Debit / Credit Cards Stolen through Western Union SpeedPay system
teamdesign | 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…