Can Someone Use Your Old Credit Card Number? Answered

Learn the most frequently asked question about Can Someone Use Your Old Credit Card Number? Last fall, Chris of Connecticut assumed his wife was buying him Christmas presents when Amazon parcels began to arrive on their porch.

However, neither would have wanted to accept the items inside the box. He claimed, “I genuinely could not recognize a few items I found when I opened a couple of boxes addressed to me. I am still trying to figure out what they are.

The couple’s Amazon Prime account contained no superfluous orders. He contacted Amazon, and they advised him to discard the things. He counted six shipments totaling 10 or 12 items.

One of the items he shared with me ended up being a heat-activated stove fan, which costs between $45 and $55 on Amazon. Chris doesn’t own a stove that burns wood. Chris eventually discovered proof of the orders on his credit card statement.

His credit card number had been stolen and used to make purchases. And after that, they were shipped to him. It is a con that doesn’t make much sense. Why would someone merely steal the information from your credit card to order things they can’t use?

Can Someone Use Your Old Credit Card Number?

Even though your account has been hacked, those cards could still be used against you, even though they are no longer valid. So that credit cards can get along with their store customers, this is how it works.

Tips For Preventing Scams

Choose One Credit Card

First, he suggests using a single credit card for all your internet purchases. If all of your online purchases are made with the same card, it will be simpler to track them, and any questionable activity will be more obvious.

Although you might lose out on a few prizes, according to Howard, simplifying your activities will lower the likelihood of fraud. Delete all other cards saved in your online account before using the specified card the next time you want to make a transaction.

Use One-Time Card Numbers

Second, consider using software that offers one-time use of credit card numbers each time you purchase online if you want to be even more watchful. Even if the number is hacked, a fraudster won’t be able to use it after you use it.

Your bank or Credit Card Company may refer to this as a “virtual card” or “virtual card number.” Gaining financial security will outweigh the inconvenience of the business not remembering your payment information.

Think About Home Security

Consider adding a camera to your front door or another location where parcels are frequently left. There are security cameras available for less than $50 that can help you find evidence of an alleged porch pirate.

It doesn’t have to be an expensive, unsettling smart doorbell. And such proof can aid law enforcement in apprehending fraudsters and thieves in your neighborhood.

If Something’s Amiss, Speak Up Quickly

It’s imperative to take action immediately if you believe you have already been targeted by a hacker putting gifts at your door.

Howard cautions that you may find it more challenging to establish that the activity is fraudulent if you discover unusual account activity more than a week or two after it occurs.

“So many people never even open their statements, or they don’t even look at their electronic statements,” he said. When you find a discrepancy, contact the shop and your card provider.

Although American Express could not comment on Chris’s specific situation, a spokeswoman for the company issued a warning to customers to protect their financial information.

The spokesman advised them to contact their banking institution if they needed clarification immediately. If we find it fake, we will act immediately, according to the statement.

Howard advises starting an online chat with the merchant to let them know you’ve received mystery shipments so you have a record of your exchange.

Like Amazon instructed Chris, the shop may advise you to throw the things away or request that you return them with a pre-paid return label.

Keep your guard up once you’ve cleaned up the mess. Howard cautioned that once they have you as a target, it won’t be the first time they try to strike you. And scammers’ methods for gaining access to our money are constantly changing.

It will continue to change, he added. The crooks constantly search for flaws in our own personal or organizational structures. Today’s finest advice might not be the best in six months because con artists may have discovered a new weak point. Until something bad happens to them, people won’t pay attention.

How To Tell If Your Card Numbers Have Been Stolen?

• Unusual activity on your bank or credit card statement. Also, don’t disregard little transactions. Before making larger purchases, a scammer may test your card with a $0.01 charge to ensure it is active.
• New accounts or invasive credit report inquiries. AnnualCreditReport.com offers a free copy once a year. All credit tied to your identity is listed in your credit report. Look for accounts you did not open, numbers that differ from your statements, or questions you are unfamiliar with.
• Fraud warnings sent to you by your bank, credit card Company, or credit monitoring agency. If your bank or card issuer discovers purchases they suspect are fraudulent, they may notify you. However, they frequently arrive too late or not at all. A credit monitoring service actively tracks all of your card, credit report, and bank account transactions and notifies you in almost real-time if any transactions are suspect.
• Phone calls from debt collectors or creditors on transactions you didn’t complete. Scammers that use credit cards don’t care about clearing off your debt. If fraudulent purchases result in collections, someone likely used your card without your knowledge.
• Unexpected deliveries of packages. When utilizing your card data to make a purchase, a scammer can fail to update your mailing address. Or, they can place a delivery order for your home to steal packages. Examine your credit card statement if you receive any weird mail or parcels. (This might also indicate that a “brushing” scam is trying to exploit you.)
• A lower balance is available than you anticipated. Scammers will work swiftly to increase your credit limit. Check your bill immediately if your card’s balance has you astounded.
• Additional indicators of identity theft. With a stolen credit card, a criminal frequently gains access to other private information about you. Search for additional indications of identity theft, such as lost mail, a decline in credit score, or erratic logins to your online accounts.

These red flags could indicate that your card or personal information has been stolen. However, this does not necessarily imply that you are secure. Your card may still be in the hands of a criminal planning to use it.

What Happens After Your Credit Card Gets Stolen?

As you might expect, most thieves utilize stolen credit card information to make unauthorized purchases. A thief who has “skimmed” or “shimmed” your card information will use it to make a duplicate card and perpetrate various forms of financial fraud.

If they have your physical card, they will use it to purchase upscale items and gift cards (a scam known as “carding”). Why are they here? Gift cards are nearly impossible to track down, whereas luxury goods fetch high resale prices, resulting in fewer shopping excursions.

Although these frauds are still prevalent today, most credit card theft doesn’t involve the actual card. Instead, con artists utilize thievery known as “no card present” to make purchases from internet merchants.

They frequently purchase gift cards since they are simple to resale, untraceable, and don’t require shipment.

In data breaches, hackers may also gain access to many card details, which they can then sell for profit on the Dark Web. Whatever they do with your credit card numbers, the consequences are disastrous.

Will Credit Card Fraud Damage My Credit Score?

Your credit score can suffer as a result of credit card fraud. Although damage to your credit score can be repaired, it may take months or even years.

And that’s simply a thief who has your credit card information. Someone who has access to your personal information can hurt you more.

A thief can submit an application for new credit in your name using information such as your Social Security number. These additional accounts may accumulate debt before you realize it, lowering your credit score and subjecting you to unending collection calls.

Can A Stolen Credit Card Lead To Identity Theft?

Identity theft includes more than just stolen card data. But if your card is compromised, you should presume that you’ve also been the victim of other forms of identity theft.

Typically, more than information like your card number and expiration date is required to get into other accounts. But a criminal can combine the name on the card with additional details, including another person’s Social Security number, to produce a so-called “synthetic” phony identity.

Remember that phishing is the most typical method of theft of personal cards. Other forms of identity theft may result if a con artist gains access to other personal data.

Conclusion

Someone can use your old credit card number. Be cautious and have insurance to guard against credit card theft and fraud. Consider who has access to your card and how you use it when using it.

The media frequently draws attention to new assaults, but most cards use dated techniques like phishing and data breaches. Recall the fundamentals and remain vigilant.

Keep a tight check on your statements and enroll in identity theft protection to be safe. Aura’s $1,000,000 insurance policy protects you and your family against certain losses brought on by identity theft. Everyone is susceptible to credit card fraud. We can all be ready, though, if we take care and are covered.

Frequently Asked Questions