Credit card fraud

[Top totty]

Can anyone help with this query that is really bugging my husband.

If someone stole his credit card and tried to buy goods over the phone or internet how would they get away with it because surely the goods would be delivered to the address the card was registered to (eg our home address) If the thief gave a different delivery address surely the police (or whoever) would be able to trace where the goods were delivered to.

Just something that has bugged him all day.

[yummy]

As you describe it Top totty, I doubt the theif can get away with it. There's always a way to trace the person - it just need willingness from the person/party investigating it eg police, bank.

Oh unless the goods included buying credit for a pay as you go telephone via the telephone. You could trace the calls made I think - alot of work involved I think?

[ChocClare]

My husband runs a mail order company and never sends stuff to a different address on a first order for that very reason (unless he knows the person).

Incidentally, if your husband's card was stolen, you could report it to the credit card company, and they would refund you (usually!).  Pity the poor mail order company: despite paying a percentage to the credit card company for every transaction, if a card is stolen then the credit card company takes the money back from the mail order company to enable them to refund the customer.  So the mail order company, not the credit card company, ends up out of pocket.  The credit card company therefore doesn't have a great deal of incentive to chase up the bad guy (they've lost nothing).  Obviously the business to be in...!

[smudge]

Also, this is why PO Box numbers come in very handy for fraudulant purposes!

When at work, I received a letter/leaflet, selling a particular item. My boss was very interested & asked me to send off an order, accompanied by a cheque. Before doing so, I noticed that there was no contact number on the letter/leaflet, only a PO Box No. address. Me being the investigative type that I am, followed this up & was informed by the police that it was indeed a scam & lots of innocent people had been duped by this Company.

[smudge]

P.S. I know my post is more about cheque fraud, rather than credit card fraud - but just thought it might help make others aware.

[ann_h]

Don't expect the police to bother. My credit card company refunded the (large) amount on thief/fraudster's mobile phone charges, and the be-helmeted ones didn't seem to think it was worth following up even when I gave them all the information they needed to nail it.