credit card use help

[artsygal]

SWIM has a credit card from bank with small limit. SWIM uses bank account on same bank in another's identity, but same address as residence. How to safely use it? Got some stuff at a trade show, no ID asked for, gave fake address. Should SWIM report card stolen now and get another? Just not pay on it? (Then can't get more eventually, though). There is still a small amount left, but SWIM is wary of raising red flag.

[odin_dax]

SWIM has a credit card from bank with small limit. SWIM uses bank account on same bank in another's identity, but same address as residence. How to safely use it? Got some stuff at a trade show, no ID asked for, gave fake address. Should SWIM report card stolen now and get another? Just not pay on it? (Then can't get more eventually, though). There is still a small amount left, but SWIM is wary of raising red flag.

I'm having trouble what you're really asking. You have a stolen card from a bank where you're also customer? or you have a fake identity that's registered to your real address?

[Th0r]

I'm having trouble what you're really asking. You have a stolen card from a bank where you're also customer? or you have a fake identity that's registered to your real address?

I also don't understand. Try to be coherent in future, it appears as though you missed out several words...

XxXxX

People listen!

Coherent post below!

[artsygal]

I also don't understand. Try to be coherent in future, it appears as though you missed out several words...

My apologies. OK, the bank account is of someone SWIM knows, used to live together, know all their info and they are no longer a US citizen and don't care. SWIM has the bank account still, for years. Applied, in the person's name, for a credit card on a lark (they have poor credit) and got one from the bank. Was gonna save it for just emergencies, but there was an item SWIM wanted at an expo, and went for it. Made a few purchases there. The merchants didn't ask for ID, and the slip filled out after transaction has different address than SWIM'S own and what's on the card (the same).

So my question is, is it better SWIM report it lost as the person, feigning horror...or just let it sit and mess up the person's credit and any further chances of getting more cards? Just wanted to know the risks. Less than 2K was spent, and there's a few hundred left on the balance.

[redjoker]

address than my own and what's (the same).

What happened to SWIM? You don't really know what you're getting yourself into. You fucked up by posting this on a public forum. When you ordered the card you probably fucked up again and they will be able to trace it back to you. Damage control says stop while you're ahead.

[RoundElephant]

What happened to SWIM? You don't really know what you're getting yourself into. You fucked up by posting this on a public forum. When you ordered the card you probably fucked up again and they will be able to trace it back to you. Damage control says stop while you're ahead.

I concur.
Edit everything right away. Purge your house of everything pertaining to the credit card. Deny everything.

[odin_dax]

It's technically credit card fraud, so I would take red's advice and quit while you're ahead, since you're so worried about it. You had your fun with one spare card lying around, and it sounds like the dude you stole it from isn't coming back to the US. If there's a chance he does come back, it probably will lead back to you after an investigation. If that's the case, I'd pay him off.

Do what you feel is best course of action addressing the most likely scenario.

[artsygal]

What happened to SWIM? You don't really know what you're getting yourself into. You fucked up by posting this on a public forum. When you ordered the card you probably fucked up again and they will be able to trace it back to you. Damage control says stop while you're ahead.

Well, SWIM thought that banks just write off these small amounts. What's to stop people from calling in on a purchase and denying they did it? I guess merchants can still get chargebacks for it. SWIM can just pay it while it's no interest. They just wondered what might happen under those two scenarios. There is no chance at all of the person coming back. They already owe on some big school loan or something, tons of money.

They wouldn't trace the card...why? SWIM has been using this bank account well for several years. Just to deposit legitimately. They just extended credit.

[artsygal]

It's technically credit card fraud, so I would take red's advice and quit while you're ahead, since you're so worried about it. You had your fun with one spare card lying around, and it sounds like the dude you stole it from isn't coming back to the US. If there's a chance he does come back, it probably will lead back to you after an investigation. If that's the case, I'd pay him off.

Do what you feel is best course of action addressing the most likely scenario.

