Is there a mystery charge on your credit card bill?
Filed under: Credit, Ripoffs and Scams
As the old saying goes, it's easier to steal $1 from a million people than to steal $1 million from one person. That may be the idea behind this current credit card mystery.
According to the Boston Globe, credit card customers across the country are complaining on internet boards about a mysterious 25-cent charge on their bills. The charge comes from a place called "Adele Services," based in Melville, New York. But according to the article, there is no such business listed under that name in Melville, or anywhere else in New York, for that matter.
Authorities think one of two things is happening: Identity thieves are checking to make sure the credit card is good to go for larger charges (although this hasn't happened yet) or, more likely, they're looking to make money by stealing a small amount from a big group of people.
Diabolical. Because I know I might never notice a 25-cent charge on my bill, and if I did, would I make the effort to call around and do something about it? Probably not. It's just a quarter, I'd tell myself. And that attitude is just what the thieves are banking on.
Check your bill and see if you've been hit. If so, don't let it slide. File a dispute with your credit card company and lodge a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is run by the FBI in conjunction with other watchdog groups.
Considering your account number, along with your name and expiration date, have also likely been compromised, you might want to close your account and start a new one, just to be on the safe side.
According to the Boston Globe, credit card customers across the country are complaining on internet boards about a mysterious 25-cent charge on their bills. The charge comes from a place called "Adele Services," based in Melville, New York. But according to the article, there is no such business listed under that name in Melville, or anywhere else in New York, for that matter.
Diabolical. Because I know I might never notice a 25-cent charge on my bill, and if I did, would I make the effort to call around and do something about it? Probably not. It's just a quarter, I'd tell myself. And that attitude is just what the thieves are banking on.
Check your bill and see if you've been hit. If so, don't let it slide. File a dispute with your credit card company and lodge a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is run by the FBI in conjunction with other watchdog groups.
Considering your account number, along with your name and expiration date, have also likely been compromised, you might want to close your account and start a new one, just to be on the safe side.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
1-14-2009 @ 5:10PM
Jill said...
This just happened to me except that it was a $1.00 charge and then more charges that were tried to be put through today! How they got the number on the card I'm not sure, but I disputed it and have now reported this problem to the credit card companies and the credit union.
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1-13-2009 @ 9:42PM
John P. Frederick said...
Paypal sometimes uses small 17¢ or 18¢ CREDITS to your credit card accounts as a confirmation that the account is actually yours. I forget now but think I had to confirm with them that I received the credits.........
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1-14-2009 @ 12:04AM
Jaqson said...
Paypal has charged me a dollar and I can't find out why...Plus they didn't pay foe what I ordered.. Good racket till our"leaders" straighten them out ...
1-13-2009 @ 10:14PM
elizabeth said...
This happened to two of my credit cards that I don't use except for emergencies except the charges were for a larger amount $1.50. This is happening and has been for quite some time so watch your statements.
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1-13-2009 @ 10:09PM
A.M. said...
recently we had two $1.00 charges from some music download site......(we don't do music downloads)... then, BofA fraud phoned us..... questioning 'transportation' charges to Argentina......originating out of Columbia.........NO, that isn't us....
We suspect the $1.00 charges were 'the test' to see if the account was good.......no clue how they got our number, but thankful BofA called us........account closed..... new account #'s issued....
Watch those small weird charges. It CAN and DOES happen.
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1-13-2009 @ 10:38PM
Joe said...
your credit card company fraud department really should catch the 25 cent charge before it even posts on your account or your card statement. if they do not, I would suggest getting a new bank.
Your statement about leading to ID theft is a little misleading. It is most likely that the person commiting the fraud does not have a clue who your or any information on you. It may just be some running a sequential list of numbers.
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1-13-2009 @ 10:38PM
Jackie said...
