Search Engine Optimisation Web Log (BLOG)
Editor: Matt Paines

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Credit card cloning, spare a thought for the trader.

This week I joined the ever increasing and fastest growing clubs on the planet, who's only membership criteria is having your credit card cloned. Being computer and web savvy, I always apply the cautious approach when using credit cards on the Internet, so how they could have got my details to clone worries me.

To start with I run fire walls, I have spyware and adware programs running along with the virus and trojan defenses. As a rule of thumb the card is only used on sites that are known and trusted, I have a smaller credit limit card for those I don't know. I am also very cautious with online payment systems, preferring to use Thwaite or other approved systems. I never use it in cash machines and I'm always careful when paying for goods, not to let the card out of my sight.

So while I puzzle over how they managed to get my details, I was also interested in seeing some of their purchases. Apart from the whore house in Lahore and the massage parlour in Istanbul, there were several incredibly stupid purchases. They bought three airline tickets, one on EasyJet, one on Lufthansa and a third on Vueling Airlines. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but airlines require you to use a passport. So doesn't this identify the user. Admittedly the people probably doing the cloning are probably not the people spending the money, as I understand it the numbers get sold on for others to use, but it strikes me that the person using my numbers isn't that bright. Of course I might be doing them an injustice, they may be on stolen passports as well.

The people I really feel sorry for is the traders, often our customers, who are delivering goods or services. Whilst I'm protected by my bank and won't be liable for the fraudulent transactions, the traders will find that the authorisation they had will become null and void, leaving them effectively holding the baby.

At any rate, for the other reluctant members of this ever increasing club, and to future members, all I can say is whilst we can take every care in using our credit cards there is always someone looking for a "free lunch", and whilst credit card security has improved with the introduction of chip and pin it is all too easy to get caught out.

M.P