Suspected Credit Card Fraud from MM

[Morpheus]

OK looking for opinions and suggestions on this, I've already done the obvious which is speak to my bank (actually they called me first to let me know)

As you may know MarineMaxx has a Ebay store online that they sell alot of stuff on. I am always watching their list for stuff for my boat actually got a bow table/leg for $50 that way.

Anyways last week I saw an XXL Ski Vest (I'm a big buy) and I offered $18 with free shipping and they accepted.

So I paid with my debit card to the MM in NJ (first mistake I know better don't ask my why I did that normally I use my Amex) and well I learned last night from the bank that my Debit Card had been stolen (although it's in my wallet) and used in NJ and NY for things like a Metro Pass, McDonalds, a Drug store ($330 there).

Bank is already doing their thing, but I'm wondering if I should contact the person I gave the number to, or if I should contact someone in charge at that MM or if I should contact like a corporate office of MM or if I just let it be and never buy from them again.

Opinions?

 

[RiverRat]

Thats why I always try to use paypal online... no one gets the card number just payment...

 

[estebanj]

I think I would go through corporate first. MM may not even know they have a "bad" employee, so give them the benefit of the doubt (it's not MM doing the bad thing, but the inidividual person).

Do you know the exact date/time and name of the person you spoke with?

I assume you are linking this to the MM person b/c they are in NJ and the transactions happened locally in NJ/NY as well?

Esteban

 

[Morpheus]

I think I would go through corporate first. MM may not even know they have a "bad" employee, so give them the benefit of the doubt (it's not MM doing the bad thing, but the inidividual person).

Do you know the exact date/time and name of the person you spoke with?

I assume you are linking this to the MM person b/c they are in NJ and the transactions happened locally in NJ/NY as well?

Esteban

I have a date and aprx time I spoke to the MM person, and yes that is how I'm linking it to that. All the transactions were yesterday and all in NJ and NY which I checked NY city is only 2 hours from the marine max

No I'm not fully blaming MarineMax just the person I spoke to that obviously didn't do enough to protect the information it could of been anyone even a customer or delivery person that saw it laying there and snagged it.

MarineMaxx doesn't accept Paypal for their auctions (wish they did) but I understand why they don't. My own fault for not using my Amex.

1. I could just call the guy back and ask him.
2. Call the MM store and ask to speak to someone in charge.
3. Call the corporate office and talk to them about it who will probably just tell me to call the store or call the store them self.

2 or 3 I'm sure someone is going to talk to the person I spoke to to find out what happened.

Or I could just ignore it all but that's not my style. I do merchant accounts for a living and I know how important it is to keep customers info safe so it bugs me when a business doesn't do their part.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Dancin Dave]

There's always a risk with using the card, your protected however, could be a major inconveinance however if you have a low balance in your account.

It's not MM fault, there are crooks everywhere. While I was in Miami Beach I used my card at a BP, got a call the next day someone had affixed a gizmo to the pump and scanned my card. The bank did the right thing and I dont blame BP or the owner of the station.

 

[comsnark]

Hmmm. . . I had an unauthorized $500 charge on my CC from a certain SeaRay Dealer in NJ about 90 minutes from NY in December. Currently going through dispute resolution with the CC company.

 

[Morpheus]

Hmmm. . . I had an unauthorized $500 charge on my CC from a certain SeaRay Dealer in NJ about 90 minutes from NY in December. Currently going through dispute resolution with the CC company.

We shouldn't have to be worried every time we use our cards.

Low balance is different from everyone, I had 1500+ in my account before they pretty much cleaned it out with charges all on one day.

And see this is why I brought it up as now we have another person (comsnark) that have had similar issues with possible the same MM or atleast the same area could be something common.

IF I don't do anything about it the person will think they just got away with it.

 

[Dancin Dave]

There is a difference between a debit card and a credit card. Morpheus, you and I had actual money stolen from our accounts, that is covered by the bank because it was stolen from us, the credit card is a dispute until charges are verified because the credit card company is getting stolen from not the cardholder.

 

[Nehalennia]

MarineMaxx doesn't accept Paypal for their auctions (wish they did) but I understand why they don't. My own fault for not using my Amex.
.........

I have the Paypal Debit card and when purchasing from places that I'm not too sure of, only put the money needed for the purchase on the card to make the transaction. It's a MasterCard so if they take that then it works great and is somewhat like a pre-paid card.
Sorry to hear of the headaches, and I hope you get your money back.