Does anyone know what banks do when someone reports they lost the card, and some unauthorized charges are made? Don't they charge the merchant? Write it off? Would they investigate when it's not that much? Just always been curious.

[odin_dax]

Does anyone know what banks do when someone reports they lost the card, and some unauthorized charges are made? Don't they charge the merchant? Write it off? Would they investigate when it's not that much? Just always been curious.

Credit card fraud is always investigated.

[redjoker]

The bank takes the loss. You think just because it is a small amount of money no one will care? Interest grows very rapidly on credit cards in case you didn't know. If they ever pick up this case you're fucked. So far they think it is just your friend being irresponsible as usual. If an overzealous collection agent gets on this they might detect fraud. Any collections agent worth their salt will track your friend down and call them. They know it probably won't help them get their money (commission baby) back, but that will never stop them. What do you think your friend will say once the collection agent is reading off all the debt they owe? Once the agent discovers that they are a victim of identity theft they will call the police. Identity theft is a serious crime. You will do far more time for stealing someones personal information and opening/maxing out accounts in their name than you would if you beat the shit out of them, took their wallet, and bought as many ipods as possible with the credit card in their wallet. Just because you think they are your friend and you don't see any real harm with this doesn't mean it isn't serious. I'm only describing one way of you getting raped by the long dick of the law. There are many others, but I don't feel its really necessary to tell you that, after years of meddling with someone's identity you've most likely left behind a lot of really big clues screaming that you are guilty as hell.

Like I said earlier, you really don't know what you're getting yourself into. The best advice I can give you now is too pay that shit off, close the accounts, and find the best attorney for white collar crimes that you can.

This kind of shit is best left to the professionals. You don't ever really hear about them because they hardly ever get caught. Those that do usually only get busted for a mere fraction of what they were really doing. People like you are the ones that get ass raped the hardest by the law, media, and big black cell mates. You will just be another notch on the belt of someone 'fighting the good fight' regardless of how insignificant your crimes.

Keep in mind that you are very luck you haven't been detected yet and you will be even luckier if they don't figure this out in the future. You see the thing about the future is that current shit changes. New laws, treaties, arrangements between banks, your friend's choice of living outside the US, technology and police training, etc. But by all means, if you think having your door kicked in, a gun shoved in your face, and the sparkle of the new bracelets they will slap on your wrists then report the card stolen and max that bitch out again.

[artsygal]

jeez...so far they don't think anything. Other than this person has had a bank account in good standing for over a decade. A collection agent would be calling SWIM. Those school loans should be problematic, but all that happens is a letter once in a blue moon. No garnishments, nothing. SWIM isn't, and hasn't been opening account all over to max them out. This was a fluke. There is no reason for an attorney at all. What's to figure out? There's no reason to close the account (other than the interest rate is the highest allowed by law-talk about rape).
If the card got maxed and not paid, collections would think that SWIM is the person and just attempt to collect the debt.
It's too hard to explain this I suppose without giving more than vague information about SWIM's situation. I only wanted to ask, because the items purchased were at some expo, no cameras, etc. It would be feasible that a new card was lost there, and someone would buy some shit on it. SWIM read a lot of stuff that said they basically close the card and mail a new one if this happens, even if it's internet purchases. Which SWIM would never do. But ok. Got the point.

[RoundElephant]

I still suggest deleting all your previous posts to destroy all evidence.

[Th0r]

Or how about erase everything linking you to your account here so the posts you have made can still educate? That's one solution.

What happened to SWIM?

Everybody knows they are talking about themselves so it's fairly pointless.

[artsygal]

Or how about erase everything linking you to your account here so the posts you have made can still educate? That's one solution.



Everybody knows they are talking about themselves so it's fairly pointless.

Yeah, that's what I thought about the SWIM thing. I'm trying to remember what's linked to my account lol. Like the email address I signed up with? I didn't sign up with anything under my own stuff, which is good.

[odin_dax]

Paying it off and talking to your friend is probably the best bet. By all likelihood, it sounds like someone will knock on your door eventually. :cop: