Seller of credit card info caught

By The Nation

Police arrested a Chaiyaphum man for allegedly selling credit-card data via the Internet at Bt1-Bt8 per piece. The man reportedly confessed to doing this for four months and earning Bt60,000.

Former salesman Krissada Nulao, 24, who was arrested in Khon Kaen in a police sting operation, was presented at a news conference yesterday along with a notebook computer, two mobile phones, three ATM cards, two bankbooks and one compact disc containing credit-card information.

The arrest followed a tip-off by the Credit Cards Club at the Thai Bankers Association that criminals stole credit-card information and sold in on websites.

Krissada reportedly confessed that he got the information from a friend, who got it from people working in a bank, while other information was obtained by hacking. He declined to give details about how they obtained the information, saying those who hired him were watching. Police are considering issuing arrest warrants for his alleged accomplices soon.

The police investigation initially estimated that 100,000 pieces of credit-card information had been leaked and sold to websites.

-- The Nation 2011-03-09

Oooh - what? More corruption and this time from within the banks but from what level - clerical? No - could not happen. I wonder when it will emerge internationally Thailand seems to be the expert in finding 'consumer' ways to scam money and diversify criminal activities that know no bounds. And they were busted from a tip off from the Credit Cards Club? There is a credit card club? Maybe they had to get rid of the competition...

Oooh - what? More corruption and this time from within the banks but from what level - clerical? No - could not happen. I wonder when it will emerge internationally Thailand seems to be the expert in finding 'consumer' ways to scam money and diversify criminal activities that know no bounds. And they were busted from a tip off from the Credit Cards Club? There is a credit card club? Maybe they had to get rid of the competition...

My bank in Mexico charged me for life insurance that I refused to sign for. It was taken from my account I launched an investigation, the girl who forged it got commission. With the threat of losing her job she returned the money the bank had taken out plus five dollars, to my apartment, after work.

I guess that total protection from theft of your or my credit card numbers may be very difficult, especially if the card number thieves are bank employees.

But there are actions you can take to mitigate the risk. For example it is a regulation of the Bank of Thailand that merchants are forbidden to print the first 3 groups of four numbers on their own copy or the customer copy of the actual transaction slips. If they are following the regulations then the slip (both copies) should look like this: XXXX XXXX XXXX 1234 etc.

Although it is a firm regulation (basically law) of the Bank of Thailand many merchants don't know about it or just ignore it.

Some shops, example; large up front home building materials / products retailers also type your number and name into their own database, and this is also illegal. My understanding is that some retailers, if they have your name and number, can, for a fee buy your address, so that they can send promotions materials etc to you.

I've had my card number stolen (on one specific card) three times in Thailand resulting in a nightmare of further paperwork, phone calls everywhere to get the illicit charges cancelled.

Nowadays when I use my cards, i watch carefully and if all the numbers have been printed by the merchants machine I grab both copies are scribble out the first three groups of digits. If the cashier objects I explain that they are breaking the law.

Also, I grab the card back before they have a chance to start typing the details into their own database.

Another point, my bank manager informed me that Visa, Mastercard etc., have policies saying that if your card numbers have been stolen / used more than three times, then you are now also a serious suspect in regard to the theft of credit card information.

Edited March 9, 201115 yr by scorecard

Good info. on the first 3 groups of 4 # on credit card I had no clue.When I get to Thailand I'll watch out for that.thank you