I received a non-authorized charge of exactly $10.00 on my credit card from this fraudulent, deceptive, scam site named treedonlainsite.com. Apparently this is a new common scam since e-books are electronically delivered (no physical evidence of non-delivery) and it’s for small amounts ($10 or less) that nobody notices.
Update June 22, 2007: Looking at the comments on this post, it looks like the new hot site wrought with deception, fraud, credit card stealing criminals is elgoodstrade.com. I want to remind everyone to make sure to note what credit company you have, what kind (MC, Visa, etc) and also some of the places that might have your card.
I haven’t checked but I don’t believe I am a victim of elgoodstrade. Treedonlainsite.com definitely got me and that spawned a handful of other charges, including being signed up for two book clubs (Militarybookclub and a big print book club). Strangely enough, whoever signed me up, did it legitimately (well with my credit card), meaning they actually had the books shipped to my house. Weird huh?
Some sites that I frequent are Amazon, Newegg, various clothing/shoe sites that I used my credit card through Paypal for, restaurants etc. Since so many people are hit by the same sites, it has to be one that is large enough YET not too big. It really doubt it’s Amazon because we’d hear a lot more incident reports plus the press would be all over it. And it is not something super small like your corner deli because this affects people across the country.
Update July 10, 2007: Looks like there are two more companies to keep an eye out for – Brookshire Enterprises and Smartemarket.com. Read some testimonials about the later here.
Update August 8, 2007: Guys, I am getting sick and tired of people getting scammed. Do you guys want to work together and shut these two down once and for all? Right now, I want each and every one of you (there’s about 100 victims now, just on this site) to file a complaint with the respective Attorney General’s offices. I even did the legwork for you.
Brookshire Enterprises (Alabama)
Consumer Hotline: 1-800-392-5658 or 334-242-7334
File a Complaint Online: Click here
MOL Resources (Texas)
Consumer Hotline: 1-800-621-0508
File a Complaint Online: Click Here
Update November 11, 2007: It’s been a few months since the last major update and it looks like we have some new players in the game. Check your credit card statements for the following:
MYLIBERIA.COM
MFBPSite.com
smartEmarket.com
Me too, from the exact same page, http://treedonlainsite.com
Thank you for putting this in your blog! The bank is refunding my $10 as I type this.
You’re welcome. Now when you search for the site, there are two hits instead of one.
It happened to me too. Also exactly $10 charged from treedonlainsite.com with a New Jersey phone number. Thanks for posting the info. I called my credit card company right away because of your helpful post.
Me too, on a card we no longer use regularly – $5 on 01/29/2007 – disputing charge right now (if cc company will answer the phone!).
Same here, $10. Thanks for the blog. Seems like they plan this during the beginning of the semester to confuse people even more…
Same here. I have closed the account and am initiating a fraud investigation with Citibank. I wonder where they are getting the account numbers. I haven’t used that account in months and have both cards locked away.
That’s right. Keep the comments rolling in!
Also, interestingly, I have made several calls to the phone number listed on my charge statement and on their website. An answering machine picks up with a heavily accented woman’s voice telling you to leave your name and number and they will call you back. Umm…there is no way in hell that I am providing them with more info about me. I just wanted to let them know that my bank will be investigating them. All of you might consider doing a security closure on your accounts. It’s a simple process where the bank just reissues a new card with a new account number. Then, if they try again, the charges will be rejected.
I had a $5.00 charge on 2/21. Looks like they hit a lot of accounts in a few days.
If I recall correctly, the domain is registered to a man in Northern California. I don’t think calling would really help. It’s obviously not a legitimate company. The site is in on the scam.
Same here $5 on 02/22. I am really pist, submitted for fraud investigation.
Same here $10 on 02/20. I had to closed the account, and also initiating a fraud investigation with Citibank.
My bank gave me a new card, but I’m not convinced they’ll really investigate. That’s interesting that the site is registered to somebody in Northern California, as that’s also where I live. I don’t want to ask anybody to divulge private info, but I’m curious if the rest of you live here and if that’s part of the connection.
It seems like the thing was pretty cleverly set up with an expectation that the amounts would be small enough that nobody would go after them. I bet they’re right, but I hope they’re wrong.
They got me in mid-February as well, and yes I live in Northern California.
East Coast
Me to New york $10.00 on 3/4 don’t know how it happened I never even heard of the site before don’t know how they got my info.
Mine was $15 .. looks like I have the highest so far! =)
Mine was $15. Texas.
Sorry Michelle, Stevie was the first with the $15 charge, so he’s our current leader!
They charged me $10.00 on 2/6/07, but I just noticed it on my bill. I’m in Georgia. Thanks!
THEY GOT ME FOR 15.00 I CHECK CHARGES DAILY SO THEY DID NOT GET AWAY WITH IT.
Stop typing in caps SMITH!
They got me on 2/1 for $15, east coast. what a PITA.
bahstads.
they got me too, only 5 bucks tho. called the credit card company and they said all they could do was close the account, even after i told them what i had found out about the charge.
They got my card with a $15 dollar charge. I am in South Dakota.
This is the domain registration info I found:
TREEDONLAINSITE.COM LLC
Rick Stanford (rickstanford@gmail.com)
1.3094021072
Fax: 1.5555555555
102 Rutgers street e-2
Belleville, NJ 07109
US
This online “ebook store” only has 30 products, all of which are crap. They also only registered the domain name for a year, which to me indicates that they don’t plan on being around next year…
They charged me $10 on 2/23 — I checked my online statement and disputed the charge with Citi today. I also closed the account. I am in Colorado.
I found you through a Google search! I am pissed, a $10 charge from this place, how in the WORLD did they get my number. It’s on my debit card. Am securely emailing my bank, I use that number for so many bills and such…ARGH!
BTW….I’m in OR….
Thanks everyone for posting your state but really, there is no pattern here. Also, as someone pointed out, I made a mistake. The guy is not from CA (I misread it as Stanford, the university). Instead, he is from New Jersey. I think we have enough states covered to show there is no discernible pattern.
$15 is still the winning charge and only a lucky few can claim that title.
I feel sorry for you with crappy credit card companies that cancel cards for any problems. I should know. I have one. It’s called Washington Mutual. Even if you can explain the problem to them, your card will still be cancelled.
Keep the comments coming.
Just got my monthly statement, March 20, 07 with a five dollar charge. Called the number, answering machine, broken English spoken, left name and phone, just to see if they will call. New Jersey phone number. I am in Southern California. Scam, scam,scam! Dime a dozen these days it seems. How will they ever catch them?
I got hit for a treedonlainsite.com fraudulent charge of $10 on 3/1/2007.
I reported it to Visa security on 3/23/2007.
I also got hit with $10. Called my credit card company. They took off the charge and changed my card number.
Next morning, I called and emailed the company. Saw this website and regretted that I had called and emailed them. But to my surprise, they responded to my email and also called me back. A lady asked for the last 4 credit card number and said she would issue a refund. Now I have $10 credit on my new credit card account.
I find that hard to believe Phi!
I got hit for $15. I’m getting a refund. The Credit card co called their # and a woman with an Indian accent answered. She asked for the last 4 numbers of the credit card and said a cridit will be forthcoming. Thanks for the info.
Could not post response. Trying again.
I know it’s hard to believe what I said. You can verify yourself by calling them, nothing to loose. They only asked me the last 4 digit numbers. I don’t like the company either. I think they just charged a bunch of people. If someone calls, they say it’s a mistake and refund the money. If not, they get free money (from us).
$5 charge on 2/1 noticed on our March Capital One account. I’m in Illinois. Have fun trying to resolve through Capital One!
I’ve got another one of those sites for you: elgoodstrade.com
They got me for $5.00 recently. I searched back and found another one $5.00 from almost 11 months ago, this one was a different “digital book” charge. The small amounts of the charges are definitely part of the scheme.
I WAS CHARGED 15.00 MAY 12TH .I CALLED CARNIVAL MASTERCARD TO GET THE NUMBER TO DISPUTE THE TRANSACTION.WHEN I CALLED I FOUND THEY DON’T TAKE INCOMING CALLS.MY BANK IS CREDITING MY ACCOUNT AND SENDING ME NEW CARDS WITH DIFFERENT NUMBERS.I DON’T USE MINE TO PAY MY BILLS ,SO I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY GOT MY NUMBER .
Shari – Please stop typing in fonts. I didn’t think they gave credit cards to six year olds.
I got hit up on the 25th of May (I was in Italy at the time) for $10.00 from elgoodstrade com. I couldn’t figure out what the heck this charge was for since all my other charges had a Euro amount charged on the statement along with the $$$ amount. I googled the site and came up with this site, thus I called my CC company and had the charge taken off my account.
My wife uses ebookwise to download books, and for some reason she went to the ebook website and downloaded 3 books, then realizing her mistake. They credited us back the charge, but looks like somebody is scamming off the site. Thanks for the heads up.
from Massachusetts…..I received a phoney charge ($10.00)for an e book from Brookshire Enterprises 204-4190624 Al (I think it’s Alabama), though that I have not yet investigated. It also is a recording. I think I will notify the authorities…My charge was thru Washington Mutual.