Beware debit card usage. NEVER let it out of your sight! When the waiter takes the card to the back, there can be a seperate illegal machine, which is what happened to me. The waiter double swipes the card, which then gives him your card information. Another debit card is then made and sold to thieves. $800 was charged to my bank account this way, and what they do, is charge very small amouts, like $1 to see if the card works. When it worked, they then charged a large amount.Then, back to another store for $1 to see if it is still active, and so on, until my bank caught on.....$800 later. i NEVER let it out of my sight, even if I have to follow the waiter to the back of the restaurant while he swipes my debit card.
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1-21-2009 @ 9:39AM
Odom said...
yes there are crooked people in this world, but don't give the impression that all waiters are bad and will try to steal from you. If you want to be careful about that sort of thing, use cash, or get a low limit credit card($500 or less) that is specifically for dining or small purchases. It's easier to monitor and if it is lost or stolen, those people would not have access to your entire bank account. Do not use your debit card for anything other than accessing your bank account.
$800 worth of charges should be noticed by YOU, not your bank. Take advantage of online banking and check it frequently. Oh, and as for following the waiter back to the POS to watch them swipe your card......you should live your life carefuly, not paranoid. That's just crazy.
1-17-2009 @ 1:54PM
MsSmokie said...
I truly agree with you Jackie, same thing happened to me at a well know resturant "RED ROBIN". There was a $104.00 charge on my card after having a $15.00 lunch while waiting for some jewerly to be cleaned and repaired. This card is for use only when I'm visiting with my Grandbabies. (they all live in different states)This is their card:>) Occassionally I charge small amounts and pay it off just to keep it active. So you can imagine my surprise when that $104.00 showed up...TWICE! The company recognized my dispute, filed fraud towards the resturant, re-embursed my funds, closed the account and sent me a new card. On the advice of a friend, I had just recently started watching my statements, also found a few slip-ups on other stuff. Watch your statments people, and closely.
1-18-2009 @ 8:50AM
Joe said...
Don't use a debit only use a credit card. If the waiter skims the credit card and uses it there is no effect to your bank account. Yeah, the charge on the credit card but all you need to do is contact the bank and claim the charge as fraud. They will change your card number and take the fraud charge off your account. You do nor should you pay for any unauthorized charges on your credit card.
1-13-2009 @ 11:00PM
Mork And Mindy said...
Yeah gas stations do that also take a dollar then deduct the rest later. But if you do anything online and there is ssl (secure sockets layer) then your safe. Now when your at the store who know's what could happen clerks have been known to wite down card number and the three digits on the back. We had that happen and lost a ton of money from a clerk doing that. We dont use cash that much and we are like most people anymore and do most of stuff online but when we go to stores or a gas station to purchase more then gas we use cash now.
So be safe and always on the look out but dont be a woory wart over it but be alert and always call your financial institution if your not sure and start a dispute right away.
http://www.thelocomonkey.com
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1-13-2009 @ 11:07PM
Colin Willett said...
Watch out for charges like $9.95 that are the same as other, non-fraudulent charges on your credit-card staements. And if something is advertised on TV ads, like health-aid books that say they are free and you only have to pay for shipping and handling, WATCH OUT, DON'T sign up for anything. I did, and got a number of fraudulent monthly charges of $9.95, and one of $19.90 for ordering just one book. The so-called Shipping and Handling charges amounted over $50.00 before I noticed the charges, and disputed the charges on my credit-card statements, and cancelled my credit card and got a new one!
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1-17-2009 @ 1:55PM
MsSmokie said...
Also watch out for those "30-day" free trial items, most likely you will forget till you are charged, then it takes "THREE BILLING PERIODS" to cancel...I don't except nothing anymore.
1-13-2009 @ 11:47PM
Bill said...
Thre are these credit card insurance charges on my statement every month. I don't need them.
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1-14-2009 @ 8:58PM
Sunni said...
Call your credit card company and cancel those insurances. They aren't worth the monthly charges. Read the fine print on them on what is and what isn't covered. Just call and cancel. Most times it's added automatically until you notice it and cancel it.
