online shopping? beware!

**halloweenfreak** · 01-25-2008, 06:35 PM

i just checked my online bank statement and found a charge i didn't recognize from ATALA DESIGNS. when i googled them.... it wasn't good. Seems that a credit card/debit card processing company was breeched (Freemerchant) and all their info is now in the hands of other people. Mine included. I dont know if its just online people who are at risk, the only thing I have purched lately was thru paypal. If any store that uses Freemerchant as a processing company is at risk, then I would suggest not using your debit/credit cards until this is cleared up.

So check your accounts and if you see a charge for ATALA DESIGNS, Sensate Technology, MCA Templates, or DO-TECH SOLUTIONS please call your bank as soon as possible!

**Jskell911** · 01-25-2008, 06:40 PM

Thanks for the head's up!

**emily_hope** · 01-25-2008, 07:38 PM

Thanks for the warning!

**brainyblonde** · 01-25-2008, 07:42 PM

And it looks like Freemerchant ceased operation on 1/15/08.

http://redirector.digitalriver.com/w....com/index.htm

**halloweenfreak** · 01-25-2008, 08:34 PM

freemerchant was bought out by digitalriver. there is an option to go to their website and put in your order number to see where your order was placed to know which merchant your card was used at. cant do that if i havent used my card tho. so i dont know how they got ahold of mine unless theyve been sitting on it for months.

**C@rol** · 01-25-2008, 08:36 PM

Sorry that happened to you.
Thanks for the info.

**BetterLateThanNever** · 01-25-2008, 08:40 PM

thanks for posting the warning. You've just confimed something that i've always thought. That online shopping is not safe! Wasn't Amazon hacked into about a couple of years ago? I still think it's best to phone in your order rather than use online shopping carts. Definitely I won't do any banking online!

**McD** · 01-25-2008, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by BetterLateThanNever

thanks for posting the warning. You've just confimed something that i've always thought. That online shopping is not safe! Wasn't Amazon hacked into about a couple of years ago? I still think it's best to phone in your order rather than use online shopping carts. Definitely I won't do any banking online!

No form of shopping is truly safe. Every time you write a check, anywhere, you are giving your name, addy, usually driver's license and account and routing number. People can make copies of your debit card when they swipe it....anytime you have to place trust in humans there is a risk.

**kittykatstrong** · 01-26-2008, 12:20 AM

When people order pizza and want to pay by check we ask for there routing number and account number. Alot of people dont want to give it out. But as soon as you hand it me, I have all thier information anyway.

**lgw** · 01-26-2008, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by MrsMcDowell

No form of shopping is truly safe. Every time you write a check, anywhere, you are giving your name, addy, usually driver's license and account and routing number. People can make copies of your debit card when they swipe it....anytime you have to place trust in humans there is a risk.

Absolutely. How many stories do we see about breaches of security when an employee steals a database of names and credit cards, or someone "loses" a laptop with customer information?

DH and I are regular and avid online shoppers. We have never had anything happen to us. We also do all of our banking online. Because of that, I am more up-to-date with my checkbook register and more aware of charges in the account. I check my bank accounts (never for security reasons) and update my register at least three times a week. Before, I'd rarely even look at the paper statement and had no idea what was being charged.

DH also has a separate Paypal account. Anytime he has ever had problems with orders, Paypal always refunds him the money. One time, he ordered a $700 product. When it didn't arrive after it should have, he discovered the business had actually burned down -- stock, orders, computers, back records -- everything! Obviously, his order was not on its way. Paypal had his money refunded within 48 hours.

**halloweenfreak** · 01-26-2008, 09:09 AM

thats the thing, i cant find out where or when they could have gotten it. i haven't used my card for online shopping since sometime before christmas. so unless they've been sitting on my info for a month and a half, whos do say they didn't get my info from one of the stores i swiped it at?