I have noticed a charge on my account for $5 from elgoodstrade.com. I am contacting the bank today! I have never purchased an ebook so I am not sure how they even got my information. Thanks for all the post!
$15.00 charge from ELGOODSTRADE.com on our credit card last week. Never heard of this company until now ~ tried calling the number on the credit card info and got a recording with an Indian woman’s accent. Called my credit card company instead and they are disputing the charge. No idea how they got a hold of our number but it’s irritating.
Glad you all are getting things resolve. Please post your credit card company too. Some deal with fraud a lot better than others.
Just got my statement and i got hit as well, $15.00 dollar charge from Elgoodstrade.com, called PNC Bank to let them know about it AND that i found this site with others that have been hit, she stated the bank will fully investigate and notify the proper officals.
I live in Pennsylvania, very curious how they got our card numbers, i’m very careful where i use it whenever i make a purchase online, i even made sure my virus data base is up to date and did a full scan and found nothing, maybe we should all look to see what our last online transaction was at BEFORE the phoney charge happened, mine was at amazon.com
I want the FBI to nail this bastage.
I got hit by ELGOODSTRADE last week for $10.00. I’m careful where I use the card but there must be a leak somewhere. Have any of you used a particular online retailer or play online games?
(Amazon, Newegg, Blizzard, Sony Online Entertainment, et al)
I got a $10 charge from elgoodstrade.com and looked it up and found this site–thank goodness! I was stumped as to where the charge came from since I don’t use that card. I called Bank of America and they took the charge off but said they wouldn’t investigate unless I got another charge from the same people. What are we supposed to do, just let them keep doing this? I didn’t call the number listed to the fake company since it was not a 1-800 number (it says NY–area code 347), and I didn’t trust that they wouldn’t charge me for the call somehow.
Looks like elgoodstrade.com is the new hot fraud site. I wonder what their angle is. Fake ebooks as well?
I just got the $15 charge from elgoodstrade.com, this site answered my question — I really was tempted just to say “oh well, must have been something I don’t remember, isn’t much money…”
Thanks again!
hondok
Got teh same thing from elgoodstrade.com. Contacted Credit Card Company and let them know. My last charge before this was Amazon.com. Sounds like a pattern
I got hit with a $5 charge from elgoodstrade.com on a card i did not even know i had anymore. The last payment i made on the card was in 2004 and i have not taken it out of my drawer since then…I am a online retailer and it would be interesting to know who is processing their payments. fraud rates this high raise alarms with service providers and they generally will shut them down pretty quick. I have my fraud team looking into who processed the card.
Just got the exact same charge, on a card I haven’t used in six months.
Thanks for posting this. The credit card company isn’t being very cooperative; this Web site should help!
I got hit for $10 6-23-07 by Smartemarket.com. BAC VISA had no problem addressing that. But when I told them that my BAC Mastercard got hit the same day for $15 by MOL Resources LLC for a nonexistant order they said I would have to file a complaint. If you go to MOL Resources site you see it little to offer. Its support email is Support@#.com. Try that and see whatt you get. The telephone and fax are the same and are in San Antonia, but WHOIS says it belongs to a Michael Lunn with a Louisville KY telephone.
Does anyone have any more info on this MOL group?
Thanks,
Ralph
Just got $10 posted on a visa card we haven’t used in over a year. charge listed to Brookshire Enterprises. When we called the company, let our number [yes, kind of dumb of us], and they did call us back. Heavy accents – said they would cancel the charge. After seeing all posted here, I think we’ll have our card changed, etc.
I noticed a $15.00 from Brookshire Enterprises today (dated June 25). Never heard of them; never made a purchase from them. Called my bank (Wells Fargo) and placed the transaction into dispute.
Forgot to mention that I’m in Arizona.
-Jerry
I got a $10 charge on my card from elgoodstrade.com. Capital One said they will investigate. I haven’t used this card in quite some time. No idea how they got the number. I’m in Pennsylvania.
Checking my bankstatement I noticed a $15 charge from elgoodstrade.com. Of course since it is in the midst of being processed I have to wait till tomorrow. You better believe I will notify my bank of this site which has provided such a great venue for sharing about these crooks! I bank with CHASE and they are excellent when it comes to Customer Service so I am sure this will be taken care of quickly.
I bank with Chase too and actually think they are pretty terrible when it comes to just about everything. There are numerous hurdles and delays you have to go through. I am glad I am with them and not Capital One though. Jane, get away as fast as you can.
$10 charge on infrequently used card. M.O.L. RESOURCES LLC – 2108586176 TX
I got a $5 charge on my card from elgoodstrade.com on 7/14/07. Citibank called me today, 7/16/07, to ask me about it. Now the account has been closed because of this fraudulent charge. I’m located in Georgia.
I also got a $10 charge from “Brookshire Enterprises” that I did not recognize. I called the bank, and put it into dispute. It’s records say its a retail distributor of books and magazines, etc. I live in Texas.
I live in CA, and received on June 17 a $10 charge as well from M.O.L. Resources LLC. Called up credit card company (mentioned in previous posts) who removed the charge easily in less than 5 minutes. Maybe they suspect something now. I am closing the account as this is the second time a small charge like this has happened.
On a side note, interestingly they said that if this is a reoccurring charge, that even if the account is closed, then the account will be reopened and charged, and will be more difficult to close.
I live in KY and noticed a $15.00 charge on my debit card account as well. Brookshire Enterprises in Alabama.
Did a websearch, found this site and immediately disputed with my bank.
Twice now I have had a mysterious charge on my Visa/debit card for $10.00, this last one was from ELGOODSTRADE.COM, found it when I was balancing my checkbook, could not remember charging a flat $10.00 or the company. I did download an e-book from a reputable jewelry making web site that I have often. I wanted to say thanks for this information. I’m with Chase Bank in Ohio, will have to contact them in the morning. Sorry I didn’t catch the first one.
I live in VA. I discovered a $5.00 charge on my charge card from Brookshire Enterprises, which I disputed immediately. The charge card representative told me to call the phone number for Brookshire and tell the company to cancel the “service” for which I was billed. Otherwise, the charge can show up month after month. I got voice mail. What a surprise.
Keep it coming everyone. We are exposing this new scam, one vendor at a time. What really surprises me is many of these companies *will* refund your money if you ask. So are they in on the scam (or the scammers themselves) or do they contract with the thieves and “act” innocent, OR are they indeed victims themselves, getting flooded with lots of fake orders?
$5 charge from “MOL Resources LLC 210-858-6909 TX”. I tracked down their website at mol-ebooks dot com (I don’t know if this forum will hyperlink automatically so I’m not typing it in URL notation). They also pretend to peddle e-guides, including the amusingly-named “E-Guide: How To Write Your Own E-Guides”. I have no idea if they would actually deliver an e-guide if you ordered one.
The credit card company (VISA) reversed the charge and said to contact them if further charges appear.
I sent an email to the AG’s of Alabama (the state where Brookshire Enterprises apparently does business) and Arizona (my state) with an explanation of what seems to be emerging. I included a link to this blog.
I couldn’t file a formal complaint since my bank reversed the charges. However, I just wanted to let the AG’s know about what’s going on…in the hopes that they see merit in pursuing this.
Maybe the next step is to contact Chris Hansen.
Way to be proactive Jerry!
I would appreciate it everyone posted as much information as possible. Without getting into a lenghty speech about how google (or search engines in general) work, the only way people will find this site is if we give them as many keywords as possible. Many of you have already done a great job, typing out full company names. What would be great is if we could start including extra information that might appear on your credit card statement such as how the name appears (usually IN CAPS and abbreviated), the city and state of the business, and the phone number.
I received a response from the Arizona Attorney General’s office who has encouraged me to go ahead and file a formal complaint despite not having suffered a loss (due to reversing the charge). The AG official said that information sent to them must be “officially” submitted, which means by filling out a form and sending it via fax or snail mail. Another acceptable sumission method is to fill out an online form.
I’m posting this update to encourage anyone who’s experienced this fraud to file a complaint with the AG of his/her state as well as the AG of the state where the offender does business. In my case, the company that fraudulently charged me is in Alabama.
The bank statement line item for my fraudulent charge reads:
BROOKSHIRE ENTERPRISES 205-4190624 AL. 15.00
I received a $10.00 charge on my business credit card from “MOL RESOURCES, LLC” in Texas. I have contacted my credit card company and have a new card. I gave them the information on the site, etc. Has anyone called this company to complain? The cc company rep asked me if I contacted MOL and I told her no, but I would be willing to do so. She said I didn’t have to, but I’m wondering if I should call and complain anyway. This is infuriating, as I’m a small business owner and this is taking up a lot of my time.
I just filed formal complaints with the Ohio Attorney General (I’m in Ohio) and the Texas Attorney General about the fraudulent charge of $10 to my card by MOL Resources LLC. Their number is 210-858-6176. Fax number is the same. The 210 area code is San Antonio Texas, Bexar County.
