Westpac Credit Card Users

[Buf-Phoon]

Hi Guys

Just a word of advice. Over the next few weeks at least, keep an eye on your online credit card deductions/direct debits etc, as I had a call from Westpac's fraud department tonight advising me that a company based in Melbourne called PPC ( maybe the Pineapple Performance Company ) with a trace back to Spain had tried to rip off $34k off my amex platinum

Westpac couldn't explain exactly how this mob got my details(no Dags , I only use the secure porn sites you recommend),however the transaction occurred at 7.25pm and I recieved a call from the fraud dept within 5 minutes. I then rang Westpac back immediately to verify card cancellations etc ( reported stolen) to close the loop.Well done on the Westpac exception reporting

I have a sh*t load of anti spyware etc loaded and still got got. Keep an eye on your statements eg $50.00 x 200 0000 = $ 100m without lifting a finger. Why couldn't I be smart enough to be a Cyber Crim

[tab]

For all their faults I too take my hat off to them for watching these things - not sure if it's the platinum thing, or if everyone gets the same attention, but have had many calls from them in regards to suspect transactions. All false alarms so far thankfully though.

But then you pay them enough for the bloody privilege

[R-SPEC]

You're a nutter for having a Platinum card. When was the last time you bought a house or a Ferrari on your credit card?

[tab]

Free insurance, more rewards and loads of benefits

[seventytwo]

I bet the sales people sit up an take notice when you pull that puppy out.

[Buf-Phoon]

It's up to you if you pay cash for everything. I prefer to have my cash balance sitting and reducing my Sydney mortgage on the banks money.It still is paid in full evey month as anyone with Amex knows, but do the math over your average $350k loan and see how much it saves over 25 years

And for ArsePic ( spelling ), it is not uncommon to rack up well in excess of $5k in a month when you consider leases, utilities, food , fuel booze, restaurants, dancing girls etc and that's without the hookers

What do you suggest I do. Tried catching 'em myself but the last one broke me farking catchers net and tipped over the boat

[R-SPEC]

A Platinum card for $5k a month? Sounds like you're putting it to good use! I do the same thing to offset interest on my plastic 'Gold' card. Mind you I only have a modest 30km East of Melbourne mortgage to pay

And it's Master Arse-Peck to you you big sasquatch Try deep sea diving!

[Dagabond]

Like to see em draw that much off my 4k limited 3k overdrawn old bluey.....

[tmac450]

Credit card fraudsters don't need access to your computer to rip you off. Access to card numbers is the simplest thing in the world. Every time you use it, the card is exposed to possible fraud. It's pretty easy for the shop assistant, etc to copy the details, which gives them freehold to use the card all over the world for electronic transactions.

What the banks try to keep secret though, is the fact that you are at very little riskl for loosing money to credit card fraud. The law states that it is the bank who is ultimately responsible for any unrecoverable fraud. Basically, if you have a transaction that is not yours on your card, the bank must make the recipient proove you dealt with them, if they can't they have to refund the money. If the bank can't obtain the refund, the bank has to pay it back. It may take them a few weeks to sort it out, but being a credit card, you pay nothing until they do.

By the way, I have a Platinum card because I get more points/rewards (free Xbox, free Wii, gift vouchers, etc), I travel a fair bit and it gets me free travel insurance, no foreign currency conversion fees, I can use points to pay for the annual fees, and the Asians fall over backwards to serve you when they see it.

[Space Ace]

The only time(s) I've had Westpac call me was when there was an absolute sh*tload purchased on the same day within a few hours....thanks to the missus retail therapy. Its an automated system that sets off alarm bells once a certain amount is spent within a certain timeframe.