 

[Morpheus]

I have the Paypal Debit card and when purchasing from places that I'm not too sure of, only put the money needed for the purchase on the card to make the transaction. It's a MasterCard so if they take that then it works great and is somewhat like a pre-paid card.
Sorry to hear of the headaches, and I hope you get your money back.

That's a good idea except I've been ripped off by PayPal in the past for $500 where I paid for something with PayPal and never received it and PayPal let the seller keep the money so I stopped using them.

 

[Stray Cat]

Unfortunately, I don't think you will be able to prove anything against the person (better have their name) at MM.

Did you get the part that you paid for with the debit card?

 

[Nehalennia]

That's a good idea except I've been ripped off by PayPal in the past for $500 where I paid for something with PayPal and never received it and PayPal let the seller keep the money so I stopped using them.

Well this one's linked with Mastercard and your PayPal account only has what you'd put in there.

I hear what you're saying but. In this case you're pretty much in control

 

[sbw1]

Another strategy is to open a credit card with a low limit of $500 or so for online purchases. If fraud is involved, the card company will remove the charges and even if you don't detect it for some time, I believe your personal liability is limited to $50.

 

[Morpheus]

Thanks for all the ideas for preventing it in the future.

I was hoping for more opinions on if I should bother telling MM about it at all. Who knows it could be a regular occuring thing. No I've not received the item yet but it was just yesterday the $18 charge for the vest appeared so I'll give it a couple more days but that's another good reason to call maybe get a tracking number.

 

[Nehalennia]

Thanks for all the ideas for preventing it in the future.

I was hoping for more opinions on if I should bother telling MM about it at all. Who knows it could be a regular occuring thing. No I've not received the item yet but it was just yesterday the $18 charge for the vest appeared so I'll give it a couple more days but that's another good reason to call maybe get a tracking number.

I'd call them regardless and inform them of the situation, and see what they say.

 

[comsnark]

Yes. . .call them.

In my case (a funky credit card charge), I had previously given the dealer my CC for legitimate work in 2006. Work was performed, completed, and charged in 2006. New bill appeared on card in December 2007. A call to the dealer confirmed that I had not authorized work, or had work performed in 2007. They recommended CC dispute, as they felt that without a legitimate original charge, they had no reason to issue a refund. I proceeded with a CC dispute.

The original charge was in December 07; with payment due in January 08. A credit was applied to the account in February and a new card issued. Now seeing if another shoe may drop.

My case, however, appears different from the description. Quite possibly a rotten apple in play. May I enquire which MM dealer you are working with?

 

[Morpheus]

MarineMax Brant Beach

I don't believe it's the actuall guy that took the info over the phone for the $18 ski vest I think it's more of he left the info out where someone saw it and picked it up but who knows.

 

[osd9]

MM Brant Beach is probably one of, if not, "the" smallest MarineMax's in operation. The office/ships store/service dept./restrooms are all housed in what could be considered a small converted bungalow, albiet, on some of the most expensive waterfront property in NJ.

I bought my boat from that facility and they did a stand up job preparing the boat for the delivery. The crew, from the folks I dealt with last year, were a great bunch of guys/gals. It's a shame if a bad apple got in the bunch, but I agree that you should contact them (if they haven't already read this) and let them know what happened. I can't imagine that they wouldn't want to know so that they could take any necessary corrective action.

 

[Woody]

Have you used your debit card for other transactions recently? Once those numbers are obtained they can show up about anywhere. Perhaps it has nothing to due with the MM dealer. I'm all for picking on any one that needs it, but I have to say that NAMING this dealer was not fair. You guys should have pm'd each other with that info not put it on this forum for the world to see.

 

[Morpheus]

I figured it was a small location since they are only open tue through sat 8am to 3pm.

As for publicly naming them if I thought at all it was somewhere else that it could of gotten stolen then I would of never said anything about it on here.

The facts are:

1. I called them March 14th and gave them my card info over the phone.
2. March 17th Bank calls me about fraudlent charges from NJ and NY totalling about $1500

I'm pretty sure that my $18 ski vest cost me $1518.

I'm not trying to figure out who to blame I just think that they probably need to be more careful how they handle people's credit card info. If the person that did this thinks they got away with it, they will probably do it again.