I also called the “company” and left a message. Like they’ll get back to me….
Add me to the list.
BROOKSHIRE ENTERPRISES charged $5.00 on 6/17/07. Called the number on the credit card bill and they want an e-mail sent to support@brookshire-ent.com -or leave a message. They said to include your name and a number to reach me.
I will try my luck at disputing the bill with my credit card company first, instead of giving them even more information about me than they have now.
I live in Minnesota. The card used has been no used for several months. Am I seeing a pattern here? k I will tell my I think I will tell my credit card co that the account has been compromised and have them issue a new card and number.
This $5.00 charge showed up on my VISA:
Transaction Date: 07/07/2007
#M.O.L. RESOURCES LLC
I did a web search and found this blog. Thanks for having this on the web. I also found this site:
http://mol-ebooks.com/
http://mol-ebooks.com/products.php
http://mol-ebooks.com/contacts.php
It appears they have changed their phone number… compared to the one in an earlier post.
Just contacted my credit card company and they took care of the charge and gave me a new number and sent me new cards.
I have no idea how they got my card number. It scares me to think of how these thieves do this! They must purchase a whole bunch of credit card numbers that someone has either collected or stolen from some database. Like somebody hacked into someone’s database and stole a bunch of credit card numbers. It’s very convenient to shop and pay for things online, etc. But, these types of scams make my skin crawl.
Hi,
I just received a bill from a VISA card account that I had not used in over 2 yrs. Very suspicious. The $5.00 charge was from BROOKSHIRE ENTERPRISES with an Alabama phone number. I called my credit card company and they credited my account over the phone. The “transaction” was on 7/13/07.
Thanks for setting up this BLOG and making folks aware of this scam… I found this site using Goggle with the phone number on the transaction.
BTW … Bank of America has started a service where they will send you an email whenever a transaction occurs on a checking or credit card account. I don’t know if other banks/credit unions have this feature but I find it handy. The bogus transaction was on another bank’s card.
Jim
I just got hit for $5 by ELGOODSTRADE.COM transaction date 6-22-07. live in MA. only use the VISA for 2 reoccuring (monthly) charges.- no electronic books
I just got a charge on July 9th from the same MOL Resources LLC. Since I deal with internet security it seems like online fraud as well as possible identity theft as they are obviously trying to capture more information from people now from farming their complaint line.
Reported it as fraud to my CC company but I am sure they will do nothing. I also sent and filed a complaint to the Attorney General’s office. This is also a card of mine that I haven’t used in years.
Here is the information of who that fake site is registered too in case more people want to take action:
Domain name: MOL-EBOOKS.COM
Registrant Contact:
-
Michael Lunn (lunnmichael@yahoo.com)
1.5024709128
Fax: -
8271 Liberty Park
Boerne, TX 78015
US
I called those crooks at MOL Resources LLC after having been scammed for $10 and they actually called me back and responded to emails and gave me an email address that they said my order came from. I don’t believe them. I reported them to the PA Attorney General’s office but I have no idea what will come of it.
Well, did the email match up Harold? Someone should ask them how many of their transactions are fraudulent.
I was charged $15.00 on July 5th from MOL Resources LLC.
I reported it as fraud to my CC company and California and Texas AG’s. Since the card people were so cavalier about the apparent fraud, I think cancelling their card is a just reward. I’m looking for a Federal agency to file a complaint with since they are trafficking across state lines. Anybody have some info?
Here is what information I’ve found on M.O.L Resouces LLC in case more people want to take action:
Phone Number: 2108586176
FAX Number: 2108586176
City:SAN ANTONIO
State:Texas
ZIP Code: 78205
HB Dean – What credit company did you deal with?
I too have been scamed by MOL Resources on a Citibank account. When I call David returned my call but when I returned the call my calls were blocked and now thw phone is disconnected.
I just disputed a $15.00 charge from Brookshire Enterpriese made on my Chase VISA. The number they gave me for Brookshire was 205-419-0624.
I just disputed a $15.00 charge with my CC company from “MOL Resources LLC”. CC company said the charge is officially disputed and I’ll be getting the dispute form in the mail within a week or so. This is an infrequently used card, but I do use it for amazon and paypal among other misc. things (altho NOT MOL Resources hehe).
Thank you so much to all those who have posted about this!
-d
So glad I found this site. I had a $15 charge from MOL Resources LLC on my credit card. It didn’t sound familiar so I figured I’d look them up before calling my credit card company. It looks like I’d better call and dispute the charge as soon as I’m done here. I have a MC through USAA and I don’t expect to have any problem dropping the charge. Maybe because they’re based in Texas it will cause problems for MOL Resources. (Or is this just wishful thinking.) Shortly before this bogus charge I’d used it for travel reservations at Priceline and AirTran.com.
I too, have a bogus charge from M.O.L. Resources LLC ($10) on my nationally known MC. This is a card that I only use for some monthly reoccurring charges. I don’t even carry the card anymore. When I called the company to protest the charge (at 7:30PM on Sun, EDT), after they took my reference number for the charge, (by voice mail) I was informed that they were closed and I should call during normal hours which includes Sunday from 9AM to 9PM. Further, for the first time in 20 years, I was late with my payment of ~$30 for the balance and docked with a $15 late payment fee. I always pay my balance in full. The next bill comes up with this bogus charge. Where did they get my charge number? I am wondering if the credit card company itself is involved with these charges, figuring a person who pays late is such a chump that they may not notice these “extra” charges.
Nalin
I too disputed a charge from Brookshire Enterprises, posted 7/17/2007 to a Master Card. I tried the phone number in your note — no answer any time today. I’m wondering how they have got these credit card numbers! Did you report your card stolen?
I too received a bogus $15.00 charge posted 07/24/07. I called the phone number listed on my credit card statement and got a voicemail to leave a message. I have no clue how they got my CC number as I haven’t used this card in months.
I forgot to mention the charges were from M.O.L Resources
I had this happen about 4 years ago from another scammer, I found out a couple of ways they can charge your number without ever knowing your credit card information. Mastercard seems to have the loosest system as far as stopping the fraud. It amazes me that you can report a fraud like this, and years later they are still able to access the Mastercard system and perpetrate more fraud. If Mastercard would hire some more intelligent people to stop fraud, this would be a truly rare event.
I just found a $10 charge on my statement from Brookshire Enterprises as well. I called Chase and they canceled my account number and will be investigating the fraudulent charge. They also tried to sell me some “identity theft protection” that sounds like fraud by itself, since the Federal Trade Commission’s website says that I’m only liable for up to $50 in unauthorized charges.
Matt – The Identity Theft Protection program they sell you, while a rip-off, is not fraudulent. It has nothing to do with unauthorized charges. It has to do with setting up an early warning system with some “A.I.” to help detect these charges. Notice some people here didn’t notice the charges until some time had passed. The reason is that it was on a credit card that they only kept in the drawer and used for recurring charges (say cable TV or gas). With theft protection, you’d get an email or phone call if something suspicious or out of the ordinary appears on your card.
Brookshire enterprises got me on 7/15 for $10. Chase mastercard. I asked if I should cancel this car and get a new one and they said no. This is some bullshit! How can i track down this place in Alabama? I don’t live that far from there and i’d love to ring these peoples necks!
Wow! I just got a statement today and found a $10 charge from Brookshire Enterprises on my Mastercard that’s been locked up for about 4 years. I did an internet search for Brookshire Enterprises and came across this blog. I called my bank and they said they’d: pass on the info to their fraud department, close and open a new account, and remove the charge. I’m glad this blog is here, or I’d still be scratching my head.
What I find amazing is they are still in business. And in addition, their merchant account (which allows them to accept credit cards) still functions!
Today was my turn. $15 charge from Brookshire Enterprises. Chase Visa said that they’d reverse it out. I told him the adviser that forums like this shows that it’s a scam and I’m concerned. He said there was no need for a new card since there are no other additional unknown charges. Kind of interesting how they wouldn’t suggest a new card. I’m suprised that they are not being more aggressive about this.
Thanks for your blog. Just got hit for $5.00. Company was http://www.smartemarket.com. An LA company using the name of a company closed in Dec. 2006. Called the phone number listed on my visa and talked to lady with Indian accent. Had Capital One visa cancel card number and re-issue. Filed fraud with visa. Thanks.
So….. amazed!! We just got a $5 charge and it amazes me that NO ONE is able to stop these people. They must be so…. rich!! Thanks for your blog so we are kept up to date and don’t have to search and search! We are closing our acct. This is a little scary since we order online a lot and I wonder if this is how they got our number.
I should have mentioned that we were charged by Brookshire Enterprises and when I tried to call their number, I got a recording to e-mail them or leave a message. My cc co., Bank of America, agreed to close the acct. Again thanks, it was good to know about this before I called our cc company so that I could tell them it is a scam and I wasn’t waiting to see what would happen in the future.
