SCAM Warning - CASH BACK @ Check outs

[Graham_of_Rainham]

CHECK YOUR RECEIPTS BEFORE LEAVING THE CHECK-OUT

The following was sent to me by a reliable friend:

[Stephen]

Re: SCAM Warning - CASH BACK @ Check outs

There is something not quite right about this info. So far as I was aware supermarkets will not give cash back on a credit card, only a debit card. Unless you have personal experience that proves me wrong

[Stephen]

Re: SCAM Warning - CASH BACK @ Check outs

Found this amongst others http://urbanlegends.about.com/librar..._cash_back.htm

Seems like another of those viral emails produced to worry us all

[yoshi]

Re: SCAM Warning - CASH BACK @ Check outs

So you mean the email itself is the scam and the contents are not real? - sorry for this confirmation question.
yoshi

[Stephen]

Re: SCAM Warning - CASH BACK @ Check outs

So you mean the email itself is the scam and the contents are not real? - sorry for this confirmation question.
yoshi

In a way I think you are correct, though its not so much that there is a scam with the email, its just that people are worried that the supermarkets staff are likely to be scamming us. In reality of course this is more probably not the case, but the email spreads the fear and even posting the info here is causing an issue in my opinion. Its already listed on Google

[yoshi]

Re: SCAM Warning - CASH BACK @ Check outs

Many thanks for the additional info. When I read the email, i was a little bit worried about, as, like many ohters, I use credit cards relatively often.
Yeah, it could happen anywhere, although I have never heard of this type of crimes yet here.
I was one of victims of much simpler cheating before so need to be more cautious.
yoshi

[mike_j]

Re: SCAM Warning - CASH BACK @ Check outs

I think it right that this can only be worked with a debit card, cash back isn't offered on credit cards but it seems a perfectly possible scam. Rather easily detected and traceable and I have not heard of it actually happening.

Always check your receipts!

[Patrick]

Re: SCAM Warning - CASH BACK @ Check outs

I think it right that this can only be worked with a debit card, cash back isn't offered on credit cards but it seems a perfectly possible scam. Rather easily detected and traceable and I have not heard of it actually happening.

Always check your receipts!

[mike_j]

Re: SCAM Warning - CASH BACK @ Check outs

I was phoned by Egg some years back for a security check and after the preamble the Egg representative asked me (with slight amusement) if I really had visited a Massage Parlour in Las Vegas the previous day! I assured him I had been at home in boring old Lincolnshire. However that was immediately after buying some shareware from an American site so my card had obviously been hijacked. I never even saw the fraudulent charges on the statement, Egg sorted it all.

Less amusingly my wife had her debit card stopped without notice on an extended touring holiday in France. It took endless expensive phone calls to find out why (unusual activity) and if we hadn't had other cards it could have been very difficult.

[Patrick]

Re: SCAM Warning - CASH BACK @ Check outs

I was phoned by Egg some years back for a security check and after the preamble the Egg representative asked me (with slight amusement) if I really had visited a Massage Parlour in Las Vegas the previous day! I assured him I had been at home in boring old Lincolnshire. However that was immediately after buying some shareware from an American site so my card had obviously been hijacked. I never even saw the fraudulent charges on the statement, Egg sorted it all.

Less amusingly my wife had her debit card stopped without notice on an extended touring holiday in France. It took endless expensive phone calls to find out why (unusual activity) and if we hadn't had other cards it could have been very difficult.

I now use only pay-pal to buy online. Most online companies now use their services and no account details are exchanged just the payment.
Yes I know they have my card detail, but by using them it narrows down the risk and makes it less likely for card information misuse. They also email details of any transactions that take place against my account. I'm sure banks could do this with credit & debit cards, there is some move with credit cards I believe, but not debit cards. That brings us back to the banks protecting their own money and leaving us with the sharks.

Patrick

[Ian]

Re: SCAM Warning - CASH BACK @ Check outs

I was phoned by Egg some years back for a security check and after the preamble the Egg representative asked me (with slight amusement) if I really had visited a Massage Parlour in Las Vegas the previous day! I assured him I had been at home in boring old Lincolnshire. However that was immediately after buying some shareware from an American site so my card had obviously been hijacked. I never even saw the fraudulent charges on the statement, Egg sorted it all.

Less amusingly my wife had her debit card stopped without notice on an extended touring holiday in France. It took endless expensive phone calls to find out why (unusual activity) and if we hadn't had other cards it could have been very difficult.

I had this problem a long time ago on a foreign trip and by card company advised me to ring them to let me know before my next trip that I would be going abroad. I must admit I don't remember to do this most of the time!

Ian

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: SCAM Warning - CASH BACK @ Check outs

I too have had fraudulent transactions on credit cards (Air tickets in Malasia)
which Barclaycard sorted out very well.

This "Cash Back" scam seems to be something akin to the "Extra Scanning" scam that is also happening quite frequently.

I personally have had two occasions, when items were double scanned, which I only noticed after I'd paid and was checking the bill as I walked out, and on another occasion I spotted the item had been scanned but the check out girl had pressed X6. I believe it to have been a genuine mistake, as I had bought 6 of the previous item and she simply repeated the action... (a bit like forgetting to turn the flash on, when it's normally set on AUTO )

What I did find interesting is the attitude of the shop management. While they are generally ready to accept that there could be a genuine mistake, they are also not slow in suggesting that the item could have been taken from the trolly after it had been scanned. Suggesting that you have been robbed by someone taking it from your trolly, but with that tone in the voice that is indicative of them suspecting that you may be in cahoots with someone else, who has taken it...

There is of course the other option of the checkout person extra scanning items that are then removed from the store, by their accomplice.

Something I noticed (in a VERY big Supermarket) is that there were no obvious security cameras viewing the area past the checkout. The cameras are everywhere in and around the store and cover the check out, but once past that "Payment Line" the store has no further interest in what goes on...

Anyway: I'm now checking my till receipts a lot more (if only to see that the BOGOF and offers have been correctly applied) I've had a few not go through and had to ask for a "RED light action"... Trouble with that is that it takes so long to resolve that the frozen food has all melted (which then needs to be replaced ) and the next person in the queue is apoplectic

SO: Do check your till receipts and don't shop in Rainham

[Bear]

Re: SCAM Warning - CASH BACK @ Check outs

check your till receipts and don't shop in Rainham

Sounds like bloody good advice to me, especially the Rainham bit !