judgediatl
Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio
My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Ohio
Well, I never thought it would happen to me but it finally did. Even though I was VERY careful in all my online dealings, someone got a hold of my credit card number and address and fraudulently charged several purchases to my card. Here is the rundown and where I stand.
I noticed several weird charges to Nautilus Bowflex. I have never used their products or even heard of their website. After calling them and reaching their consumer protection department (ha, what protection) they said they would be unable to give me any info regarding who actually made the purchases without a subpoena. While this was obviously infuriating on my part (seeing how they are essentially looking out for the company interests first, thus protecting the crook), I was able to ascertain some info:
A) Both items were shipped to two corresponding cities in California, about 170 miles apart (one to Leona Valley and the other to Ramona)
B) Both had the same email address ending in @Outlook.com (the rep said he had the IP addresses but would not release them)
C) Both had my billing name and address but someone else under the addresses under both shipments
D) He stated this is a common scam where people ship them to random locations hoping to steal them off the porch before anyone is the wiser
E) Both were done online, with my three digit security code from the back and expiration (whoever has it, has all of it)
So after not getting anywhere with them, I called my local police department. They said I was free to file a report, but a subpoena could only come from a judge and there is no way for them to investigate or follow up with every case of credit card fraud/identity theft. So in so many words, be basically said no one cares enough to follow up, so therefore getting Nautilus Bowflex subpoenaed to release their info they are withholding is unlikely. I assume they do this as they know no one will be able to pry the info from them, thus opening them up for lawsuits and such. The cop also believes that even if I did get the IP address, it's going to be somewhere over in Nigeria or something. Which seems unlikely, if they shipped both to California it seems like the person would have to be in the State in order to steal the product of the porch.
I did call the bank and canceled the card. They said they'd investigate who filed the charges, but that's not going to be much help as I already know the site it came from. They said that's all they can do, and I'd have to go file a police report (see above). They said since Nautilus Bowflex already refunded the money, so technically I've already been made whole and not a "victim." I find that to be BS. I don't want my money, I want these guys caught and I also want to hopefully be able to find the exact point where they acquired my card info. The FTC was no help at all, as they said they can't investigate small claims and will just send me some booklets (as if that'll help).
Tell me there's something I can do to hunt these people down. The idea of letting them get away with this is far worse than the prospecting of losing a few hundred bucks out of my bank account.
My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Ohio
Well, I never thought it would happen to me but it finally did. Even though I was VERY careful in all my online dealings, someone got a hold of my credit card number and address and fraudulently charged several purchases to my card. Here is the rundown and where I stand.
I noticed several weird charges to Nautilus Bowflex. I have never used their products or even heard of their website. After calling them and reaching their consumer protection department (ha, what protection) they said they would be unable to give me any info regarding who actually made the purchases without a subpoena. While this was obviously infuriating on my part (seeing how they are essentially looking out for the company interests first, thus protecting the crook), I was able to ascertain some info:
A) Both items were shipped to two corresponding cities in California, about 170 miles apart (one to Leona Valley and the other to Ramona)
B) Both had the same email address ending in @Outlook.com (the rep said he had the IP addresses but would not release them)
C) Both had my billing name and address but someone else under the addresses under both shipments
D) He stated this is a common scam where people ship them to random locations hoping to steal them off the porch before anyone is the wiser
E) Both were done online, with my three digit security code from the back and expiration (whoever has it, has all of it)
So after not getting anywhere with them, I called my local police department. They said I was free to file a report, but a subpoena could only come from a judge and there is no way for them to investigate or follow up with every case of credit card fraud/identity theft. So in so many words, be basically said no one cares enough to follow up, so therefore getting Nautilus Bowflex subpoenaed to release their info they are withholding is unlikely. I assume they do this as they know no one will be able to pry the info from them, thus opening them up for lawsuits and such. The cop also believes that even if I did get the IP address, it's going to be somewhere over in Nigeria or something. Which seems unlikely, if they shipped both to California it seems like the person would have to be in the State in order to steal the product of the porch.
I did call the bank and canceled the card. They said they'd investigate who filed the charges, but that's not going to be much help as I already know the site it came from. They said that's all they can do, and I'd have to go file a police report (see above). They said since Nautilus Bowflex already refunded the money, so technically I've already been made whole and not a "victim." I find that to be BS. I don't want my money, I want these guys caught and I also want to hopefully be able to find the exact point where they acquired my card info. The FTC was no help at all, as they said they can't investigate small claims and will just send me some booklets (as if that'll help).
Tell me there's something I can do to hunt these people down. The idea of letting them get away with this is far worse than the prospecting of losing a few hundred bucks out of my bank account.
