Big brother is watching!

[nautiduck]

All right I am paranoid enough about giving out personal info, but this really makes me wonder. I just ordered a new mid priced laptop for the wife because the screen on hers is starting to look like graph paper with all the lines. Anyways, I place the order and they transfer me to a order verification operator. Ok no big deal I figure they are going to ask for the 3 little numbers on the back and to verify billing and shipping addresses. They asked me to confirm my address in VA Beach from over 12 years ago and then another address from another state from over 10 years ago. This is the first time Ive ever been asked about previous addresses for a credit card purchase. Having worked in IT security before I am aware of how easy it is to steal someones ID or other info including personal info off even a sight like this, as well having been a victim of credit card fraud. Hence the paranoia. Has anyone else been asked questions like this. I think I am going to call the company and ask about the verification questions .

[Avenger]

I have. Same thing, credit card verification. Past addresses, addresses of employment etc. Even stranger, mine was done during an automated online purchase with multiple-choice questions.

I know how you feel. My wife was an identity theft victim before anybody knew what identity theft was. It took years to sort it all out and there are still issues.

However, in my case, since the correct answers were already there (meaning they already knew them) and since I had initiated the transaction, I understood that these were safeguards in place to stop the bad guys and protect me. It means somebody's on the ball.

[nautiduck]

Maayybeee... They did have the info already but it still pisses me off because I didnt give them the info or permission to gather the info. The other thing was that even though it was on my account with the business I used my wifes credit card (just paid mine off and I want to keep it that way) they didnt even ask for the name on the card and they still brought up my info. I didnt think it was legal to gather that kind of info without permission. If they want to do an ID verification with a continuing customer they should set something up when they create the account. I understand that alot of info is public knowledge but I have found wrong address info in my credit reports and other reports before.

[marine4003]

Its getting bad, i was in BPW buying a new gizmo and when i charged it..the check-out girl handed me the phone and i was asked 4 questions about past purchases..Christ,i dont remember what i ate for breakfast,let alone what i bought last month,i use my company card anywhere from 2-20 times a day..never have i had the drilling i got,and when i said i didnt remember a "200-300" $ purchase made 8-22..she got rude.i told the checkout girl i would just pay cash,and hung up on AMEX..screw em'.

[scattered_grass]

Nauti,
I work @ a company that does single orders in the thousand$ every day. When I was on the phones taking these orders, we needed to know NAME on the card, BILLING ADDRESS for the card, SHIPPING ADDRESS for your order, and the SECURITY CODE on the back of your card (on the front of AM-EX)...that is it! All that other info. that they wanted from you sounds a little odd in my opinion...I would definitely call the company like you said.

[Avenger]

Maayybeee that's where I got it too. The interesting thing was that it only happened to me on purchases where there was something unusual about the card transaction. In one case I was having trouble with the CCID because I didn't know that it's on the front of a Amex (duh), so it took a couple of tries. That's when the questions started. The other time it was using my personal card, since my account was set up for the business, so the info i.e address didn't match the card. Once you, or they, key in the number all that information like the name and address becomes available to them.

As far as gathering all that information, I'd doubt that it's Tiger themselves. They're probably using a credit verification service who will guarantee the transaction even if it's fraudulent, thus the safeguards to make sure that the charge is legitimate. The wife used to do similar work for a check verification company. Unfortunately, computer retailers seem to be the first place credit card and identity thieves go shopping, so they need to be extra cautious.

The verification service is only using information provided to them, they're not the one gathering the info either, it's the credit reporting agencies. We won't get started on what I think of them because SFC doesn't have the server space for that rant. Unfortunately, they don't need any permission at all to gather that information. And good luck getting credit without them.