That's where I would start.

 

Discover Card.

Their software will generate a one-time use credit card number. If stolen, it will not allow a second charge to the number.

It saved me once.

 

It updates all the time. Even have scanned since them and nothing. Is Symantec before you ask and all is green.

 

Have to agree as C6_Blackhawk had the same items ordered as I did. So we got lifted by the same people.

Srykr

 

I would say that pretty much narrows it down to Ecklers!! Hopefully they jump all over it and find out where the breach is.

 

I wonder if it is safer to just call them and place the order. Anyone know if this is a safer method?

 

Are you joking?? Did you know Approximately 35 million Americans pay only the required minimum -- as low as 2 percent -- of their balance each month. Do you know what credit cards are charging for interest?? Credit card companies made over 30 billion dollars in earnings last year. -- MBNA -- earned 1.5 times more profit than McDonalds. Citibank, earned more profit than both Microsoft and Walmart. I think they can absorb a few hundred million dollars worth of fraud.

 

Absolutely, This is safer because you're not putting your card number online. Its very easy for an experienced hacker to hack a "non-secure" website such as Ecklers, and gather several people's credit cards without anyone knowing.... (until they start using them of course.)

Calling them is the best way to go if you're unsure as to the security of a website.

 

I am in the technology biz. All the security is great but not bullet-proof. The people factor is always present as well. It could have been an employee that stole the number or even just impropoer handling of data within the organization. I am in charge of PCI-DSS compliance for my company and all the security in the world won't replace a dishonest or lazy/incompetant employee.

I don't see why this thread is slander in your eyes. What the OP writes is completely possible and if I were him I would report the potential breach to the authorities, not just leave it with the CC company and the vendor.

 

Not totally true. The software does generate a different card number but it WILL allow subsequent transactions with the same vendor. The shipping address has to be the same as the original transaction. I use it frequently for transactions with companies from whom I make frequent purchases. I keep a spreadsheet with the generated number and the vendor I used it for and simply reuse the number when I buy from that vendor for whom I already have a generated number.

BTW, CitiCard has a similar feature although I do not know the specific capabilities and limitations of their service.

 

srykr, thanks for the heads up!!! thats what I like about this forum people looking out for each other

 

good thing you used your credit card and not your debit!! Every time I use my credit card I think of this.

Thanks for warning, and ecklers if your reading this chime in, If you found problem let us know, show you care. And after reading this post I will still use you guys, just might pay a differant way.

 

Found this out after they caught it, Live and learn Didn't hit me for much and still luv all the Kewl items Ecklars has.

 

There is also another method for paying that doesn't use a credit card. Our local consumer issues reporter presented a segment on it today. When I find more information on it I will add it to this thread.

 

I work for a bank and I can tell you that the credit card operation is not big profit center. Delinquencies and fraud eat up all interest payments we all pay. Most of the money MBNA makes from their credit card operation is from thousands of other banks outsource their credit card operation to them, where they have no risk. They charge a fee to do the billing and customer service, while the bank that hired them carries all the risk for fraud and deliquencies. CitiBank makes most of its money from insurance (Travelers), and investment banking.

 

This past year I spent well over $37,000 in online purchases. That is an anomaly for me as usually it's less than $5000 or so but it is growing each year. I always make sure that I have that little Microsoft lock icon on the page where I put my information. If the lock icon goes away as I move to another page then I stop.
As for ordering via phone being safer, consider this. A few months ago I decided to not use the online order form to buy something because the lock icon did not appear. When I made the phone call the lady on the phone took my order for me. After a minute or two I realized she was asking me questions in the same order as what I saw on the online order form. I made a comment about that and she told me that she was using the same online form that I could've used. Too late! I asked about the lock icon and she didn't have it either. Be careful when using the phone to order something that you can also order online.

 

More people need to use the virtual credit card feature. These are one-time credit cards that you generate when you want to buy something. You set the amount and the expiration date (min 2 months) and use that to make a purchase.

Citicards and BoA both have this feature. Use their website to generate the card before making a purchase. Been doing it for 3 years or so and no worries about getting my cc:number swiped due to internet purchases.

(I now see similar posts about this reading back up...)

 

Hahahaaha, now THAT is funny. But you make a great point. I was assuming that by ordering on the phone you are talking to a customer service rep who is inputing your order directly into the system. But if all they are doing is entering it into the SAME website you were trying to avoid, then your efforts are futile.
On a different note. Here are the details of the theft that occured on Ecklers. The exact same thing happened to at least 2 people here on the forum and it confused me all to hell. I noticed several purchases on my credit card that I didn't order. One of them was a Girls Gone Wild DVD, and the other was an order to Scholastics book (children's books). I thought it was a weird combo... but whatever. Within a couple days... guess what showed up at my house..... A GGW DVD and like 9 books from Scholastics. They even went as far as to sign me up for a "membership" with Scholastics, so that they send me 4 books a month no matter what... and I have to pay for them. Luckily my bank refunded all my money.
Who steals your credit card and then orders stuff to your house?!?! Unless they are trying to **** you off.... I don't get it!! Anyone have any ideas? My only thought wold be that they worked for these companies and were just trying to generate revenue for them. But even that seems far fetched.

Any thoughts?

 

Sorry to hear that....

 

EXCELLENT POINT!