BBB: Watch out for the ‘card declined’ scam

INDIANAPOLIS – If you do much online shopping, you know there are few things more frustrating than an alert that says “card declined.”

However, there could be one thing even more frustrating: finding out the alert is part of a scam that you fell for.

The Better Business Bureau just sent out a warning about a new scheme they’re calling the “card declined” scam. Here’s how it works:  Say you’re shopping online and you try to make a payment on the website. That’s when you get an alert that says your card is declined for some reason.

You think it’s weird because you know you have enough money on your card.  So, you try another card and the same thing happens and you get another “card declined” alert.

Unfortunately, not only have you fallen for the scam, but you’ve given them information on two of your cards. The website you’re on isn’t a legitimate retail site–it’s a bogus site designed to record credit card information, as well as any other information you type in. If you check your account balances, you’ll probably see some unauthorized charges on those accounts within minutes.

If this happens, the worst thing you can do is keep trying different cards. Every one you try is simply giving the scammer the information to more cards.

Instead, the BBB says you need to do a security check before you try the first card. If you’re on a site like Amazon, where you have an account, you shouldn’t have to enter any personal information. And if your card is on file with the retailer, you shouldn’t have to resubmit it.

The BBB also offers these steps to protect yourself:

• Verify you’re shopping on a legitimate website. Scammers build fake, lookalike websites to trick shoppers into thinking they are buying from the actual business. Look closely at the URL (it may be off by a letter or two) and check that the website is secure by verifying you see the “https://” in front of the URL.
• Watch out for fake emails, texts, and ads. Scammers love impersonating businesses in fake emails , text messages , and social media advertisements . Don’t trust unsolicited messages, and always verify links before clicking on them. When in doubt, delete the message or ignore the ad, and visit the business’s website on your own instead of clicking the links.
• Don’t be fooled by great offers. Prices that seem too good to be true often are. If you’re unsure about purchasing from a business, shop around with other retailers to compare the pricing of the product you want. Get an idea of the actual price of the product. You may be able to find the product at a trustworthy retailer (such as a BBB Accredited retailer ) and feel more comfortable making your purchase.
• Research the business. Before purchasing, look up customer reviews online and search the business on BBB.org . Look for the BBB Seal to verify if the business is BBB Accredited. If you think it may be a scam, search on BBB Scam Tracker .
• Use a credit card for extra protection. If you plan to make a purchase, use a credit card. Credit card companies offer additional protection against fraud, and you should be able to dispute any unanticipated charges on your account.
• Check up on your credit and debit card protections. There’s never a wrong time to talk with your bank and credit card company to confirm what protections you have on your cards. You can set purchase limits and travel restrictions and sign up to get notified when purchases are made at any dollar amount.

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