Credit Card Fraud ..

Probably all 3.

My mom had her identity stolen years ago. There was a police officer at my house talking to her about everything. She dealt with the bank where checks were written and cashed. I can't remember if they used her cc's or not.

 

If they made this a crime punishable by a mininum 10-year prison sentence the problem would vanish instantly. But law enforcement doesn't care, CC companies don't really care, and even the businesses that were defrauded don't seem to be that concerned about it. They just turn it over to a collection agency and let them go after the real person. The burden of proof is then pushed onto the victim, and it is a huge PITA to avoid a hit to their credit rating or worse.

If someone walked onto a BMW lot and stole an M3 they would be caught by sundown, if they use your credit to "buy" one it would be months or even years of free driving for them until is found and repossessed. They likely get off scott free and do it again.

The thing is, this never happens to the business entities like corporations, and ironically rarely happens to extremely wealthy influential people as well. So there is no real sense of urgency to effect change through legislation.

Three years ago I learned someone used my SS# for a $900 emergency room visit at a regional clinic in Alabama a decade ago. Spoke with the billing, thought it was straightened out (used his name and DOB, my SS). Then I started getting collection agency letters and after a few more calls and letters thought I had it straightened out again. Go to refinance my house 18 months ago and the damn thing is still listed again as an open collection, dinging my credit score 40+ points. Luckily even with that it was high enough to still qualify for the best rates, but I was livid. Now after more formal letters to all credit agencies, speaking with the clinic at least 10 times, and threatening to sue their collection agency for harassment it appears to finally be resolved. Until I get another letter demanding $900 that is...

 

Just have him call the CC company and tell them what he knows. That should be done immediately when you find there's a problem.

 

This.

 

Call credit card company first and foremost. They will cancel charges, deal with the store, and issue a new card...the important stuff.

 

I investigate this stuff for a living. #1, NEVER assume you know how did it because 99.99% of the time you are wrong unless the charges are happening in your hometown area (then someone may have accessed the actual card ie: daughter/son/sibling). If he thinks a coworker stole the # then have him ask the bank if the acct # was swiped(POS01) or keyed (POS90). If it was keyed in an area local to where he lives then maybe he has a point.

Your friend does not have any liability to the transactions. My best friend had the same thing happen to him last month and he was hell bent on finding the person. I told him to settle down and file a fraud affidavit with the bank let them deal with it.

 

Yep.