Discover credit card databases compromised
I received my credit card bill from Discover and was shocked to see $1300.00 of charges which weren't mine. I called Discover to find out what was going on. A rep in the fraud unit indicated an old account number (prior to my current account number) had been reactivated and was being used fraudulently. I indicated to her that my old account number had been closed down THREE years ago, due to similar fraud, and this was the reason for the creation of my new account number. Further, I asked her how my old account number could have recent charges, and why these charges were now attached to my new account number. She stated, not in so many words, that the databases had been compromised and fraud was being perpetrated against Discover customers. I, naturally, expressed outrage at the lack of privacy of this information, at which point she attempted to assure me that only my account number was compromised, not my personal information, which, is, of couse, BOGUS.
She then told me this event was predicated by a letter which was sent to the account holder of record (which apparently wasn't me) in June, indicating the account was active but would close down in 190 days. So, in essence, Discover notified the person who stole the card number in the first place that they could still use it. All because Discover was trying to purge old accounts which probably had fraud alerts which expired when Discover thought they were cleaned up, and therEfore, not being used. Obviously, they didn't deactivate the card, because computers remember everything, so the fraud alert expired, the account sat in limbo, until they sent a letter telling the SCUMBAGS who do this stuff that they have the opportunity to do it again before the account gets purged!
She assured me all charges would be credited off, although there would be no documentation in writing of the event. I have attempted to contact the Attorney General's Office and currently have a call in to the FDIC who apparently has a rep who deals exclusively with Discover under the Morgan Stanley moniker which is now handled by the FDIC.interesting.
Discover Card Consumers need to know their credit is at risk. Immediately write a letter to Discover and copy the Attorney General's Office and the FDIC (Ms. Nancy Tillman at 1-800-378-9581) if you find inappropriate charges on your Discover bill this month. I'm still waiting for Ms. Tillman to call me back. Put a fraud alert on your accounts by calling one of the three major credit agencies, Equifax, etc.
I had my identity stolen and my Discover card information compromised without ever losing my card or having the card stolen, three years ago. How ironic it could come back to haunt me again.
It can happen to you, so protect yourself.
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