blank credit cards and the tools to actually imprint the numbers on the plastic. Even with the magnetic strip info on credit cards, this is easy to do. How many times have you had a credit card demagnetized? Crook hands the card over, it's not being read by the machine, 'oh, no, it must be demagnetized', and the clerk can manually enter the credit card information. And, at most point-of-service registers, you do not need to enter the three or four digit CID number located on the card.

Also, as stated before, many online retailers - even major retailers - still do not require the CID number to place an order.

JoeH, congrats on the positive developements. Credit card and identity theft/fraud are hard lessons to learn.

 

[wdwmomof3]

I will tell you that the crooks are smart. I received an email that they are even taking pictures of credit cards with their cell phones. It was also said that they are switching credit cards with one that looks just like yours, so check and make sure that your card has your name on it before you put it up. One guy had to pay most of the charges to his card because he didn't report the card missing. He had what he thought was his card the whole time.

It makes you mad doesn't it?

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

I received an email that they are even taking pictures of credit cards with their cell phones.

I do not take out my credit card anywhere (including WDW) until I absolutely have to. Even then, I cover the numbers with my hand, and try to conceal my signature on the back for this very reason.

Yet, a little more than a year ago I went to use my Disney Visa and it was frozen. Turns out someone stole the number and used it to charge nearly $1000 for gas in Detroit!

I have no idea how the number was stolen to this day. Chase froze my account on their own, believing the charges to be fraudulent, and I was not responsible for any of them. Still, I do not know where they could have gotten the number from...really scary.


Joe, I'm glad you're getting some resolution, and hopefully you'll help contribute to this creep getting put behind bars for a long time :sohappy:

 

[gulfsouthllc]

This happened to me and my wife 12/4/08...on our Honeymoon. The guy got us for nearly 6000. I caught it within 30 minutes of it happening. We called the police and I was called to by the Detective in Orange County. They caught the guy this week and I am flying to Orlando this weekend so we can press charges!!!!