I had a $5.00 charge from “Brookshire Enterprises 205-4190624 AL” on my current LL Bean/Bank of America Visa statement. I don’t carry this card – only use it for a few recurring local charges & some internet purchases or charity donations that don’t accept AmEx. I didn’t recognize the charge, searched the internet & found this website. I called BOA. The rep removed the charge but said she didn’t think it was necessary to cancel the card unless additional charges show up. Since I have so few charges on this card, I signed up for e-mail alerts for any charge over $4.00. I use an Amazon Chase Visa for purchases from Amazon & haven’t had any fraudulent charges on it so far.
I just got a charge on my credit card from M.O.L. Resources, LLC. When I called the phone number I got a message to email them and that I could leave my name and number. The charge was for $10.00 for some e-books that I never heard of. The strange thing is, I haven’t used this credit card in about a year, so it’s impossible to tell where they got it from. But I have cancelled the card and warned all I know to watch out for this. Thanks for your column and information.
My credit card company just issued a credit to me for a fradulent charge from Brookshire Enterprises…it was from an old credit card that we never use. I suppose if you don’t keep a close watch on your account, a small charge might not cause you to be curious…however; this company is scamming thousands of people for what ends up to be a large amount of money. The number listed for this company now says “undisclosed”.
My account was charged $10.
MOL RESOURCES LLC 210-858-6909 TX
7/07/14 $5.00
no response from company at the above phone number.
I am in missouri.
capital one,they are investigaing
Just got the $10.00 charge from http://www.smartemarket.com on a FirstUSA card that I had canceled. Thank you scammers. Thank you FirstUSA. I hope it’s canceled now – they promised to send written confirmation.
Well, Brooshire has charged $10 to a Visa card that I have NEVER used. Interesting. I have emailed the credit card company and am happy to have found this website.
MOL RESOURCES LLC 210-858-6909 TX 7/1/07 $10. My cardholder is disputing for me. But I can’t figure how they got my card number!?!
Thanks to all the posters for the helpful information. I would have missed this otherwise.
Scam is still alive and well for Brookshire Enterprises. Found a temp charge for them on Credit Card Aug 5, 2007
charge was $10.00 and said charge was made in Allentown, pa. Actual charge took place Aug 7, 2007 and was from the Alabama location @ Brookshire Enterprises was 205-419
0624AL. Harris Bank Visa notified.
Hello,
I too am a victim of the small charge credit card scam. Luckily, I had an alert set up on my card (one that I don’t use often) to email me if a purchase was made exceeding $1. A $5 charge appeared on my Wells Fargo card from digismarket.com. I called Wells Farrgo, they cancelled the card and are issuing a new one. I have not used this card for almost a year. I did a google search for digismarket and a filing with the New York secretary of State came up:
Selected Entity Name: DIGISMARKET.COM LLC
Selected Entity Status Information Current Entity Name: MITCHELL H. GORDON, ESQ., P.C.
Initial DOS Filing Date: FEBRUARY 09, 2007
County: NEW YORK
Jurisdiction: NEW YORK
Entity Type: DOMESTIC PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
Current Entity Status: ACTIVE
Selected Entity Address Information DOS Process (Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity)
Here is the information I found regarding the website registration:
Registration Service Provided By: NameCheap.com
Contact: support@NameCheap.com
Domain name: digismarket.com
Registrant Contact:
digismarket.com
JOHANNA RAY (johanna.market@gmail.com)
1.6813466445
Fax: 1.5555555555
16 Hudson ST
Selden, NY 11723
US
Administrative Contact:
digismarket.com
JOHANNA RAY (johanna.market@gmail.com)
1.6813466445
Fax: 1.5555555555
16 Hudson ST
Selden, NY 11723
US
Technical Contact:
digismarket.com
JOHANNA RAY (johanna.market@gmail.com)
1.6813466445
Fax: 1.5555555555
16 Hudson ST
Selden, NY 11723
US
Status: Locked
Name Servers:
ns5.secureserver.net
ns6.secureserver.net
Creation date: 04 Apr 2007 21:17:03
Expiration date: 04 Apr 2008 21:17:03
MITCHELL H. GORDON, ESQ., P.C.
303 5TH AVENUE, SUITE 908
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10016
Registered Agent
NONE
Brookshire just got me this month. $5 on a Visa that I never use. Bastards.
BROOKSHIRE-ENT.COM 205-419-0624 AL
Jason, Travis, Curly … do you guys plan on filing complaints with the stage AG’s office? I made it really easy for you in the post.
I just found a $5 charge on my Citi Master Card from M.O.L. RESOURCES LLC 2108586176 TX. After googling the phone number and finding this site I called Citi to dispute the charge and they immediately reversed it. Damn criminals.
Just got that ill-fated $10 charge from “M.O.L. RESOURCES LLC 2108586176 TX” on my Chase MasterCard. The bank is sending me new cards (with new numbers) and is investigating the transaction. They didn’t indicate whether the charge was being reversed, but I’ll be quite peeved, and won’t stand for it if they don’t.
I noticed a $5.00 charge that i did not make dated August 8, 2007. The charge came from digismarket.com and i cannot get a hold of them. I just keep keeping a prompt to leave a message or a busy signal. Digismarket.com is apparently a books and magazine store out of NY but i think we all know its a fraud. I am calling the credit card company to dispute immediately.
Just opened my cc statement today and there was a $5.00 charge from Brookshire. Went online and found this site…thanks so much. Called Chase, they are sending me a new card and investigating. They also tried to sell me some fraud protection which like Matt above is a rip-off. It should be free.
I am in Washington State. I may call the local news channel and tell them of this fraud and also contact the Attorney General.
Thanks for commiserating.
I, too, just received my CC statement, and found a $15 charge from M.O.L. Resources, in Texas. I couldn’t remember anything matching that name, then Googled it, and found this blog. Thanks! Now I know I was scammed, too.
Was charged $5.00 on Visa account, with First National Bank Omaha, not utilized in over a year. Consulted bank, got little cooperation. Finally got them to reverse the charge but I then cancelled my account.
to Leonard- My CC Colmpany is also FNB of Omaha– Today, I called them, and they kept on telling me to contact the merchant, do this, do that, check this, that, and the other– everything but the color of my underwear.
I kept on telling the customer service rep that the charge was fraudulent, but she didn’t seem to hear me. I then said I was not going to pay the amount— NOW, I get a FAX number to send a “written dispute”. When I asked if they had a particular form, she just said: “No. There isn’t any form.” Dead silence….. I asked what do I send in?- Answer: “Send in a written dispute.” I said I’d never done that before, and she didn’t offer ANY help or information. Soooo.. I simply wrote a letter on company letterhead, stating that I dispute the charge, giving the details. Finally, I FAXed over my written dispute of the charges. I’ll have to wait and see what happens. Not looking very good at this point, based on the cooperation the bank gave me.
We just checked our credit card and Brookshire Ent charged us $10–unauthorized. I’m calling my bank now to dispute the charge. I’m just wondering where the heck they got the information to charge us.
Yep, just got slammed for $10 by this company. It was the only charge on this statement so it was soooo obvious. Called the company’s phone number and it directed me to an email. Fat chance I would get to talk with anyone.
Just call the credit card company and had it wiped off!
MOL Resources LLC (210-858-6909) hit my account for $5 on 8/1/07. I got my credit card (AAA Visa) to refund the money and change my account number. I will send a message to the district attorney as well. It’s terrible that these people continue to get away with this for so long!
Actually my credit card (Capital One) called me! They said there was some sort of “breach” of information and they picked up on the $5.00 charge from MOL. I also had to get new credit card number.
I also got hit with a $10 charge by Brookshire Enterprises 7/27 on an inactive card–inactive cards seem to be their MO–how did they get this card number? Called my credit card company (Barclays Mastercard) to report. They told me to call the same number as others have given above (205-419-0624). Did so and got voicemail telling me to email info. Didn’t do that but I did leave them a nasty voicemail with my general office number (not my direct line number) and told them to take the charge off. Then called Barclays back and told them this–they cancelled the card and reported to their fraud unit. I’m also going to advise the Colorado AG’s office of this scam. This is bad. Thanks very much for this site, which clued me into the scam!
I had a $10 charge on a card I had cut up and have not used in over a year from M.O.L. Resources LLC today. I immediately called the credit card company and they’re initiating a fraud investigation.
Thanks for the blog. It was reassuring to know I did the right thing by reporting it immediately.
R
i was also scammed for $15 charged to my credit card by Brookshire Enterprises. I had to call my credit card co. , cancel that card and get a new number. I’ve learned from experience to check my statement every month. Have no idea how they got my no., I never even order anything online. Thanks for the heads up.
If there is just one vendor with a bad employee selling our info, the irony is that there are enough people here that comparing notes would soon finger the suspect. In fact I did prepare a list of my purchases to post here and then thought the better of it. The problem is that many of us probably do business with the same major vendors and innocent vendors could be smeared.
However, this is something a law enforcement agency should do since they could solicit the lists and keep them private. Certainly a short list of suspects would be a great place to start any investigation. I tried filing a complaint with the FTC pointing this out but their online form actually crashed on me. Where do you go to file a complaint about that?
