Ok for serious? Thieves are hella klassy. & a poll

[Deleted]

Since they found H's stuff we need to submit as much info as we can about the fraudulent charges to the cops.

I just got off the phone with my card companies to get as much information as I could.

The thieves ran up charges at the following places:
rented a rug doctor
gas
McDonalds
Walmart
Ross

Seriously?! ^o) You stole my card and this is where you go?!

Which brings me to my poll question, if you had a card that wasn't yours (play along with me), where would you go?

[amandasw]

HAHAHA wow, I'm definitely confused about the rug thing.

I guess the tricky part is going places you know won't ask for ID or be very careful about checking the card. I *would* say I'd go to Nordstroms and buy a bunch of clothes, but I don't know if it would be too suspicious.

[Deleted]

I'm totally in your boat! I'd make a beeline for The Bravern, hit up Neiman, Hermes, Jimmy and get my grubby hands on whatever I could till the card declined.

[Deleted]

If I didn't have to worry about them checking my ID I would go to Neiman Marcus and buy the HL I've been lusting over and a pair of CLs to go with it. Plus probably a ton of other things.

[joenali]

I second Nordstroms but I would like to believe that they would check my ID.

[georgeharrison]

That is hilarious.

I think I'd use it on fine dining (not McDonalds ;D). Any retail locations, like amanda mentioned, I would be afraid would check for id.

[Deleted]

I totally agree about the ID thing, but I can't remember the last time someone (even at Nordstrom) asked for my ID. There are a ton of places now that have the self service swipe and don't even look at your card unless it's over $25.

Oh and I could be totally wrong, but I could have sworn that I heard somewhere years ago that it's illegal for a store to ask you for ID because the clerk could make a copy of your card, then memorize your address and then start using your card that way. Does anyone know for sure?

[georgeharrison]

I have also heard that it's illegal, but we still get asked all the time - at dumb places like dairy queen or the mini mart. They can't make you give them your ID, but they can refuse to serve you.

[Deleted]

I would also buy a Balenciaga bag.

[niq]

I'd probably go wherever has the best return policy. Does Target still do refunds on all items returned within 30 or 90 days? So buy a bunch of stuff there, then take the wallet to the police saying you "found it outside a car with a smashed window; the thief must have dropped it", then return the stuff from target and get cash. That's my super genius strategy for not getting caught that I'm sure wouldn't work at all .

The rug doctor one cracks me up the most. "We can never afford to clean the rug, but now that we've stolen a credit card LET'S GO FOR IT."

[val]

I'd go straight for furniture. I really want a new couch.

And order lots of stuff online and have it sent to a post office box.

[jennlin]

Aug 2, 2012 10:59:56 GMT -5 @uwhuskygirl said:

Oh and I could be totally wrong, but I could have sworn that I heard somewhere years ago that it's illegal for a store to ask you for ID because the clerk could make a copy of your card, then memorize your address and then start using your card that way. Does anyone know for sure?

nope, you're right. when i used to work retail, we weren't allowed to ask for ID's, even if the card had written on it "check id" because that broke the rules.

occasionally customers would get huffy about it..but we told them it was *really* for their protection.

either way. i'd go eat somewhere expensive..but i'd be afraid by the time i paid they already cancelled the card. it's not really easy to run out of a fancy restaurant after a few glasses of wine.

and i'd probably go to nordies.

[Deleted]

Aug 2, 2012 11:39:33 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

A question - why don't all credit cards just have your photo on the front of them? Wouldn't that maybe make it easier to stop credit card fraud without compromising security (like asking for ID)?

H's debit card has his picture on the front, but someone somewhere still took it. There's a pending charge on our checking account right now. They ran the card as credit instead of debit, so they wouldn't have to put in the PIN.

[FrozenSunshine]

A plane ticket out of town

[val]

ohhh...smart! Buying giftcards! I change my answer.

[jennlin]

Aug 2, 2012 12:20:49 GMT -5 val said:

ohhh...smart! Buying giftcards! I change my answer.

yeah. i change my answer too.

[Deleted]

Aug 2, 2012 12:16:27 GMT -5 @legalbritt said:

I'd do what thieves did when they stole DH's card one time. I'd go to every store I could and buy AmEx giftcards. Our thief got about $1,000 worth of AmEx gift cards at several area stores before the card was rejected. So then I could later use the gift cards anywhere I wanted to with little to no risk! Hahaha.

But isn't this trackable? Can't Amex suspend the card (by tracking it via card number) once they found out the method of payment is fraudulent?

[niq]

Aug 2, 2012 12:16:27 GMT -5 @legalbritt said:

I'd do what thieves did when they stole DH's card one time. I'd go to every store I could and buy AmEx giftcards. Our thief got about $1,000 worth of AmEx gift cards at several area stores before the card was rejected. So then I could later use the gift cards anywhere I wanted to with little to no risk! Hahaha.

This is way smarter than my target/refund idea.

[Deleted]

LB - smart! So, I'd do LBs plan (and swap out with some Visa cards, too) Otherwise, I was going to say Nordies. Target is also good since you swipe your own card now.

[hallows]

Maybe this is terrible, but I can't think of anything I'd want more than traveling, so I'd book a swanky non-refundable trip somewhere.

[jennlin]

watch out for LB around your credit cards, ladies and niq.

[Deleted]

I would just rob LB after she robbed all you guys.