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Posted 5/17/2011 6:01 PM (GMT -5)
On March 1, I placed an order with AllDay Chemist, using my VISA card for payment. All seemed to go OK until I went to the credit union to pay our VISA bill today and found TWO charges, each for $410.62, and each placed on April 20th and described as "Priority Pass (A.P.) 097 Hong Kong HK


Needless to say I initiated a credit card fraud report, but now find myself forced to replace our cards with new cards, file a police report, and work with VISA to obtain restitution.



Although I can't prove it, I think these fraudulent charges are the result of doing business with AllDay Chemist. We rarely use that card, and the only online transaction we can recall has been the one involving AllDay.



I don't think I'll be doing business with this overseas company in the future.



Has anyone else had this problem? You might want to check your credit card statements.

Post Edited By Moderator (TC-LasVegas) : 7/19/2011 5:39:29 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/17/2011 6:32 PM (GMT -5)
I too had to replace Visa cards (debit) after I noticed a charge from "T-Rays Construction" in Illinois someplace pop up on my online statement..I had no idea what it was for..The bank instantly replaced the money and send me new cards, had to change online I.D.'s and passwords, PIN numbers..I don't think it had anything to do with ADC...

Do you have a PayPal account linked to that C.C. clocknut? I think there is some security weakness there...
Posted 5/17/2011 6:42 PM (GMT -5)
No, the PayPal account is linked to a different card entirely.  Just to repeat, we really never use this card, except there's a camping store here in town that only takes VISA.  And since the fraudulent charges were from the Far East (Hong Kong), I'm inclined to think it was from the AllDay transaction.
Posted 5/17/2011 7:10 PM (GMT -5)
Clock:

Well, someone got your card #. It could be your computer got hacked.

Mel

Posted 5/17/2011 7:26 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks for the heads up. I used them once and never had any trouble.

Are you guys aware that most banks offer a single use (or disposable) charge number for your cards? You download some software from the bank and it gives you a number that can be: single use, limited time use or single vendor use. This might be a good idea when doing business with overseas companies. Heck, it might be a good idea to use it with any company you can't visit easily.

Jeff
Posted 5/17/2011 7:53 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks for the comments.  Some good ideas.  I've emailed the company and asked for their thoughts.  I think next time I would use a  money order, just to be sure.  I would think that would be safer, but slower.  You may be right, Mel, there could be some other explanation, though I seem to remember a thread from last year in which some folks reported their card info had been compromised.

Sadly, the pills haven't worked their magic, either.

Posted 5/17/2011 10:02 PM (GMT -5)

My last purchase from ADC was in Feb 2011 and I paid them by VISA. VISA called me and advised me of 'suspicious' activity on the card. Some one had charged about $500 on it. VISA replaced the money immediately and issued me a new card. I suspected ADC was somehow involved in this, but don't know for sure. I guess I'll have to find a new source for my meds. Darn. I used to like those guys with their good product and prices.

Mag

Posted 5/17/2011 10:11 PM (GMT -5)
Try to only use real "credit cards" for these transactions, and use the "single use" numbers if available to you.

Credit cards are governed by a legal $50 liability (and most banks offer the courtesy of covering that if you report it promptly). Debit cards are not, and you depend upon the bank to be good to you. Also, if the debit card transactions empty your bank account, there will be a raft of overdraft fees or insufficient funds refusals that can be most difficult to sort out.

This has nothing specific to do with AllDay Chemist, just using cards on the internet in general.

Posted 5/17/2011 10:24 PM (GMT -5)
I would suggest to going to the super market and purchasing those Visa/MasterCard/AMEX cards in the gift card section and using them rather than your own if possible. Heck I use them for those subscriptions you buy that auto renew so that I don't get auto renewed when I would prefer to be asked. Plus they work for other online purchases, too.

The most you're one the hook for is what the card is worth when you buy it.

Tony
Posted 5/17/2011 10:39 PM (GMT -5)
my credit cards have been breached at Macy's and Crate & Barrel here in the States. Can happen anywhere.
Posted 5/17/2011 11:51 PM (GMT -5)
Tony, that was an excellent idea, I will have to remember that with certain credit card purchases.
Posted 5/18/2011 5:59 AM (GMT -5)
I too had a credit card issue after making a purchase at ADC. Had to replace my card. Supposedly you can pay by check. I'll try that if I use them again.

Post Edited (GOP) : 5/18/2011 5:09:29 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/18/2011 6:19 AM (GMT -5)
Guys,

Go for single use, perishable credit card numbers! It is free and it immediately raises a flag to the security companies if someone tries to use it a second time. You would be protecting yourself and might even help catch these lowlifes.

Jeff
Posted 5/18/2011 7:55 AM (GMT -5)

I received the following email from AllDay this morning:

"We apologize for it, but please note that we have changed our server on April 12th and it is possible only if you have place an order before April 12th.

 

We have still forwarded this issue to concern department and we will surely look into it."

 

I did order prior to April 12th, so maybe their new safeguards will prevent credit card problems in the future.  I think it's obvious they had some problems before changing servers.  Still, I think the single use credit card suggestion, or using a check or money order is the way to go. 