I recieved an unauthorized charge on my debit(visa)card through OnPoint Community Credit Union for 2.95 from Digismarket.com in New York. The website says it is for Ebooks. I called the phone # for them 607-821-2630 and got a recording that they could not answer the phone and to leave a message. I right away called my bank back and put a stop on my card. Two weeks ago I paid my Verizon Wireless bill on line with that card and I think there maybe a leak in there system. It’s the only thing I can think of how they got my debit card #.
Jack, I tried replying to your email but your lame disposable email system sucks.
My credit card Co is investigating my $15.00 charge 07/31/07 from Brookshire…looks like they will reomove it. Thank you for the posting, I may have just let it go as I am sure hundreds of people will. I also filed a complaint to Alabama, thanks to your link.
Yeah they got me too. I just received my credit card invoice for one of my backups that hasn’t been used in years saying I owed $10. Of course it was brookshire enterprises that charged me.
I received a charge of $15.00 on August 12 on my Capital one card by Brookshire Enterprises statement shows this. 08/12/2007 BROOKSHIRE-ENT.COM , 205-419-0624 , AL $15.00 . I filed a complaint with Alabama and I also notified Capital One of the charges.
A Chase Visa card I had not used in nearly two years was charged for $10.00 15-Jul-07. Chase removed the charge and I’ve closed the account. The reference on the statement is “MOL RESOURCES LLC 210-858-6909 TX”
I found this site with the phone number, and have just submitted a complaint with the California AG. In reading the postings, it seems like a common thread is the use of dormant, yet active cards. Some of us either keep the credit lines open (helps with FICO scores), or just neglect to close the accounts (me). If you haven’t requested your free, annual credit report (https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp), now’s a good time to do so. This is the free site, copied from the AG website.
I’m also considering a service like LifeLock (http://www.lifelock.com/) – I’d be interested in comments if anyone has them.
Guess what?!? Brookshires strikes again…hit me for $5. Chase cancelled the card.
This just happened to me, ten bucks on my credit card billed from Brookshire-ent.com from Alabama. I have no idea what this transaction is as i never made it. i will be getting ahold of my credit card people during business hours. i wonder how they are getting our numbers?
Yes, I received a bill from”MOL Resources LLC”, for $10. In which I did’nt purchase anything from them. It was billed to may Citi Mastercard.
My Bank of America Visa card was charged $5.00 on 07/26/07 by DIGISMARKET.COM. I reported the fraud to Bank of America, they cancelled the account, and issued me a new account number and plate. They also made a $5.00 fraud adjustment. I reported this to DIGISMARKET.COM and they refunded the $5.00. They also sent me an IP address and email address of the person(s) (they claimed) who placed this order, and who impersonated my name, address and credit card number. I don’t know if the IP address and email address are bogus, but I will repeat it here:
IP: 68.39.187.211
E-Mail : jostrom41@yahoo.com
I did a trace route to determine the physical location of this IP address:
It is an IP address owned by COMCAST in the State of Pennsylvania
The last two legs of the trace route are:
ge-0-1-ubr01.lowerswatera.pa.panjde.comcast.net68.86.217.146
c-68-39-187-211.hsd1.pa.comcast.net68.39.187.211
I have contacted the following agencies and requested their assistance to prosecute and put these people out of business:
Johanna Ray
d/b/a Digismarket.com
johanna.market@gmail.com
16 Hudson Street
Selden, NY 11723
607-821-2630
681-346-6445
Bank of America Visa Fraud Department
866-344-8899
Sheriff Michael J. DeLeo,
Lebanon County Sheriff’s Office
Room 3, Municipal Building
400 South 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042-6794
FAX: (717) 279-8398
sheriff@lebcnty.org
FBI Regional Office, Philadelphia
philadelphia@fbi.gov
Comcast’s Legal Demands Center (The ISP for IP: 68.39.187.211)
Toll Free Number – 1-800-871-6298
Fax Number – 720-267-2794
Mr. David J. Arnold, Esq.
Office of the District Attorney of Lebanon County
Municipal Building, Room 11
400 South 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042-6794
Phone Number: (717) 274-2801 Ext. 2360
Fax Number: (717) 272-0839
districtattorney@lebcnty.org
Columbia County Sheriff
Honorable Mr. David Harrison, Jr.
County Courthouse
401 Union Street
Hudson, NY 12534-2451
dharr@govt.co.columbia.ny.us
Hon. Edward M. Marsico, Jr.
Dauphin County Office of the District Attorney
Dauphin County Courthouse
Front and Market Streets
Harrisburg PA 17101
(717) 780-6767
FAX: 717-255-1396
Two persons replied that this matter was not in their jurisdiction:
Inv. Anthony C. Brahm
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
85 Industrial Tract, Hudson NY 12534
Detective Michael A. Dipalo
Lebanon County Detective Bureau
400 S. 8th Street, Room # 11
Lebanon, Pa. 17042
(717) 274-2801 ext 2360
What is the best way to put these people out of business? The parties that I have contacted have not responded, or shown any interest in prosecution.
It is good to know that I am not alone in experiencing this problem.
Thanks for your help and support.
Joel S – BRAVO! *applause*. Simply the BEST individual investigatory effort I have seen. I am not surprised that you’ve been met with no responses. Unless we can convince everyone affected to file claims, there’s no reason for a “busy” Sheriff or AG to address a citizen’s need for such a “minor” problem.
You’re also the second person I have seen that has profited from this scam (though not intentionally). Others have reported that if you complain to these companies, they’ll refund your money. So here’s just one take on how the scam works:
The hackers (people who have the CC info) either work with or they are the ebook companies. Think of the ebook company as a money laundering operation, except online. The idea is most people won’t notice the charge and they’ll let it go. So imagine 1000 bad charges a month for $10 a piece. That’s $10,000. Maybe 5% catch it and get a refund. They are still profiting $9500. And they have some degree of deniability, saying they had no idea all these ebook orders were fake, even after dozens (hundreds?) of people have complained.
I was scammed by Brookshire Enterprises, LLC for $10.00. I cancelled my debit card but I can only hope they don’t have my bank account number!
Joel,
Try calling the local PD for Middletown, PA
18 459.238 c-68-39-187-211.hsd1.pa.comcast.net 68.39.187.211 Middletown, PA, United States
Dear sygyzy and others,
First, thank you for making this resource available and for sharing your information. It is good to realize that we are not alone, and to be able to draw upon each other for support, data, and suggestions.
Before continuing, I want to correct a misunderstand. I did not profit by receiving a credit back from DIGISMAKET.COM for $5.00 and a fraud credit back from Bank of America, the Visa card issuer for $5.00 as well. Bank of America explained that they will remove this fraud credit back once they audit my account and see that the merchant has provided a refund.
Of course, I’m sure that you realize that this is not about $5.00. I have already put in nearly 100 hours of research, and time to compose emails and send faxes, in an effort to stop this sort of credit card fraud and abuse. It is unlikely that I will receive any financial compensation for these efforts.
In addition to the previous list of persons whom I’ve contacted, I am adding the following names:
New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo
Via Online Attorney General Web Site Form
http://www.oag.state.ny.us/online_forms/complaint_alert.jsp
Honorable Thomas J Spoda
Suffolk County District Attorney
North County Complex, Building 77
Veterans Memorial Highway
Hauppauge, NY 11788
infoda@co.suffolk.ny.us
Bill Lerach, Esq.,
Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLC
Via Online Web Site Form
http://www.lerachlaw.com/lcsr-cgi-bin/mil?templ=contact/report-fraud.html
(This firm specializes in class action law suits for fraud)
In part, I wrote:
“I am alleging that the above financial institutions (Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, et al), and many others (Comcast, Digismarket.com, et al), are complicit in allowing, aiding, and abetting a common form of credit card fraud involving small merchant charges in the amount of $5 to $10, repeated hundreds of thousands of times, by so-called Internet merchants selling eBooks online, and accepting such orders without proper credit card verification. The banks involved do not prosecute such fraud, nor do they make any attempt to putting a stop to such practices by blocking merchants who engage in them.”
I am also going to include an edited copy of the letter that I sent to Suffolk County District Attorney Spoda, the jurisdiction where Digismarket.com is located, so that you and your posters may use it as a template, and for additional data information:
“August 24, 2007
Honorable Thomas J Spoda
Suffolk County District Attorney
North County Complex, Building 77
Veterans Memorial Highway
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Dear District Attorney Spoda,
On July 26, 2007 my Bank of America Visa credit card ending in XXXX (this was an old account that had been replaced by a new account number and plate, and was last used by me on 02/07/07) was fraudulently used by person or persons unknown to me, without my authorization or permission to make an Internet online purchase from a company called DIGISMARKET.COM. The merchant reported back to me that the party fraudulently using my credit card impersonated my name and address, used an email address jostrom41@yahoo.com (not my actual email address), and an IP computer address 68.39.187.211 (which is also not my actual computer address). This computer IP address is on the Comcast network. Information about the actual user can be obtained from:
Comcast’s Legal Demands Center
Toll Free Number – 1-800-871-6298
Fax Number – 720-267-2794
However, in researching this matter, I have discovered some troubling facts which may be of interest to you, and to Suffolk County law enforcement.
