YIKES BEWARE!!!!!!!!

I read this article and wanted to share it with you all.

Be sure to read Scene 3."
 

Quite interesting.
 

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.
 

Hmm, "He dressed and just flipped the wallet to make sure
all was in order.
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 systemand asked
if his card had been stolen.
 

"No," he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled out the
credit card, and yep - you 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 receiptand 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 andbehold, 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 cashier, 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 are 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 directlyto my checking account.
The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it,
then laid it onthe counter as he waited for the approval, which is pretty
standard
procedure.
 
While he waited, 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 apicture.
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 card take caution and
don't becareless.
 
 
 
 
 

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 isnot fun. The truth is that they can get you 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