I like my sleep. I love getting a tight eight hour regiment in to fuel my day. So, when my cell phone rang early that morning, pulling me out of my sleep, I let it continue, but the damage was done. I was up for good. I looked at the missed call notification to find that it was my bank that called and left a voice mail. I returned the call to the bank to see if there was an issue at all, and there was in fact a problem.
“Hi. This is (employees name of the bank) here I noticed some interesting activity and I want to go over the past transactions.”
My heart dropped, I clutched my phone, “OK.”
“Did you spend $138 at Wal-Mart in Alexandria? $38.30 for SIMCO? Also, did you spend $20.25 at Wendy’s?”
“No. No that wasn’t me either, except for Wendy’s that was me.” I had treated friends to a fast food lunch during a hang out. That was when I had three hundred dollars left in my, generally pretty comfy, bank account.
“Well, I need you to come in to sign fraud papers either today or tomorrow to get this all straightened up. I’ve already ordered you a new card as close to your previous design.” She informed me. My card was an aquatic scene with bright fish swimming on the plastic. I got a lot of compliments from my card, maybe a thief liked the design as well as the money entitled to it.
“OK, thank you I’ll come in as soon as I can.” I replied, anxiety rose up in my chest my stomach tightened.
When the call ended and I hung up the phone, I scrambled onto my internet instantly. “It can’t be true, “I mumbled to myself respectively. I held my breath as the web page that showed my funds finally popped up. $205 was swallowed up by someone’s shopping spree at Wal-Mart. Tears ran down my face, anger bubbled up to my chest. I worked so hard on that money, making subs, answering phone calls and slapping out dough for the past few weeks, gone. I wanted to call the bank and ask what the criminal bought at Wal-Mart to have the capability to spend $138! Food? Clothes? Movies they were dying to own for date night or something? Wal-Mart is well known for their great deals, how did this purchase round up to a hundred plus dollars? What in the world was SIMCO??
Soon after, I went to the bank in order to have fraud papers processed in order to be reimbursed from the crime. I asked how in the world the imposter got my card information, because I was careful of my purchases and always had my wallet in tow. She informed me that people have scanners now that have the capability to read the card number and expiration date even from the wallet to online shop.
Because of the amount of fraudulence, you can have a card protector or a card with a chip for extra security. I think I know what is on my wish list…