The business DIGISMARKET.COM is owned by a Johanna Ray, is located in Brookhaven Township, Suffolk County and has the following contact information:
Johanna Ray
d/b/a Digismarket.com
johanna.market@gmail.com
16 Hudson Street
Selden, NY 11784-2252 (CORRECTED ZIP CODE)
607-821-2630
681-346-6445
The above information was provided by:
MITCHELL H. GORDON, ESQ., P.C.
303 5TH AVENUE, SUITE 908
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10016
NYS Bar Registration # 1387992 (ATTORNEY # AND TELEPHONE #)
212-909-0300
https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/attorney/AttorneyDetails?attorneyId=5371402
Digismarket.com and Johanna Ray have repeatedly processed fraudulent credit card transactions, as reported online at http://www.sygyzy.com/2007/02/07/e-books-are-the-new-419/
under pretense of selling eBooks (electronic downloadable text files) of dubious interest or value.
Complaints have been lodged against Ms. Ray and Digismarket.com with the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and to a number of financial institutions including Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank, yet this business continues to operate, aiding and abetting fraud and money laundering.
I am alleging that Johanna Ray , d/b/a Digismarket.com is complicit in allowing, aiding, and abetting credit card fraud, in either originating, processing, or accepting such orders without proper credit card verification in total transactions exceeding $100,000 per month. In fact, all credit transactions requires that a 3 digit Credit Verification Code (CVC) be submitted for proper processing, yet Digismarket.com and Johanna Ray have repeatedly ignored and circumvented this anti fraud security measure. This business, in effect, operates as a money laundering venture, whose proceeds may find their way into financing organized criminal and terrorist activities.
Mr. District Attorney Spoda, I’m sure you wouldn’t want to allow such criminal activities to operate in Suffolk County without further investigation or follow up, especially since this matter is being widely circulated to various electronic and print media.
Thank you for investigating this matter, and for ending such criminal activity within your jurisdiction.
Very truly yours,
Cc: Bank of America, Visa Fraud Investigation Unit
FBI Field Offices, New York and other locations
Bill Lerach, Esq.,
Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLC”
I think that this type of letter may put a little more pressure on a District Attorney to take action, instead of mentioning a $5.00 fraudulent charge.
Personally, I think this is a very cleaver illegal scheme, and the bad guys are, so far, a step ahead, having figured out that nobody (except an indignant person like myself) is going to go after them for such chump change.
If more of you could pitch in with similar letters, we all might be able to provoke some action.
Thanks again for your help.
Joel
Yes, I received a bill from ”MOL Resources LLC” for $10. I did not purchase anything from them.
I never heard of them.
It was billed to my credit card.
Joel – I thought I made it clear enough that I didn’t mean you profited, in the conventional sense. Thanks for clearing things up, though. I should also add that I was trying to provoke this type of response (action), even providing AG phone and online complaint forms but few people have used it.
I just had a $15 incident with Brookshire and filled out a consumer complaint on the respective AG site provided above.
Thanks for the infor on this page. If it wasn’t for you I would have thought it was some charge I made a few weeks ago and just didn’t rember I’m sure many people just let it slide.
BTW about the time of the charge my credit card co. had contacted me to let me know my info had been compromised. It looks like the info was stolen from Marshalls, TJ Max or Homegoods.
I just received my credit card statement (a card I haven’t used in a long time, but have neglected to close) and I had a $5.00 charge from DIGISMARKET.com – never heard of them before. I am disputing the charge with Bank of America. How could anyone even get this CC # when I never use the card? We’ll see what happens. Also, reporting this to the NY AG. Thanks for all the info and support! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one!
I have just received a $5.00 charge from “EBOOKS BROOKSHIRE 205-4190624 AL” on my current Bank of America master Card statement. I did not incur the charge. The transaction date was the same as the date my wife used the card to fill mail-order prescriptions from Caremark of 2700 Milan Court in Birmingham, AL. We are required by our State Retirement System in Ohio to fill prescriptions this way. The card had not been used in almost a year and the number has been on file with Caremark for several years. This is the first time anything like this has occurred.
I too just noticed a 6.95 charge from Digismarket.com on 8/25/07, i’m disputing the charge through US Bank and I emailed Digismarket.com and they said they would be refunding my card ASAP…once I get the refund i’ll be canceling my card to make sure this crap doesn’t happen again.
To all the folks who have supported me here,
I just faxed this to Bank of America. This was my 10th fax to them, including perhaps 70-100 pages of my investigation notes, contact information, copies of emails, trace routes, etc.
If all of you sent the same sort of message to Bank of America, or whatever your credit card issuer, I think that would start to turn the tide in our favor. It’s obvious that none of us were involved in causing these bogus charges to our credit cards. The worst thing that anyone can do is to just ignore it, and think that it is not worth the trouble and effort to pursue.
Think of all the satisfaction you’ll have when you learn that DIGISMARKET.COM and these other bums show up in handcuffs in a Federal District Court.
With enough pressure, I think that is a real possibility.
Good luck!
Joel
Bank of America Fraud Division,
ATT: Bryan Hilt
Your Case Number: 07-233-00078-1251
VIA FAX: 302-458-0155
Re: Account No. (Account numbers not shown)
Dear Mr. Hilt,
THE merchant DIGIMARKET.COM has been involved in a number of fraudulent credit card charges as reported by various cardholders of both Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank. Copies of such cardholder reports are shown below, extracted from a consumer credit card fraud web site.
Mr. Hilt, you need to shut down DIGISMARKET.COM IMMEDIATELY! You need to BLOCK ALL TRANSACTIONS from DIGISMARKET.COM IMMEDIATELY.
If you fail to do so, then it becomes apparent to me that Bank of America is a willing coconspirator to this fraudulent credit card abuse. I am alleging that the above merchant, along with financial institutions, and many others, are complicit in allowing, aiding, and abetting a common form of credit card fraud involving small merchant charges in the amount of $5 to $10, repeated hundreds of thousands of times, by so-called Internet merchants selling worthless so-called eBooks online, and accepting such orders without proper credit card verification. Many cardholders overlook contesting such small charges, to the benefit of the credit card issues and the so-called “merchants” who perpetrate these frauds.
I can assure you, Mr. Hilt, that I will be relentless in pursuing ANYONE involved in this fraud, INCLUDING BANK OF AMERICA, if you fail to take appropriate action AGAINST DIGISMARKET.COM and those who have fraudulently used my Bank of America credit card.
I would urge you to get back to me IMMEDIATELY and report what actions you have taken to put a stop to these crimes, and NO LATER than the close of business on Friday, August 31, 2007.
Many individuals can be charged and eventually prosecuted and convicted with theft, grand theft, fraud, wire fraud, identity theft, money laundering, and other felonies and misdemeanors.
I have already contacted a number of local, state, and federal agencies, and retained the law firm of Bill Lerach, Esq., Lerach
Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLC to look into filing a Class Action Law Suit against Bank of America and other parties should they fail to take appropriate actions and allow these abuses to continue. I stand ready, willing, and able to assist you in any way possible and WILL NOT CEASE until this matter is concluded to my satisfaction.
Very truly yours,
(name not shown)
Copies of other complaints against DIGISMARKET.COM follows:
RE: http://www.sygyzy.com/2007/02/07/e-books-are-the-new-419/
Travis Aug 8th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Hello,
I too am a victim of the small charge credit card scam. Luckily, I had an alert set up on my card (one that I don’t use often) to email me if a purchase was made exceeding $1. A $5 charge appeared on my Wells Fargo card from digismarket.com. I called Wells Fargo, they cancelled the card and are issuing a new one. I have not used this card for almost a year. I did a google search for digismarket and a filing with the New York secretary of State came up:
Selected Entity Name: DIGISMARKET.COM LLC
Selected Entity Status Information Current Entity Name: MITCHELL H. GORDON, ESQ., P.C.
Initial DOS Filing Date: FEBRUARY 09, 2007
County: NEW YORK
Jurisdiction: NEW YORK
Entity Type: DOMESTIC PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
Current Entity Status: ACTIVE
Selected Entity Address Information DOS Process (Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity)
Here is the information I found regarding the website registration:
Registration Service Provided By: NameCheap.com
Contact: support@NameCheap.com
Domain name: digismarket.com
Registrant Contact:
digismarket.com
JOHANNA RAY (johanna.market@gmail.com)
1.6813466445
Fax: 1.5555555555
16 Hudson ST
Selden, NY 11723
US
Administrative Contact:
digismarket.com
JOHANNA RAY (johanna.market@gmail.com)
1.6813466445
Fax: 1.5555555555
16 Hudson ST
Selden, NY 11723
US
Technical Contact:
digismarket.com
JOHANNA RAY (johanna.market@gmail.com)
1.6813466445
Fax: 1.5555555555
16 Hudson ST
Selden, NY 11723
US
Status: Locked
Name Servers:
ns5.secureserver.net
ns6.secureserver.net
Creation date: 04 Apr 2007 21:17:03
Expiration date: 04 Apr 2008 21:17:03
MITCHELL H. GORDON, ESQ., P.C.
