Help Capitec account got scammed - R3500 gone :(

airborne

airborne

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I noticed 2 amounts first R500 then R3000 taken off my Capitec account around 1:30am this morning , I did not make the transactions and they looked like they were from American/US locations.

So phoned capitec and cancelled the card immediately and now I have to wait 2 weeks for an investigation to take place. My capitec card is a chip card and the card is enrolled in the mastercard secure online thing.

Then I found the locations of the spots that sent the payments through, each transaction ref had quite detailed info, the places popped up straight away for each one on a Google search:

First R500 spent at a Speech and Hearing place in New York.
Then a bit later R3000 at a Benihana restaurant in Dearborn, Michigan.

Jumped on Skype and phoned them both, first one was closed but the restaurant was open.
Spoke to the manager, he was very helpful, asked for the last 4 digits of my card and looked on the system, said yes a guy bought take away using that card.

So what is the way forward to get my money back, convince the bank to reverse the transaction?
Anyone have a similar experience?

Not sure how this came to happen but perhaps my card got skimmed at some point, I thought the chip in the card was supposed to protect me from this kind of thing happening?
 
You card was cloned. They also watched while you put your pin in. Mostly happens at restaurants and filling stations.

The chances are good that you will get your money back, but be more careful in future. Watch your card like a hawk.

If you logged a fraud ticket, all you can do is wait for 2 weeks.
 
Last edited:
D3athD00r said:
You card was cloned. They also watched while you put your pin in. Mostly happens at restaurants and filling stations.

The chances are good that you will get your money back, but be more careful in future. Watch your card like a hawk.

If you logged a fraud ticket, all you can do is wait for 2 weeks.
Click to expand...

/and becareful where u put it in .. :p
 
D3athD00r said:
You card was cloned. They also watched while you put your pin in. Mostly happens at restaurants and filling stations.

The chances are good that you will get your money back, but be more careful in future. Watch your card like a hawk.

If you logged a fraud ticket, all you can do is wait for 2 weeks.
Click to expand...

/and becareful where u put it in .. :p
 
Did the manager confirm whether it was a pin transaction? The chip n pin method has only recently started to pick traction in America afaik. It s usage is not as widespread as Europe, SA even.
 
The way the information in OP is presented infers the two transactions took place the same time, though Michigan and New York are 9 hours apart by car (say 2 by air). Also that a restaurant bill, even though converted from US$ comes out to exactly R3000 seems very odd.
 
krycor said:
/and becareful where u put it in .. :p
Click to expand...

Not to worry people, but if they want to clone your card, even these new chip and pin ones

They gonna go it in front of you and you got NO CHANCE to pick it up,

Tie the Skimmer to her ankle and "drops" your card on the floor, as she picks it up, click copied and impossible to catch, even if your a hawk.

Scary thought but its happened to me with an fnb card once just started drowning in sms's for kulula.com and Woolworth's, all for less than 1k
 
noswal said:
The way the information in OP is presented infers the two transactions took place the same time, though Michigan and New York are 9 hours apart by car (say 2 by air). Also that a restaurant bill, even though converted from US$ comes out to exactly R3000 seems very odd.
Click to expand...

On the second point, maybe he just rounded off. I often do that and just say they stole R5k as opposed to R4,957.49
 
eg2505 said:
Not to worry people, but if they want to clone your card, even these new chip and pin ones

They gonna go it in front of you and you got NO CHANCE to pick it up,

Tie the Skimmer to her ankle and "drops" your card on the floor, as she picks it up, click copied and impossible to catch, even if your a hawk.

Scary thought but its happened to me with an fnb card once just started drowning in sms's for kulula.com and Woolworth's, all for less than 1k
Click to expand...

That is why I do not even hand my CC to anyone. I know how to use a CC machine, so I just take it and do the transaction myself.
 
D3athD00r said:
You card was cloned. They also watched while you put your pin in. Mostly happens at restaurants and filling stations.
Click to expand...

Umm no, most places in the USA do not use chip & pin - so no pin needed. In fact, there are some places here in ZA where they just swipe my chip & pin - no pin needed. But yes, they did clone his magstrip.
 
Im changing my pin today...sorry for the troubles Airborne, I know how this feels, I had R45 000 taken out my business account a few years back but got it all back, but it took 2 months to get it all back
 
noswal said:
The way the information in OP is presented infers the two transactions took place the same time, though Michigan and New York are 9 hours apart by car (say 2 by air). Also that a restaurant bill, even though converted from US$ comes out to exactly R3000 seems very odd.
Click to expand...

Would banks not pick this up and flag the transactions as suspect?
 
D3athD00r said:
You card was cloned. They also watched while you put your pin in. Mostly happens at restaurants and filling stations.
Click to expand...

Many banks seem to want you to swipe more, but I try as far as possible to keep it to a minimum.
 
The fact that your bank allowed these transactions is a bit worrying.

My bank (Standard Bank) calls me the moment it picks up suspicious activity on my cards. An automated system calls me and I have to confirm that its actually me doing the transaction.

This obviously does not apply to CNP transactions (purchases online, etc)
 
This is not a credit card so don't expect the bank to monitor every transaction.
Btw OP, this restaurant did the fraudster order online?
 
MightyQuin said:
That is why I do not even hand my CC to anyone. I know how to use a CC machine, so I just take it and do the transaction myself.
Click to expand...

so at the restaurant; when your with your freinds; and she brings the machine with her to your table; and "drops" it accidentally;

you saying you can tell it was cloned? (not like it goes "beep")

what if she "pretended" to clean your card inside her apron; skimmer hidden there;
(hand is quicker than the eye-- 3 card monte scam)
CC fraud is a real possibility even if you paranoid and crazy and take every possible precaution;

the fraudsters are like a well oiled machine; can do it in front of you and no matter how vigilant you are; no matter how streetsmart you are
it will still happen to you;

not saying I condone it; or I am one myself; but after watching the real hustle and how easy people fall for these scams; even doctors and lawyers who are very well educated fall for these things;

its human nature; and we programmed to fail; or respond in certain ways, and the artists are aware of that;
 
Arthur said:
Why is it suspect? He might be buying online. There's no way for a bank to tell. Tens of thousands do it every hour.
Click to expand...
Of course there is.

All transactions where my card was present are prefixed with "C*" on my statement.

Ans also, how often do you order online when at a restaurant? As far as I know a normal restaurant doesn't deliver.
 
YingYang said:
Of course there is.

All transactions where my card was present are prefixed with "C*" on my statement.

Ans also, how often do you order online when at a restaurant? As far as I know a normal restaurant doesn't deliver.
Click to expand...
They don't have to deliver. He could be paying for a mate entertaining there.
 
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