Credit Card Home Inspection Scam Busted!

Credit Card Scam Busted!

This is interesting. I recently posted on FB the wonderful benefit of the internet in terms of customers finding your business and ordering services without having to spend time selling.

Well, that still holds true. However, like everything there is an equally disturbing dark side.

My so called internet client ordered an inspection, through www.nationalreclocation.com. Through a series of e-mails to schedule the inspection, they slipped in the request to have an extra $800 charged against the credit card and the balance wire transferred to their client (alleged home buyer). At this point it was clear this was a scam.

However, the "buyer's agent" persisted and e-mailed me the credit card information. This information contained the full name, address, credit card number, expiration date and CVV2 number on back of card. This information was for a 3^rd party person.

I gave the story and information to the police. I just heard back from the officer.

It turns out the potential victim (the person whose credit card information I received) had no idea her credit card information was stolen. She was holding the card in her hand as the officer explained the situation. She was totally stunned.

She is now in the process of cancelling the card and reporting the ID theft to her local police. Fortunately, it doesn't sound like any stolen charges have been processed yet.

Three points to this event:

•1) Don't hesitate to act. It may never be too late. This could have easily been dismissed as a waste of my time or doesn't affect me don't get involved scenario. This victim could have been me or anyone else I know. She may get by with only a scare and no monetary losses because someone acted.

•2) Any place you run your card is a potential source for ID theft. This victim had no idea how her credit card information was stolen.

•3) Anyone that processes credit cards needs to be alert to someone trying to use them and their services for part of a scam. This scam was obvious, others may not be.