1-14-2009 @ 12:40AM
Bob said...
You need to call your credit card company and tell them that you do not want the insurance. Some companies automatically put these on cards or they offer them free for a trail period and then they charge you a percentage of your remaianing balance. Again all you have to do is call up your credit card company and tell them that you want to cancel the card insurance.
1-14-2009 @ 1:29AM
betty said...
I think when something like this happen the credit card
companies should be the one to catch it ,because i don,t know
of no place u can buy something for .25, most place won,t
take a credit cd onless the items come to at least $10.00
that another scam to me ,To use my credit cd i can,t buy under
$10.00 worth of anything ,So the stores are pulling more money out of u also and getting u to buy more stuff in their stores. Check this scam out ,You go in a store and something
cost $.99 or 6.99 and they don,t give u your penny. This happen to me a couple of times ,But if are .1 or .2 cents short
the cashier looking at u like find a nickle or dime and I,ll give u change ,LOL ,Well I alway shock them by asking for my change
LOL. One man told me it just a penny and I told him u dame
right ,but it,s my penny and that why u have a store from stealing everyone pennies ,let me be the one tell u i don,t want my penny , not u just take it from me or not aknowlege I was
suppose to get change back ,if I save enough like you then
I might open a store too .If i take it and throw it up in the air
it,s my penny .the item cost $6.99 not $7.00 this mess go,s
On & on ,If I buy cigarette they don,t give matches ,But if I don,t
have any and I ask can i get a light the person want to charge
me .5 cent for a book of matches. Only in AMERICAN PEOPLE.
People in our world today have become so greedy and
selfness it makes me sick , They rob people with their eyes
open ,And we let them get away with it ,By ignorant little things
IT,s very stessful all the things we have to stay on top of now in
this country Everyone has gotten so lazy & relax that u can
do anything u want if you,re smart enough and get away with it
READ PEOPLE ,LOOK AT EVERYTHING TWICE ,COUNT THE CHANGE BEFORE U LEAVE A STORE ,CHECK RECIPTS &
TOTAL.,NO ONE IS GIVING U MONEY ,SO DON,T LET THEM TAKE YOUR.
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1-13-2009 @ 11:58PM
Janice said...
This just happened to me. My bank called me about a charge from Adele Services and a foreign exchange charge for $.25. I also had two charges for $16.95 each and one for $71.95 all made the same day. After a few questions, the bank reversed the charges and closed my card on that account, sending me a new card. My hat is off to Washington Mutual who caught this transaction immediately! Watch your accounts, folks!
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1-14-2009 @ 12:27AM
tracy said...
This is in reply to Betty: Credit card companies charge businesses a fee for accepting credit cards. That is why businesses put a minimum on how much you need to spend before they will accept the credit card. If people would simply pay cash for their transactions theire would be far more people not in debt. You would be more aware of where your money is going. No one ever keeps track of how much they charge until the bill comes in. And then they pay only the minimum charge due.. you never get out of the hole with that kind of disregard for money. People live well beyond their means trying to keep up with everyone else. Use credit cards wisely and only for emergencies - keep a budget - set aside spending money and when that money's gone you don't buy anything else. Credit cards is credit not income. Payback is expected not requested.
And where the heck are you shopping that the clerk doesn't think they need to give you change even if it's a penny. Maybe you should find somewhere else to spend your money if you think that you are being ripped off. Use your brain.
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1-16-2009 @ 10:52PM
Donna said...
tracy, it is not the banks who issue the cards but Visa and MC charge the fees because they are in essence issuing the merchant a form of credit when they deposit the funds into their accounts. However, Visa and MasterCard have strict rules against a merchant setting minium limits on how much a customer can charge and the merchant can lose there ability to accept the cc cards if Visa and Mastercard were to become aware of the practice in the particular merchant's business. It is a form of discrimination against customers to only take credit cards for certain amounts such as !0.00 or more.