303 5TH AVENUE, SUITE 908
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10016
Registered Agent
NONE
———————————————————————————–
Sam Aug 11th, 2007 at 8:13 am
I noticed a $5.00 charge that i did not make dated August 8, 2007. The charge came from digismarket.com and i cannot get a hold of them. I just keep keeping a prompt to leave a message or a busy signal. Digismarket.com is apparently a books and magazine store out of NY but i think we all know its a fraud. I am calling the credit card company to dispute immediately.
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Debbie Aug 17th, 2007 at 11:56 am
I recieved an unauthorized charge on my debit(visa)card through OnPoint Community Credit Union for 2.95 from Digismarket.com in New York. The website says it is for Ebooks. I called the phone # for them 607-821-2630 and got a recording that they could not answer the phone and to leave a message. I right away called my bank back and put a stop on my card. Two weeks ago I paid my Verizon Wireless bill on line with that card and I think there maybe a leak in there system. It’s the only thing I can think of how they got my debit card #.
—————————————————————————————
Joel S Aug 23rd, 2007 at 1:14 am
My Bank of America Visa card was charged $5.00 on 07/26/07 by DIGISMARKET.COM. I reported the fraud to Bank of America, they cancelled the account, and issued me a new account number and plate. They also made a $5.00 fraud adjustment. I reported this to DIGISMARKET.COM and they refunded the $5.00. They also sent me an IP address and email address of the person(s) (they claimed) who placed this order, and who impersonated my name, address and credit card number. I don’t know if the IP address and email address are bogus, but I will repeat it here:
IP: 68.39.187.211
E-Mail : jostrom41@yahoo.com
I did a trace route to determine the physical location of this IP address:
It is an IP address owned by COMCAST in the State of Pennsylvania
The last two legs of the trace route are:
ge-0-1-ubr01.lowerswatera.pa.panjde.comcast.net68.86.217.146
c-68-39-187-211.hsd1.pa.comcast.net68.39.187.211
I have contacted the following agencies and requested their assistance to prosecute and put these people out of business:
Johanna Ray
d/b/a Digismarket.com
johanna.market@gmail.com
16 Hudson Street
Selden, NY 11723
607-821-2630
681-346-6445
Bank of America Visa Fraud Department
866-344-8899
Sheriff Michael J. DeLeo,
Lebanon County Sheriff’s Office
Room 3, Municipal Building
400 South 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042-6794
FAX: (717) 279-8398
sheriff@lebcnty.org
FBI Regional Office, Philadelphia
philadelphia@fbi.gov
Comcast’s Legal Demands Center (The ISP for IP: 68.39.187.211)
Toll Free Number – 1-800-871-6298
Fax Number – 720-267-2794
Mr. David J. Arnold, Esq.
Office of the District Attorney of Lebanon County
Municipal Building, Room 11
400 South 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042-6794
Phone Number: (717) 274-2801 Ext. 2360
Fax Number: (717) 272-0839
districtattorney@lebcnty.org
Columbia County Sheriff
Honorable Mr. David Harrison, Jr.
County Courthouse
401 Union Street
Hudson, NY 12534-2451
dharr@govt.co.columbia.ny.us
Hon. Edward M. Marsico, Jr.
Dauphin County Office of the District Attorney
Dauphin County Courthouse
Front and Market Streets
Harrisburg PA 17101
(717) 780-6767
FAX: 717-255-1396
Two persons replied that this matter was not in their jurisdiction:
Inv. Anthony C. Brahm
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
85 Industrial Tract, Hudson NY 12534
Detective Michael A. Dipalo
Lebanon County Detective Bureau
400 S. 8th Street, Room # 11
Lebanon, Pa. 17042
(717) 274-2801 ext 2360
What is the best way to put these people out of business? The parties that I have contacted have not responded, or shown any interest in prosecution.
It is good to know that I am not alone in experiencing this problem.
Thanks for your help and support.
—————————————————————–
js1997 Aug 25th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
I just received my credit card statement (a card I haven’t used in a long time, but have neglected to close) and I had a $5.00 charge from DIGISMARKET.com – never heard of them before. I am disputing the charge with Bank of America. How could anyone even get this CC # when I never use the card? We’ll see what happens. Also, reporting this to the NY AG. Thanks for all the info and support! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one!
——————————————————————-
Kevin Aug 27th, 2007 at 11:25 am
I too just noticed a 6.95 charge from Digismarket.com on 8/25/07, i’m disputing the charge through US Bank and I emailed Digismarket.com and they said they would be refunding my card ASAP…once I get the refund i’ll be canceling my card to make sure this crap doesn’t happen again.
——————————————————————–
I recently had a fraudulent charge on my Visa for $14 from a company called Betamax, located in Cologne Germany, and small fee from my credit card company for an international purchase. I searched the web for this company since I had no recollection of buying any VoIP related services. I soon found out that I was not the only one:
http://www.digg.com/tech_news/Betamax_VoIP_Credit_Cologne_Fraudulent_credit_card_charges
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=42758980&blogID=282150136
I called the credit union that issued me the card and told them what I found. This must be a well known fraud type because they immediately deactivated my card, issued me a full refund, and sent me a new card without requiring me to submit any form of formal complaint.
I was disappointed to realize that as careful as I am with my personal financial data, I’m just as vulnerable to fraud as the next guy. But I am happy with how my credit card company handled the incident.
I just spent about half an hour on the telephone talking with a Sgt. Dave Hodges, an investigator with the Dauphin County, PA District Attorney’s office, 717-780-6221, concerning the $5.00 fraudulent charge to my Bank of America Visa card by DIGISMARKET.COM and information that the person who supposedly ordered this merchandise from IP address 68.39.187.211, a computer in the Comcast network, resides in Middletown, PA within Sgt. Hodges jurisdiction.
Sgt. Hodges, who was very pleasant and informative, told me that the credit card companies routinely write off bogus charges of $5,000, $10,000, even $50,000 just as an expense of doing business. He also told me that he, personally, had his credit card hacked for $1,200, which Capital One just refunded back to him, and wrote off without investigating.
For Sgt. Hodges to contact Comcast to find out the identity of the owner of IP address 68.39.187.211 would require obtaining a search warrant issued by a Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge, which for a $5 fraud offense, would be impossible to obtain.
But even if a judge would issue such a warrant, and the information that Comcast then provided, led to an actual person, and even if that person were arrested for identity theft, the defendant would have a legal right to face his accuser, and I would have to fly from my home on the West Coast to Pennsylvania, at least twice, at an initial hearing, and at a court trial to testify in this matter.
Sgt. Hodges said that a smart defendant could delay the proceedings indefinitely, requiring multiple court appearances.
For all of these reasons, and for the fact that his agency had it’s budget reduced by 30%, they just don’t have the resources to follow up or prosecute such cases.
He thought that it is very likely that DIGISMARKET.COM and all the other bogus eBook merchants listed here by others are behind this massive fraud scheme, and since DIGISMARKET.COM appears to be physically located in Suffolk County, NY it would be up to the New York State Attorney General’s Office to initiate prosecution.
However, Sgt. Hodges added that this $5-10 bogus credit card charge method is almost foolproof as a criminal endeavor, more profitable and much safer than robbing a bank.
His final advice was to spend my energies on far more productive and pleasurable activities. He added that it’s unlikely that Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, US Bank or any of the other credit card companies would do a damn thing to follow up on such fraudulent charges.
I am still pursuing a possible class action law suit against Bank of America, et al., but it doesn’t look like there are even any really hungry lawyers out there interested in such a case.
For all we know, DIGISMARKET.COM might be run by a 14 year old high school student named Johnny Jones, or Ivan Ivanovich of the Russian Mafia. Whoever he is, he’s making a ton of money!
I wrote DIGISMARKET.COM a really nasty email telling them that I’ll see them in court being led away to prison, but I think it must have just given them a good laugh.
If anyone has any further thoughts, I would love to hear from you.
Thanks!
Joel
Digismarket.com is still at it! I recieved an unauthorized charge for $4.95 on my debit(mastercard) account on August 29th. I noticed it this morning, I appreciate you guy’s comments because I wasn’t sure what to do. I reported the charge to my credit union, requested a refund from digismarket.com via email since they dont answer the phone, and filed a complaint with the NY AG. We’ll see what happens. Thanks for the info people, especially Joel!
I just got these two:
08/23 EBOOKS BROOKSHIRE 205-4190624 AL $5.00
08/28 DS *DRUGSTORE.COM DRUGSTORE.COM WA $30.18
This is a fairly new card. Will have to call to get a new one.
Are you sure Drugstore.com is not legit?
Brookeshire just nailed us for $10 as “BROOKESHIRE ENTERPRISE 205-4190624 AL”
I wonder if the variations in the name are intended to throw off the fraud detection software.