Posted 5/18/2011 8:05 AM (GMT -5)
Even with security even reputable online vendors can compromise your accounts.

For merchants you only deal with once or on a seldom basis look at these services

Citibank names this service, "Virtual Account Numbers" and at Bank of America this is known as Shopsafe. Discover uses "Secure Online Account Numbers". You can get these when you log into your account. One time use account numbers

If you are worried about spam simply create an ordering email account from one of the free email services like Hotmail or Gmail and reserve those for nothing other than when ordering online from one time sales

It can very well not be the vendor, internet traffic can easily be captured and with the right tools anything you send can be used to compromise your identity
Posted 5/18/2011 9:33 AM (GMT -5)
Guess this was definitely an ADC problem. Note that most likely some creep took advantage of a security flaw and got the sensitive informatiion.

I have a VISA card that I use exclusively for online purchases (and once in awhile when an establishment does not take my Diiscover card).

It did get compromised about 4 years ago. I got a bunch of charges that I didn't make. A funny thing happened when I called them to report it. At the exact time I was reporting it, from Michigan, someone was ordering something on line. The IP address was in California. Needless to say, no problem cancelling the card, having the charges reversed, and getting a new card.

Still, it was extremely upsetting (who knows if perhaps other valuable personal information was stolen). I made a report with my local police department and I also flagged all 3 credit reporting companies. Every 6 months or so I do get a free credit report (each of the 3 allows 1 free report a year). As I said, it was upsetting; you feel violated. This was before really upsetting things... like PC.

Mel 

Posted 5/18/2011 9:47 AM (GMT -5)
What surprised even the VISA rep at the credit union was that no one at VISA security noticed those two purchases on the same day for $410.62 in Hong Kong!  And this on a card that is rarely used.  Those transactions should have stood out like a sore thumb as likely fraudulent transactions.  And then it was complicated by the fact that we didn't receive our monthly statement, so I didn't notice anything amiss until I stopped in to make a personal payment.  In contrast, I've received calls from Discover regarding much less suspicious activity, such as when my wife and I used the card in Mexico.  Discover called us right away to be sure the card hadn't bee compromised.

At any rate, it sounds as if ADC is aware there was a problem and has taken steps to tighten card security.

Posted 5/18/2011 4:03 PM (GMT -5)

Hi Jeff,

I inquired about a 'disposable' charge number from VISA (TD Canada Trust) and they never heard of such a number? We are obviously a bit behind things at times here in Canada. Would appreciate info regards program name, source and other info if you have it.

Thanks Jeff.

All the best to you.

Mag

Posted 5/18/2011 5:02 PM (GMT -5)
Mag,
See if you have gift cards at your grocer like we do here in the sates. This is where you get "disposable" cards. You buy them at their value and once used up you throw them away. I've started doing this a couple years ago. The cards to get have the Visa, MasterCard, or AMEX logo's and are just as usable online.

Mag this FAQ applies to our eskimo friends above the border...;-)

www.visa.ca/en/personal/prepaidcards/giftcards_faq.jsp

Tony
Posted 5/18/2011 9:01 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Tony and thanks for the info. I guess gift cards is the way to go for me.
All the best to you and of cause, to all the guys here.
Mag
Posted 5/18/2011 9:18 PM (GMT -5)
I had a call from the credit card security people after doing business with ADC. It's pretty clear to me, given the circumstances, that my unauthorized charges stemmed from the ADC transaction.

I won't be giving them my credit card number again.
Posted 5/18/2011 9:29 PM (GMT -5)
I have used Citibank (Visa & MC) "virtual" numbers for years. All of my online purchases are made with a one-time "virtual number".   Recently to save annual fee money, I inquired of both Chase Bank and Wells Fargo Bank.  Neither of them offered this very important service, so I kept my business with Citibank.
Posted 7/19/2011 7:37 AM (GMT -5)
It's ironic that this thread has bubbled back up to the top this morning.  Just yesterday, we received in the mail a note from our credit union with copies of two letter they had received from a company in Hong Kong saying they felt the two charges for over $400 each charged to our card fraudulently were justified.  The Hong Kong letters said one of the purchases was by a guy named "Abid" something or other (definitely not my name) and the other by a "Willia" with my last name....that's no coincidence since my account with AllDay Chemist includes the mis-spelling of my name as "Willia."

So, that proves to me that the fraudulent activity originated with my purchase from AllDay Chemist.  How else would one explain the mis-spelling of "William" as "Willia"?

Obviously I don't intend to use a credit card with this company again.

Posted 7/19/2011 7:46 AM (GMT -5)
Hey Clocknut,

The two posts before yours seem suspiciously like they came from All Day Chemist shills.

The misspelling of your name is pretty darning evidence. (I do the same thing by switching letters in my name or address.)

I still say the best way to defeat the lack of security is with disposable, single use, credit card numbers.
That is the only way I will ever purchase anything from ADC.

J

(Sorry "Visible" and "Subject".)
Posted 7/19/2011 8:45 AM (GMT -5)
Jeff,

I thought it was interesting that they quoted my warning as if it couldn't be an issue. The internet makes the Wild West look sane and civilized.

 

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