CREDIT CARD FRAUD AND COMPROMISE
Credit card fraud, act committed by any person who, with intent to defraud, uses a credit card that has been revoked, cancelled, reported lost, or stolen to obtain anything of value. Using the credit card number without possession of the actual card is also a form of credit card fraud. Stealing a person’s identity in order to receive a credit card is another more threatening form of credit card fraud, because it works in conjunction with identity theft. Credit card fraud is a problem that affects the entire consumer credit industry. It is one of the fastest-growing types of fraud and one of the most difficult to prevent.
BACKGROUND
The first revolving-credit card with universal merchant
acceptance was the BankAmeriCard, originally issued in 1958 by
Bank of America. The card started in California but grew from
there. In 1966, Bank of America expanded its bank card program
by forming the BankAmeriCard Service Corporation, which licensed
banks outside of California and allowed them to issue cards to
their customers. By 1969, most regional banks converted their
independent programs to either BankAmeriCard or Master Charge
(now known as VISA and MasterCard, respectively). By 1970, more
than 1,400 banks offered one or the other credit card.
In the early 1970s, when a credit card was used to make a
purchase, it was manually processed through a slide machine,
which left an imprint of the credit card number on a
multiple-part receipt. The original copy was for the merchant
and the carbon copy was for the customer. Technological advances
led to most credit card sales being handled electronically via
telephone, computer, or the Internet, with the information
processed in a matter of seconds. From the time of manual
machines to the modern electronic processors, credit cards have
been used fraudulently.
COMMON TYPES OF FRAUD
One of the earliest ways of committing credit card fraud was
either by stealing the card from someone’s wallet or by
"dumpster diving" for carbon copies of credit card receipts. The
use of these two methods have decreased with the advent of
electronic processing of credit cards. One of the simplest ways
to obtain a person’s account information or actual credit card
is through postal theft. Any person who steals mail may now have
access to someone’s personal information, including credit card
account numbers, credit limits, and banking information. The
fraudster can use this information to obtain additional cards or
create new accounts without the knowledge of the true owner.
Advance payment schemes are also prevalent. Federal consumer
credit regulations require that credit card issuers credit a
customer’s account as soon as payment is received. This is now
possible instantaneously since most transactions are electronic.
Using a counterfeit or stolen credit card or credit card number,
a fraudster either makes an advance payment on the card or
overpays an existing balance using a counterfeit check. Because
the account is credited upon receipt of payment, cash advances
can be immediately drawn against the credit card before the
payment has cleared. A fraudster can clear millions of dollars
this way, and it will go undetected until the next bill
arrives.
RELATED PROBLEMS
One of the problems surrounding credit card fraud is the
ambivalence of the consumer. Credit card agencies advertise a
zero liability for credit card fraud. In some cases, a $50 fee
may be incurred, but this may also be waived. If someone’s
credit card is lost or stolen and it is reported, then the
customer is not responsible for any fraudulent charges. It is
relatively easy to know if your card has been lost or stolen;
you are no longer in possession of it. However, if someone’s
credit card number has been stolen and duplicated, this may not
be apparent unless the credit card agency notices unusual
activity and notifies the consumer, the consumer happens to
check the account online, or a bill arrives with fraudulent
charges. Some criminals will even go as far as to change the
mailing address on the card to avoid being caught by the
consumer, thus extending the time the card may be used. Many
criminals, though, will simply use the number to apply for a new
credit card, one that is attached to the consumer’s name,
although he or she would be unaware of its existence.
It is true that a person may have little if any liability if his
or her credit card or number is used illegally, but the consumer
is left with the hassle that is related to having his or her
credit card used fraudulently. When a credit card is issued in
someone’s name, this appears on his or her credit report. If
that credit card is then used fraudulently, this also appears on
the credit report and can have some very serious consequences,
especially if the card holder is completely unaware that an
account has been opened. Collection agencies and creditors will
be looking for payment, thus looking for someone to make those
payments. Most people do not even realize that there are other
accounts opened in their names until they are ready to make a
large purchase, like a car or house, for example. A routine
credit check is done, and consumers are surprised to be turned
down for a car loan or mortgage because of their "bad" credit.
If this does occur, then it is the consumer’s responsibility to
clean his or her credit report, even if he or she can prove he
or she never made any of the suspect charges.
The Fair Credit Billing Act established procedures for resolving
billing errors on credit card accounts. It is the consumer’s
responsibility to contact the credit agencies in order to take
advantage of the law’s consumer protections. In many instances,
it takes years for the credit agencies to investigate the
fraudulent activity; in the meantime, the car loan or mortgage
may be delayed or outright denied. One of the best preventive
techniques to keep a credit record safe is by contacting the
three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union) and
reviewing credit reports on an annual basis. Also, you can
report to Bermuda Finance Security.