Fraud on my credit card

On Wednesday when I came from work I had the urge to check my email before getting dinner. On a typical day I try NOT to check email as when I get home it is time for dinner and then spend time with kiddos---getting baths, cleaning up, etc. But I told hubby to not turn the computer off. Boy am I glad I checked my email…

I got an email from my bank that my credit/debit card had been blocked for fraudulent activity and to call the number on the back of the card to find out more information. Now I have gotten emails like this in the past and it is an attempt to get my information. However, there was no link or anything to press in the email. I decided to try to log onto my online bank account to see if I could.

I went to my bank’s website, tried to log on and nope it was blocked.

I then took my debit card out of my wallet and called customer service on the back. I explained about the email and the customer service representative said that yes there was a block on it, gave me the number to the fraud dept, and transferred me.

After asking some identification questions, I was asked if I had made a $487 purchase at Walmart.com that day?  Ummm…that would be a NO! I had not used my card at all that day anywhere. He then asked when the last time I used the card was. It was the day before at Walmart (in store, not online) for $30.xx. He said that the card would be blocked and that I would get a new one with a different number in 5-7 days.

Immediately after getting off the phone with him, I logged onto Walmart.com and my credit card info and hubby’s info were stored in my account. I deleted both card numbers off the account thinking that the person had probably hacked that account and that is how they got my number.

Yesterday, I received an email from Walmart.com that I had left things in my shopping cart. I logged on to my account and there were 2- $200 email gift cards and an expensive Lego set left in the cart. I deleted these and then changed my password on my account. Now I know what the thief was trying to get away with.

I have a lot of mixed emotions about all of this.

I am so thankful that they have fraud alert procedures in place. If this would have went through I would have been out $500 which would mean several bills would have bounced and we cannot afford to lose that amount of money.

I feel sorry for whoever tried to do this. What makes people think that taking money from someone else is okay?

I am frustrated that because of someone else’s actions, I am now inconvenienced in not having a debit/credit card for up to 7 business days.

I feel like I need to be more vigilant in my online doings and hope this doesn’t happen again. I have been checking my bank account balance several times a day since this happened to make sure nothing else looks suspicious.

I am hopeful this will never happen again.