[Brad77]

Hi. I am still in South Africa. Leave for NZ on 31 Dec.

Just wanted to let you guys know that I used my credit card to book accommodation at a hotel in Auckland, and to pay for my EOI on the NZIS website and yesterday I found out from my bank here that R20000 ($4000 NZ) has been used in AKL buying from shops, pizzas, and Telecom prepaid cards, all done on the internet.

I am leaving SA because of crime (mostly violent) and before I get to NZ I have already been ripped off by $4000. (it will be refunded by the bank!) but still.

Just thought I would let people know.

[willsken]

Brad that's awful. Did your details get passed on via the hotel or don't they know? Glad to hear you will get the money back though.

[Ana&Steve]

That's terrible! Good reminder to dreamers like me that scumbags are everywhere. :roll Glad you bank is looking out for you!
Ana

[veronica]

Any chance they can trace the internet connection that was used for the fraud.

[jo-and-jeff]

Credit card companies have developed extremely sophisticated techniques for fraud investigation, and they are very aggressive about it. I imagine that Brad's credit card company already knows who is responsible for the fraudulent charges and is preparing prosecution at this point.

Our new BNZ gold cards were stolen, apparently either by a Kiwi Post staffmember or someone who had a duplicate key to our mailbox in a Kiwi Post office, before we ever received them. Just as we were wondering when the cards would arrive, I got a call early one morning asking if we'd used our cards to purchase thousands of dollars of video games and equipment from Electronics Boutique.

I imagine that wherever the thieves had specified delivery, they had a rude surprise awaiting them when they showed up to collect their "order". Banks deal with this kind of fraud quite quickly and severely.

Jo

[Brad77]

Thanks for all the support.

It came as a huge surprise.

I hope that Mastercard can trace these people, even if it is by CCTV or something. They even bought a laptop with MY card. I really hope they didnt try anything illegal with it because I dont want to be investigated by NZ Police before I have even arrived in the country.