Debit / Credit Cards Stolen through Western Union SpeedPay system
Posted By admin on January 4, 2012
This post is sort of unrelated to my ventures in real estate in Denver, but I am using it as an outlet for a MAJOR frustration I’ve had over the last 8 months.
In a nutshell, I had 8 different credit cards / debit card numbers stolen and used for online purchases in 2011 (one round in May and one round in Nov-Dec). By the last time, I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out where these thieves were getting my card numbers. Was it my nanny stealing them straight from my wallet? Was it someone breaking onto my wireless? Was it an unsecure internet transaction?
I had initially suspected Denver Water as a possible source of intercepting my numbers, for the sheer reason that I used all those cards to pay my water bills for 3 properties I own. Those were the only transactions common to all accounts that had fraud. In fact, for 2 of the accounts, the Denver Water bill was the only transaction I used the cards for. When I say “Denver Water” I actually mean Western Union Speedpay, because that is the 3rd party that actually processes the Denver Water payment online.
I suspected Denver Water, but didn’t have proof until now!!!!! One of my accounts with Denver Water had an incorrect zip code. My bank provided info on one of the fraudulent transactions and I noticed that zip code was used as the billing cardholder zip. Denver Water is the only place in the world where that zip is associated with my address. I don’t know how the transaction was even approved in the first place with an incorrect zip code, but it went through and LUCKILY for me I caught it. I brought this to the attention of my banks as well as to Denver Water (who will be bringing it to the attention of Western Union). I will keep you posted on how it turns out.
I am mostly looking to make others aware of what happened to me. If you have used Western Union’s Speedpay system and have experienced your card numbers being stolen and used fraudulently, there might be a connection! Feel free to leave me a comment if you have experienced something similar…
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For two months in a row my Amex card has been fraudulently charged. My most recent fraud happened days after I payed my electric bill for national grid Massachusetts. The national grid site uses western union speed pay. My Amex account was a brand new number thanks to the fraud last month. I used it for the first time online to pay my electic bill and 2 days later Amex was contacting me about fraudulent charges. I suspected western union speed pay and now that I found your story through a google search I am even more suspicios. I am so frustrated!!!
I live in the Midwest and somebody in Europe had stolen my card number somehow in October and ran several fraudulent charges. Never found out how they got it but my card was deactivated and reissued with new numbers. 3 months later I got fraudulent charges on the new card from Ireland. The only place I used my card online since the reissue was with a utility bill through western union speedpay. I used before the first card number was stolen as well. No more speedpay for me. I don’t trust their security.
Just happened to me 3 times in the past year. I also suspected Denver water/Speedpay because I too used several cards with them (all now compromised) but now I’m positive. New paypal debit card, new fraud charges all over europe and baltimore.
Same thing happened to me. I tried calling Western Union, National Grid, and the FBI but they are clueless. I also told the visa and mastercard security departments multiple times it is probably national grid/speedpay with no luck. If it turns out to be speedpay they should refund their “convenience” fees for the past year.