Dear Leonard: Double Scanning Credit Cards

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Dear Leonard: Double Scanning Credit Cards

Recently we had dinner with another couple at a restaurant. The cash register was within eyesight of our table. I saw our credit cards passed through the credit card scanner. Then to my surprise, the waiter passed both cards again on something he held in his hand. When he brought our bill and credit cards back, everything looked in order but after paying our bills, I quietly asked to speak to the manager. I reported this unusual incident. I learned the next day that this waiter was double-scanning credit cards—one time for the restaurant—the other time through a mini hand-held scanning device which was able to record credit card numbers. The manager assured me that the scanning device was confiscated and the second scanning of my credit card was destroyed. The waiter was fired and the incident reported to the authorities.—MHB, Rockville, MD

Dear MHB,
This waiter was using a hand-held magnetic strip reader attached to a “Palm” computer. Such instruments are used to collect and store credit card numbers. Incidents similar to this are happening in department stores, gas stations, kiosks in busy malls. Readers! Guard your credit card numbers as closely as your Social Security (and Medicare) numbers. Even though the Fair Credit Billing Act limits your liability for unauthorized credit card charges to $50 per card, the aggravation and mental trauma involved in getting your credit rating reestablished is monumental.

Leonard Burchman is president of Voice of the Elderly (VOTE), a private, non-profit organization that works to protect seniors from scams. If you have a question about a suspected scam send it to: The Social Security & Medicare Advisor, 4688 Spotswood Trail, Barboursville, VA 22923-8909. Or you can e-mail Mr. Burchman at Leonard@newsletter.tscl.org. Please do not send Social Security numbers or Medicare Explanation of Benefit Statements.

To read more Dear Leonard articles, click here: http://www.tscl.org/ConsumerProtection.asp.

September 2002