DEScottzz
TUG Member
Here's a scam to watch out for.
We just got back from a week in Orlando. When we got back, there was a box of very expensive merchandise that had arrived while we were gone. We didn't order the stuff. In Texas, we have no need for any $175 knit wool caps to keep our ears warm.
I checked on the credit card web site, and $475 in cold-weather gear had indeed been charged to my card. Interestingly, the scammer knew my address and cell phone number, which were on the invoice.
Here's my best guess on how and why this happened.
Our flight out was very early in the morning, so we used Marriott points to book a room near the airport. Of course, we gave them an address and phone number, as well as a card for incidentals.
A couple days after we left, the fraudulent order was placed. The scammer paid for two-day shipping, so they knew exactly when the merchandise would arrive. What they didn't realize is that I have some remodeling work going on, so there were craftsmen going in and out constantly. One of them put the package inside, so it couldn't be swiped from the front porch.
At first, I thought maybe one of the Orlando restaurants stole my card information. But how would they get my address and phone number, and why would they have the package delivered in Houston? My best guess is that the scammer was somebody at the hotel. (Courtyard near Hobby airport, FYI.)
Pretty clever scam, if you think about it. Who do you think I should report it to?
We just got back from a week in Orlando. When we got back, there was a box of very expensive merchandise that had arrived while we were gone. We didn't order the stuff. In Texas, we have no need for any $175 knit wool caps to keep our ears warm.
I checked on the credit card web site, and $475 in cold-weather gear had indeed been charged to my card. Interestingly, the scammer knew my address and cell phone number, which were on the invoice.
Here's my best guess on how and why this happened.
Our flight out was very early in the morning, so we used Marriott points to book a room near the airport. Of course, we gave them an address and phone number, as well as a card for incidentals.
A couple days after we left, the fraudulent order was placed. The scammer paid for two-day shipping, so they knew exactly when the merchandise would arrive. What they didn't realize is that I have some remodeling work going on, so there were craftsmen going in and out constantly. One of them put the package inside, so it couldn't be swiped from the front porch.
At first, I thought maybe one of the Orlando restaurants stole my card information. But how would they get my address and phone number, and why would they have the package delivered in Houston? My best guess is that the scammer was somebody at the hotel. (Courtyard near Hobby airport, FYI.)
Pretty clever scam, if you think about it. Who do you think I should report it to?