By Xavier Smerdon
A POINT Cook victim of identity fraud is using her experience to warn others of the potential risks they may not even know they are taking.
Christine, who did not want her last name published, first started to suspect that someone had taken her for a ride when she checked her bank account last month.
“I’m not a person who checks my bank account regularly, and one day I just checked my account out of curiosity to see whether my boss had paid my salary,” Christine said.
“I noticed that there were many irregular transactions which freaked me out.”
A clever thief had used Christine’s credit card details to spend $2300 in just seven days by visiting hotels and eating in expensive restaurants.
“I started thinking to myself, when have I gone to that restaurant and when have I been ordering these things online,”she said.
She immediately called her bank who said they would investigate the matter.
As the investigation continued and Christine waited more than a month to get her money back, details emerged of how the “scumbags” had managed to funnel so much cash from their victim.
“The bank called me and told me it was a really strange case because somehow they had a copy of my drivers licence and my Medicare card,” she said.
“The only way I think they might be able to get hold of all my cards is by stealing my cards while I’m in a restaurant and put it back again after they have a copy of it.”
Christine said she wanted other people to check their bank accounts regularly and make sure they know where all their different cards are all the time.
“Other people should be aware that this can happen to anyone,” she said.
“Be aware and don’t leave your handbag anywhere.”
Christine has since cancelled her credit card and is considering switching banks.
