Dell Chat - Debit Card Information Stolen - Fraud

I just got an email from my bank about suspicious activity. When I logged on, I saw couple small time transactions made to some weird sites and places I have never heard of.

I only purchase from Amazon and Dell for things online literally. And in the past 3 months, the only places I used my card was in chain restaurants and the airport where people used cashier machine. The card was issued fairly recently as well...

The only reason I can think of is when I purchased my Alienware from Dell Outlet Chat. Basically I had to type in all of my debit card information to the agent. This is essentially the first and only time an actual person dealt with my card information, without me going through the secure online transaction. I am thinking that hacking of those vendors for my card information is very unlikely.

At this moment without further investigation until the card is actually charged from processing status, I cannot confirm for 100% that is was the agent in the Dell Chat. But like I said, I triple checked but there essentially is no way anyone could have gotten my debit card information without accessing the big companies' database.

I want you guys to all be careful and do not give your card information through chat. If you are working on a deal with them through chat, have them create a quote so that you can actually go through the secure transaction through the Dell website, and not through a person literally.

So just my experience here and please realize that not every people from the Dell Chat can be trusted.. Also considering the fact that they live outside of the U.S., and hence harder to track down on their activities.

Buyers beware.

 

At first, I thought you were some troll or some "hater" (Just look at your name) but I feel some truth in your post.

I feel very sorry for you but unfortunately, you must have happened on to a fake site or had a keylogger/other nasty virus that got your debit card information.

 

Oh well that was my first thought, but I use corporate level anti virus program and I actually do not go on any shady websites even for once. I got another system just for that, in which I deliberately do not use my card on that machine. The shadiest it gets would probably be this forum.

I just want people to be extra careful with this stuff. I have to travel again international with two connecting flights and now I am essentially money less since my card is cancelled and I don't have much cash in hand.

 

Corporate level AV doesn't mean anything if you accidentally download a virus. I've probably removed viruses/malware off 200+ business laptops that had Symantec Endpoint or corporate Norton.

That being said, have you tried to contest the charges? Usually there is a time restriction for which charges you will be liable for.

 

I just know that the laptop I use for purchasing things dont have virus. I also reinstalled the os a couple months back and I really dont access any kinds of wierd websites with it at all.

The bank said that since it is at the processing stage, I need to wait until it is actually charged, and then I can put claims on it and get them removed. It is technically not "charged" yet so I need to just wait and see.

I of course first thought it was the virus. But I literally checked one by one of my internet history since I re did the os and I only accessed google, this forum, dell, foxnews, amazon, facebook, youtube, and hotmail. Literally no other website and haven't downloaded anything.

I didnt make the thread to prematurely hint that it could be the Dell Chat. I am 99.9% sure it was the agent. I rarely use the card as well as I use cash more often. Also the card was created in the past April, and for the past 2.5 month I did not use it at all, until I purchased the AW.

I am sure I will never use the Dell Chat to purchase anything. I will always go through the secure transaction online through the website.

 

I am going to see if the law enforcements could be involved. The companies that are used for is not so popular ones and their websites do not look so legit, but hopefully I can try to find out the IP address or just even the name of the person who made the transaction.

 

I remember when i chat with a dell sale rep, they told me up front to never give up personal information like credit/debit/ss number because it is logged.

 

it could be Dell and it could be anyone.. in every place you can find the good and bad, one time I got a call from my bank saying that my creditcard was copied and the funny thing is I never used it anywhere since it was a new one lol so someone got access to the database somehow..

It is a good thing that they stopped the payments and they noticed it..