fake website/visa debit HELP!!

**sinopa27** · 02-11-2010, 11:19 PM

I have a friend that did the following:

thought she purchased some UGGS boots but found out it was a
fake website.

$165--use visa debit card

cancelled everything within minutes of finding out that it was a fake
website.

3 weeks have passed. No boots. Charge remains. She is out $165.

Now...this seems strange to me. I thought when she contacted the bank online and via telephone that the charge could be stopped and she gets reimbursed the money.

Please help me tell her what to do. She banks with American National Bank. I told her that she has protection.

**micheleg34** · 02-11-2010, 11:34 PM

I had something similar happen a few years ago. My daughter thought she was registering to win a free karaoke machine (she loves to sing), and she grabbed what she thought was an old checkbook to put in the number they asked for (in her defense, I let her play with old checkbooks when she was little...not a good idea!)... anyway, it turned out she had signed up for a porn site that took EVERYTHING I had in the bank. I went to the next state for a wedding shower my mom was throwing me, deposited my paycheck first so I would have money on the debit to get home on...when I went to get it out NO MONEY! In fact, I was three hundred dollars overdrawn! The bank was very helpful. They gave me a phone number that was connected with the transaction (they had no name, just an 800 number)... When I called and threatened legal action, the porn people were extremely helpful as well (especially after I told them they had given an account to a 13 year old). THEY ended up refunding the charges.

Anyway, my point is that she should call the bank and 1... ask them why the charges have not yet been reversed, and 2... see if they have a name or phone number attached to the transaction. If they do, she can call them and let them know that she will persue legal action if they don't refund her money or send her the boots. I hope she gets some resolution in the matter. Unfortunately, not all people who are scammed get their money back as easily as I did.

**sinopa27** · 02-12-2010, 02:38 AM

the website was a fake site and it said Bejing China. I am thinking the bank should stop the transaction and credit the account.

**frugalfranny** · 02-12-2010, 02:59 AM

Put it in writing to the bank and get it in the mail immediately. I would even send it signed receipt........and HURRY! Make SURE to list ALL INFORMATION.........DATE - AMT. NAME OF COMPANY AND EVERYTHING.......PLUS the acct. number.

Often if you read the small print it says that they have to be notified IN WRITING............

You might only have X number of days to notify them!

**Greebo** · 02-12-2010, 03:34 AM

The only potential problem I can see here is that the Visa protection guarantee applies to unauthorized use of your card by someone else. In this case, it sounds like the card holder gave authorization for the charge. The bank may well treat this like if you mailed a check for a product and never received the product but the check was cashed - as a civil matter or possibly a criminal one but one for which the bank doesn't have to assume responsibility.

**sinopa27** · 02-12-2010, 04:14 AM

thank you so much!!

**Lora88** · 02-12-2010, 07:02 AM

I bank at PNC recently purchased something on my visa debit card I didnt receive it I called my bank they issued a provisional credit money back in my account immediately they sent me paperwork filled it out the merchant that sold me the item did not protest matter closed . find out if her bank will give a provisional credit. This is one reason I like credit cards iif theres a problem you have recourse not always with debit cards

**craftypam** · 02-12-2010, 08:25 AM

Lora that is the reason I NEVER use my debit card for online purchases. If you don't receive something that you purchase online using a credit card you can dispute it and usually get your money back. I have never had a problem getting my money back using a credit card for purchase when there has been a problem

**miss_thrifty** · 02-13-2010, 08:48 AM

theirs a free uggh boot thing in facebook people are signing up for i dont sign up for those things.
I seen it wonder is it similar.

**Indygirl99** · 02-13-2010, 03:21 PM

It should not matter whether it is a credit or debit card. I work at a credit union and you can dispute charges on a debit card. Check with the bank to see what you need to do. Where I work, in this situation, you'd just have to fill out paperwork saying you got charged, but never received the boots. You then get provisional credit within a day or two at the most.

I agree with frugalfranny that your friend should do something asap. I don't know about visa, but mastercard does not accept disputes that are over 90 days old.

Just because you call your bank, does not mean they can stop a debit transaction that you already did. I wish we could, it would save me a lot of work (better knock on wood ,because I haven't had to fill any ou yet this month for anyone).

**Lady_V** · 02-13-2010, 07:24 PM

The banks are closed until Tuesday, but I suggest she go IN to the bank with a printout of the website, and any proof she has that it is a fake site, and explain to them she has been trying to get this canceled...

Even if the bank can't get her money back - close the acct before they take MORE money out.

**bumplett** · 02-13-2010, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by miss_thrifty

theirs a free uggh boot thing in facebook people are signing up for i dont sign up for those things.
I seen it wonder is it similar.

I saw it also.

the one I saw said "free pair of boots for females only age 35"

wow - I'm female and guess what, I'm 35! <sarcasm intended>

**McD** · 02-13-2010, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by bumplett

I saw it also.

the one I saw said "free pair of boots for females only age 35"

wow - I'm female and guess what, I'm 35! <sarcasm intended>

Hahah, the one I saw said "free pair of boots for females only age 24!"

Coincidence, much?

Anyways, your friend needs to go into her bank, (not just call, but go in) and request to fill out a debit card dispute form. An example of one is seen here: http://www.nasafcu.com/pdfs/1002LinkTo.pdf

She needs to select the option: I authorized this transaction but I (never received, fake, etc etc.) Depending on her bank, she may be required to file a police report, she may not. She will need to sign the form. She should get provisional credit. It's important to remember that while the bank gives her provisional credit, they will conduct an investigation that includes contacting the company she purchased the boots from. The company has a set amount of time to prove (in her case) that 1.she did authorize the charges and 2. they provided the product to her. If they prove it to the bank's satisifaction, THEY WILL TAKE THE PROVISIONAL CREDIT BACK.

If she hasnt done so, she needs to close the debit card immediately. You can close your debit card, thus closing the access to your checking account without having to go through the entire hassle of closing your account, opening a new one, and setting up all those direct deposits, etc. .

**McD** · 02-13-2010, 08:23 PM

Wrong link! Sorry -- https://www.ufcu.org/files/pdfs/Chec...ute%20Form.pdf

Anytime I try to edit the original post, it takes me to a page not found error. Weird.

**NewLeaf** · 02-14-2010, 12:41 AM

This happened to me a few days ago. I put my Visa debit number in on a WOW gold selling site for my son. He didn't recieve the gold and my debit card was charged.

I called the number on the back of the card and they put in a dispute for me immediately and gave me a provisional credit. They also counseled me to cancel the debit card and they are sending me a new one.

It turns out that the website we used was a scam and they even had a paypal box!

My bank told me that if I want to do any online shopping I should go to the Bank's site and put "shopsafe" in the search bar. Then they would issue me a one transaction "debit code". I could use it just like my debit card but after that one transaction it wouild be null and void so a scammer couldn't use it to empty my account.

So sorry this happened to your friend too.