When did having Cell phones become mandatory in the USA???

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

The last time I activated a new card that bank didn't ask any questions. I called their number, dialed in the card number and the CVE, and they didn't even transfer me to a person. The automated voice told me the card was activated, reminded me to peel off the sticker and thanked me, and I was done.

That is the way it should be. For someone to successfully fake my authorization they would have to do do the following after, somehow, knowing that I was, in fact, requesting a new card in the first place.



1. Intercept the credit card envelope which is rather plain and is easily missed. This would requires someone to search my mail box every day.



2. Find out my date of birth and SSAN. Probably not that hard to do.



3. Somehow spoof their phone in order to resemble my home phone number.


4. Intercept and block the confirmation/welcome E-mails from the credit card company.



All to be able to spoof the credit card company for one billing cycle, unless the crooks will continue to search my mail and intercept the bills


I understand that it is the credit card's money that is at risk and they need to take reasonable precautions. But at the same time, it that make it that difficult to use their credit card, I have lots of choices to choose from that may not put me through this.



I don't have any research to back this up, but I doubt that a significant amount of credit card fraud is done with false authorizing. It is much more likely that a store/company/website will steal the number after it was authorized.