Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Man Tracks Down The Address Behind His Credit Card Fraud, And Police Catch The Thief Red-Handed
Stressed man with glasses looking at his phone, realizing a credit card thief used his account.

Thief Uses Stolen Credit Card To Order Car Parts, Then Gets Busted In The Middle Of The Delivery

30

ADVERTISEMENT

If you’ve ever been a victim of credit card fraud, you’d know how frustrating it can be. There are unauthorized purchases to deal with, money leaving your account, calls to make, and the hassle of canceling your card and getting a new one.

This man shared how a fraudster stole his card details and spent $1,000 on car parts using his credit card. Fortunately, an unexpected turn of events gave him a chance to catch the culprit. Read on to see how it happened.

RELATED:

    Credit card fraud can happen to anyone, and dealing with it can be a real headache

    Helena Lopes (not the actual photo)

    This man’s credit card details were stolen, and the fraudster racked up $1,000 in purchases

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    MART PRODUCTION (not the actual photo)

     

    ADVERTISEMENT

    AtelierVieuxPont

    Credit card scam can leave behind a trail that helps investigators find the person responsible

    The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre explains that “card-not-present” fraud happens when stolen card details are used without the physical card being present, such as for purchases made online, over the phone or by email. That is what happened here: the stolen details were used to buy $1,000 worth of car parts.

    So how do scammers get those details in the first place? The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says scammers can steal credit card information through data breaches, hacked systems, skimming devices, phishing messages, and even fraudulent phone calls.

    It is important to report a stolen card or fraudulent transaction quickly, since purchase details can help investigators track what happened. The financial experts recommend contacting the card issuer immediately, keeping documents that could help with an investigation, and reporting the incident to local police.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    That trail can be even more helpful when the purchase involves physical goods. For example, in a federal credit card and identity theft case, investigators traced fraudulent purchases to addresses linked to the suspects. In this story, the thief made things even easier for police by having the package delivered to his own house.

    cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)

    You can protect yourself from credit card fraud by keeping your information secure and acting fast when something looks wrong

    Banks and card issuers have systems in place to spot suspicious activity. That is why the  Financial Consumer Agency of Canada recommends turning on transaction alerts so cardholders can be notified when a purchase is made. This makes it easier to spot a fraudulent transaction and report it on time.

    There are also simple ways to protect yourself against credit card and identity theft. For example, the Federal Trade Commission recommends keeping account information secure, using strong passwords, and checking financial statements regularly for charges you do not recognize.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Even after reporting fraud, consumers may need to take a few more steps to protect themselves. The FTC advises people to continue checking their accounts and watch for additional signs that their personal or financial information has been misused.

    If another unauthorized charge does appear, the safest move is to contact the card issuer rather than trying to sort it out with the merchant alone. The issuer can explain the dispute process, block or replace the card if needed, and guide you on what to do next.

    It’s quite funny how the fraudster in this story implicated himself by having the goods purchased with the stolen card delivered straight to his house. His very dumb mistake was exactly what the victim needed to help police catch him. Have you ever dealt with credit card fraud? Tell us your story and how you handled it in the comments.

    Commenters were glad to see the fraudster caught, and one person even shared how a thief stole from him and got justice

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Poll Question

    Total votes ·

    Thanks! Check out the results:

    Total votes ·
    Share on Facebook

    Explore more of these tags

    Miracle Akinola

    Miracle Akinola

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Storyteller in the beautiful pursuit of wonder!

    Read less »
    Miracle Akinola

    Miracle Akinola

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Storyteller in the beautiful pursuit of wonder!

    Laura Radavičiūtė

    Laura Radavičiūtė

    Author, Photo Editor

    Read more »

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    Read less »

    Laura Radavičiūtė

    Laura Radavičiūtė

    Author, Photo Editor

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    Ace
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So DHL had somehow been given the genuine cardholder's details by the fraudster, had then contacted him and been told that the fees would not be paid and the whole think was a fraud, but then delivered them anyway, fees unpaid? No, I don't think so. (No, the shipper would not have access to the CC details of the buyer).

    spacer
    Community Member
    20 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the scammer remembered to put his own adress but not phone number for the shippment, strange huh.

    Load More Replies...
    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    12 hours ago (edited)

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I watched a video last night of Victoria Mendez who was attempting to buy a car using the I’d of a physician. I think this was her sixth try. (She succeeded four times. She and her partner, Chris Louis, were given a list of cars to get, I imagine to be shipped overseas.) The dealership was suspicious for several reasons, and called the police, who never si questions they don’t already know the newer to. They ask her what year she was born (she says 1983) then how old she is, which she gets wrong. Then they ask her when she graduated from medical school; she hesitates a moment, then answers 1991. That was the moment I wet myself laughing. Gris ended up having to do time; she got time serve, and fined more than $150,000. I initially started watching sovCits getting pulled over for traffic violations, but my watching has expanded to include other types of crimes as well as court trials. The most shocking thing to me, though, has been doctors who turn into absolutely brain-dеad dummies, especially when a DUI occurs. The most baffling traffic stop was a thoracic surgeon who would not let go of the idea that she’s been profiled for being trans! As if a traffic officer sees a lady in a Mercedes and thinks, “That’s a man!” Nope, but she wasn’t right in the head.

    Lilah Myers
    Community Member
    1 day ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    My last salary was $8750, ecom only worked 12 hours a week. My longtime neighbor yr estimated $15,000 and works about 20 hours for seven days. I can't believe how blunt he was when I looked up his information, This is what I do..... 𝐍­𝐞­𝐭­𝐏­𝐚­𝐲­𝟏.𝐂­𝐨­𝐦

    Ace
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So DHL had somehow been given the genuine cardholder's details by the fraudster, had then contacted him and been told that the fees would not be paid and the whole think was a fraud, but then delivered them anyway, fees unpaid? No, I don't think so. (No, the shipper would not have access to the CC details of the buyer).

    spacer
    Community Member
    20 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the scammer remembered to put his own adress but not phone number for the shippment, strange huh.

    Load More Replies...
    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    12 hours ago (edited)

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I watched a video last night of Victoria Mendez who was attempting to buy a car using the I’d of a physician. I think this was her sixth try. (She succeeded four times. She and her partner, Chris Louis, were given a list of cars to get, I imagine to be shipped overseas.) The dealership was suspicious for several reasons, and called the police, who never si questions they don’t already know the newer to. They ask her what year she was born (she says 1983) then how old she is, which she gets wrong. Then they ask her when she graduated from medical school; she hesitates a moment, then answers 1991. That was the moment I wet myself laughing. Gris ended up having to do time; she got time serve, and fined more than $150,000. I initially started watching sovCits getting pulled over for traffic violations, but my watching has expanded to include other types of crimes as well as court trials. The most shocking thing to me, though, has been doctors who turn into absolutely brain-dеad dummies, especially when a DUI occurs. The most baffling traffic stop was a thoracic surgeon who would not let go of the idea that she’s been profiled for being trans! As if a traffic officer sees a lady in a Mercedes and thinks, “That’s a man!” Nope, but she wasn’t right in the head.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    Lilah Myers
    Community Member
    1 day ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    My last salary was $8750, ecom only worked 12 hours a week. My longtime neighbor yr estimated $15,000 and works about 20 hours for seven days. I can't believe how blunt he was when I looked up his information, This is what I do..... 𝐍­𝐞­𝐭­𝐏­𝐚­𝐲­𝟏.𝐂­𝐨­𝐦

    Related on Bored Panda
    Popular on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda
    ADVERTISEMENT