This AM, I received a call from Detective Sergeant Jason Slaughter of the Radford, VA Police Department. Earlier, I had contacted the Georgetown, TX police department about my little Visa card problem.
While this blog was on hiatus and I was Up North in WI, a Georgetown police detective left me an e-mail message suggesting that I contact the Radford police because of the fraudulent change of address on my Visa account to "305 3rd Avenue" in Radford, VA. When I called the Radford police, I spoke with a Dectective Diaz. He assured me that he would "look into the matter" while I awaited particulars from the Fraud Detection Division of my Visa card issuer.
As it turned out, an investigation of fraudulent activity at the above Radford address was already underway with Detective Sergeant Slaughter in charge. Slaughter informed me that I was "one of many" credit card holders whose account addresses had been changed to the above address in Radford. It seems that an Internet "business" in Moscow, Russia was seeking "associates" to order/receive merchandise using credit card numbers supplied out of Moscow. The new agent — like the woman in Radford — was to order merchandise and have it delivered to the above address. In turn, the merchandise was reshipped to Moscow. The Radford woman was paid $24 per transaction. Detective Sergeant Slaughter characterized the woman as "not very bright." She has been charged with fraud and is cooperating with the authorities.
Slaughter is working with the FBI, the Secret Service, and the State Department (U.S. Embassy in Moscow) on this case. Slaughter was not optimistic that the Russian authorities would cooperate in halting this scam from Moscow. Slaughter also expressed frustration with the U.S. credit card companies who were reluctant to cooperate with his investigation. There seems to be a conspiracy of silence in the face of this fraud. Slaughter said that such scams have been operated out of Canada and a number of European countries. When I asked Detective Sergeant Slaughter how my credit card number came into the hands of this Russian crook, he replied that I had asked the 64 Thousand Dollar Question. Slaughter doesn't know how the card numbers have been compromised, but he guessed that it was a sophisticated electronic operation. Evidently my PIN, my Social Security Number, and my secret security question have all been compromised.
I have changed my Visa card account number and I have changed my PIN. I cannot change my Social Security Number. I feel as if I have a bullseye painted on my back.
Today, I wrote a letter to the Fraud Detection Division of Chase Bank Member Card Services. I told them about Sergeant Slaughter's investigation. I urged the fraud fighters to get in touch with Slaughter and I supplied his name, address, and number.
The irony of all this is that I have never been to Radford, VA, nor have I ever had a credit card transaction with a Russian vendor. If this is (fair & balanced) distrust, so be it.
