Beware and insure a Merry Christmas

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Be sure to read 'Scene 3'

>

> SCENE 1. This is a new one. People sure stay busy trying to cheat us,

don't

> they?? A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in the

> locker. After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open,

> and thought to himself, " Funny, I thought I locked the locker. Hmmmmm. " He

> dressed and just flipped the wallet to make sure all was in o rder.

> Everything looked okay - all cards were in place.

>

> A few weeks later his credit card bill came - a whooping bill of $14,000!

>

> He called the credit card company and started yelling at them, saying that

> he did not make the transactions. Customer care personnel verified that

> there was no mistake in the system and asked if his card had been stolen.

>

> " No, " he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled out the credit card,

and

> yep - yo! u guessed it - a switch had been made. An expired similar credit

> card from the same bank was in the wallet. The thief broke into his locker

> at the gym and switched cards.

>

> Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not report the card

> missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them. How much

did

> he have to pay for items he did not buy? $9,000! Why were there no calls

> made to verify the amount swiped? Small amounts rarely trigger a " warning

> bell " with some credit card companies. It just so happens that all the

small

> amounts added up to big one!

>

> SCENE 2. A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit

card.

> The bill for the meal came, he signed it, and the waitress folded the

> receipt and passed the credit card along.

>

>

>

> Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket. Funny

> enough, though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and behold, it

> was the expired card of another person. He called the waitress and she

> looked perplexed. She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the

> counter under the watchful eye of the man. All the waitress did while

> walking to the counter was wave the wrong expired card to the counter cas

> hier, and the counter cashier immediately looked down and took out the

real

> card. No exchange of words --- nothing! She took it and came back to the

man

> with an apology.

>

>

>

>

> Verdict: Make sure the credit cards in your wallet at yours. Check the

name

> on the card every time you sign for something and/or the card is taken

away

> for even a short period of time. Many people just take back the credit

card

> without even looking at it, " assuming " that it has to be theirs. FOR YOUR

> OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH TIME IT IS

> RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!

>

> SCENE 3: Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that

I

> had called in. I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is

> linked directly to my checking account.

>

> The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it, then laid it on

> the counter as he waited for the approval, which is pretty standard

> procedure. While he waite! d, he picked up his cell phone and started

> dialing.

>

> I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing

seemed

> out of the ordinary. Then I heard a click that sounded like my phone

sounds

> when I take a picture. He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in

> his hand as if he was still pressing buttons. Meanwhile, I'm thinking: I

> wonder what he is taking a picture of, oblivious to what was really going

> on. It then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so now

> I'm paying close attention to what he is doing.

>

> He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open. About five seconds

later,

> I heard the chime that tells you that the picture has been saved.

>

> Now I' m standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just took a

> picture of my credit card. Yes, he played it off well, because had we not

> had the same kind of phone, I probably would never have known what

happened.

> Needless to say, I immediately canceled that card as I was walking out of

> the pizza parlor.

>

> All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times. Whenever

you

> are using your credit cards, take caution and don't be careless. Notice

who

> is standing near you and what they are doing when you use your card. Be

> aware of phones because many have a camera phone these days.

>

> When you are in a restaurant and the waiter/waitress brings your card and

> receipt for you to sign, make sure you scratch the number off. Some

> restaurants are using only the last four digits, but a lot of them are

still

> putting the whole thing on there. I have already been a victim of credit

> card fraud and, believe me, it is not fun. The truth is that they can get

y

> ou even when you are careful, but don't make it easy for them.

>

> FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN THINK OF.

> LET'S GET THE WORD OUT! JUST BE AWARE

>