Loading ...Scammers Using Stolen Credit Cards To Place Fraudulent Orders
Promotional products suppliers are warned to be on the lookout for someone using stolen credit cards to purchase goods through distributors.
The warning comes from Featured Promos (UPIC: FEATFOTO) in Neenah, Wisconsin. The company has seen multiple instances of its distributors being hit by scammers trying to purchase its micro-SD cards using stolen credit cards. Unfortunately, the cards are usually not reported stolen until after the order has been placed and shipped. Featured Promos has also been approached directly by someone posing as a legitimate buyer, but the company caught that it was fraudulent before any harm was done.
Featured Promos has reported the incidents to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint center, but because the individual orders are fairly small, they may not be high-profile enough to attract a quick response.
The scammers are doing their best to look legitimate, coming to Featured Promos through trusted distributors and with valid-looking company information. They’re even supplying artwork for the imprints. Bryon Honl, Featured Promos’ general manager, says, “Distributors need to know that if they receive a request for micro-SD cards that they should be very careful. Make sure to check that the client is valid and that they are not using a fraudulent credit card for purchase. We will be reminding any distributor that comes to us for micro-SD cards of this problem.”
4 Responses to Scammers Using Stolen Credit Cards To Place Fraudulent Orders
When an unknowen purchaser seems to appear we ask for a photo I D and matching credit card and will only ship to that address. Fraudlent users never go any further
All distributors should be aware of any random email seeking to place an order with a non corporate email reply address and a specific list of items. Usually including flash drives, memory cards, t-shirts or banners. All you have to do is request pre-payment in the form of a check or money order and allow 10 to 12 days to clear any international instruments. They will instantly go away. I report and forward at least a dozen of these emails a month to the FTC and law enforcement. They seem powerless to stop this email traffic from known outlaw countries. Ie nigeria etc. It is up to distributors to use common sense not to be scammed. Do not let greed undo you. Orders do not just show up in your inbox randomly offering to pay with CC from free email addresses. Use your head people!
I’ve received literally 100s of these type of emails. They all follow a similar pattern with the occasional amusing embellishment in poor English. I read them for the humor. I just delete them. One time, however, I responded by asking my own “phishing” question and said I’d be happy to do business with them if they filled out my credit application and attached a copy. I simply asked for the standard information including the phone number of the issuing bank for the credit card they wanted to use. Never heard back from them. What a surprise!
We have received orders for these items and had already shipped 500 to one of the “scumbags” before the credit card company notified us that they are holding the $5400.00 that they approved. Have 2 more orders that were ready to ship this week but once we asked for Certified Money Orders, the customers just disappeared. Had another request for a quote for these Micro SD’s just in the last hour and we are playing along while getting in contact with the police.
DON’T DO BUSINESS WITH THESE SCUMBAGS…