Just for grins, here is the whois:
Domain name: brookshire-ent.com
Administrative Contact:
-
Kevin Devine (kevindvn@yahoo.com)
1.2159023501
Fax: -
655 Egypt Mountain Rd
Altoona, AL 35952
US
Technical Contact:
-
Kevin Devine (kevindvn@yahoo.com)
1.2159023501
Fax: -
655 Egypt Mountain Rd
Altoona, AL 35952
US
Registrant Contact:
-
Kevin Devine (kevindvn@yahoo.com)
1.2159023501
Fax: -
655 Egypt Mountain Rd
Altoona, AL 35952
US
Status: Locked
Name Servers:
ns5.secureserver.net
ns6.secureserver.net
Creation date: 19 Apr 2007 19:21:21
Expiration date: 19 Apr 2008 19:21:21
Anybody in Alabama want to go by Kevin’s house and leave a bag of flaming dog poo on the doorstep for me?
Just wanted to add my name to the list. My Citibank MC was hit with a $10.00 charge for EBOOKS BROOKSHIRE on 08/15/2007 which is the same date I had a transaction post from Amazon.com. ??? I have disputed the charge with Citibank but have not closed the card (yet). If more charges are posted, I will close the account. Thanks for the contact info on the Alabama Attorney General. I have submitted a complaint.
Wow…I also got charged $5.00 by M.O.L. Resources, LLC, TX 2108586176. I closed my account and disputed the charge. I called the MOL number but it said, “This mailbox is full.” haha I guess it is!! If it’s even a real contact number for that criminal organization.
I’m so glad you have this blog because this is ONLY site that came up when I googled MOL Resources LLC TX.
The site locations and phone numbers listed above by other bloggers are no longer valid.
Let me add my gratitude to those maintaining this webiste. I too was scammed $15 by EBOOKS-BROOKSHRE 2054190624. Just posted to my Chase Visa account 8/30/07. Similar story. I charge one transaction/ mo to this account, now cancelled. So I knew this was likely fraud. I did an extensive websearch to find something about Brookshire Entertainment, LLC. I found this blog.
I did file a complaint with the AL AG. I also called Chase and pushed hard, asking why they continue to accept transactions from this company and all the other scam companys listed above. They are complicit in allowing this to continue. The best I could get today was a promise for a return call from a Fraud Call Center manager later in the week.
interestingly, I learned from Chase that a company, Vallhalla Child Care (??), checked the ‘validity’ of my card earlier in the week before the transaction occurred. That is part of the scam.
thank you for the helpful link to the attorney general’s complaint website. i have file a complaint regarding their unauthorized charge of $10 on my credit card and also called my credit card company and had the charges reversed, as well as sent an email to this fraudulent company. thanks again!
A $2.95 charge from digismarket.com was posted 8/18/07 on my Chase MasterCard account. I called (left a voicemail message), e-mailed, & US mailed digismarket requesting an immediate credit. I have filed complaints with the Indiana Attorney General’s office (my home state) & the New York Attorney General’s office (digismarket’s state). Chase has cancelled my card & will issue a new one.
Today I received an e-mail from digismarket: “Thank you for reporting about this situation. Your credit card will be refunded within one business day. It can take up to 7 business days for money to return depending on the bank. Thanks for cooperation.” Yeah, and thanks for your cooperation too, you jerk.
I work for a credit card company and was investigating a case for a member who had a $15 dollar charge to EBOOKS BROOKSHIRE 205-4190624 AL – MC. I found this website http://brookshire-ent.com/ but it contains little to no info about anything. What it did supply was a list of all the items they sell broken down by $5, $10, or $15. I also got the voicemail to leave a message or send an email when I called their “customer service” line. My main concern and question is how in the world they obtained the information they did. There has to be some common thread or a group of common merchants. One thing I have seen recently is the eguide “How to sell (or buy) on eBay” This can be an advertisement link that looks like the actual page but places an order with Brookshire. Be aware of these. Also I have seen many reoccurring charges (monthly) from merchants that customers don’t recognize after booking travel online. These are usually sections that say if you DO NOT want the item offered place a check in the box. Look out for those too.
From the standpoint of a credit card issuing company though, it does cost much more in the way of resources to investigate these claims than to simply reverse them (unless they are reoccurring which I have not seen from the Brookshire merchant). And as to blocking certain merchants from placing charges on the account, as an issuing company we are unable to place that restriction ourselves. Until we receive direction from the Better Business Bureau or from MasterCard, Visa, or the like. If a charge is presented to us, we have to honor it unless the information presented is incorrect, like billing address, CVV (Card Verification Value- the 3 digit code on the back of the card) and expiration date. If this information does not match the charge gets declined. If it does match it is accepted. If the charge is done fraudulently we dispute it. There is a process called charge back. If a dispute is for more than a certain amount the bank in effect charges the merchant back for the same amount. That gets their attention pretty quick.
Please continue to post information here about what you find out and I will let you know where my research leads me as well. Also ask me some questions if you would like.
Which CC company do you work for, Pat? It’s easy for CC companies to do chargebacks and push things under the rug but in this case, you have over 100 cases of victims. Why don’t you take the steps to bring this to the forefront? Why don’t you tell your supervisor, “Look, this isn’t one or two isolated cases, let’s blacklist this company.”?
MOL resources just hit on myCiti card for $10.00 . There is no way to contact these people, so I left a complaint with the AG of Texas http://www.oag.state.tx.us/ and got Citi to reverse the charge. This is such an incredible scam, as $5 or $10 will often get overlooked. The postings referencing a class action suit might be on target. No matter what, I’ve already wasted hours of time because of these slimes.
geez, i just received one of these fraud charges too……for $15.00 listed as digismarket.com llc sale date on 7/28. phone number from ny. then i received a credit of .01 and .40 for reapply frm abandond propty? this is from citi mc. i haven’t used this card for years….i just got off the phone with citi bank…they are sending me an affidavid to sign/noterize before they remove the charge…i cancelled the card so no further purchases can be made on it….thanks to all who posted web sites so i can file a complaint…………
I have gone to supervisors in servicing and fraud to find out more information about how we could block a particular merchant. I have been advised that we can but there needs to be enough complaints from enough customers in a particular time frame. Now, it was not revealed to me what those levels are but I guess our fraud analysts have some sort of formula or guidelines in place. There is also what I guess you can call acceptable levels of loss. When a bank credits a charge like this back they are actually eating the cost and taking the loss themselves. It goes back to the cost of research issue. But, if we have had to credit so many charges back or take too big a loss from a merchant we will block them. Again what those levels are I have no way of knowing and no one seems to want to share that information with me. These merchants are running the gamut with banks here. If it was over 100 people from the same bank, I believe blocks would be in place, but here we have so many banks having the same issue, I’m not sure any one of them has enough instances to take action. The bank I work for is not mentioned in any of the other posts here but check out the number one credit card issuer in the recent Consumer Reports mag to find out who we are.
I too was charged by digismarket.com (wrongfully) in the amount of $4.95. I have contacted my bank (Wachovia) and am expecting a refund. I also contacted digissupport.com and am awaiting their response.
Finally, I made a formal complaint with the better businss bureau (local office in new york) and referenced this site to show that many others are having this problem. I suggest everyone do the same! I will give an update if I receive any further info.
I got scammed for only $2.95 but they apparently have my teller card number. The company is digismarket.com.
Am contacting bank and the NC AG office.
Packages for setting up this scam are being sold on eBay. This must be stopped.
$5 victim of digismarket.com,
Ted
How about a link Teddee?
Simply type “eBooks” in the search field of eBay and it will all be there.
I read many of these and think I have been doubly cursed. I actually have two charges on the same card in the same month from these folks.
$15 EBOOKS 4 U 440-374-8048
$5 MOL RESOURCES LLC 210-858-6909
Best I can tell, these are the same people even with such different numbers.
I’m disputing with the charge card company.
Add my name to the list. July 22 Brookshire Enterprises in Alabama. $10.00
I just got a call from the fraud prevention department at Chase, asking me about the legitimacy of every single online transaction that I’ve performed in the last 2 weeks. The only one I didn’t recognize was, you guessed it, BROOK SHIRE ENT, $15.00, which the person said was a charge that “did not go through.” “Did not go through?” I asked. She gave a very opaque explanation of what that meant; I think that Chase refused the charge but does not yet want to say why.
The gist of the call was that while initially she was asking me if I suspected the card of being used fraudulently, and that I couldn’t assert that the charge was fraudulent (I buy a lot of things online with this card), she wasn’t really asking. I’m pretty sure that even if I had told her that I *did* recognize the charge, they were going to cancel the account, because they’ve already determined that this vendor’s charges are all fraudulent.
Interestingly (and annoyingly), I went through this exact dance with the Chase fraud department four days ago for my *other* Chase VISA card. It seems as though the nerve impulses have finally made their way up to the brain of this particular dinosaur.
Just noticed a charge on a Chase Visa that I haven’t used in about a year. $10 from EBOOKS BROOKSHIRE.
I contacted Chase and they are closing the account and sending me a new card. Plus I have to sign some stupid affadavit and get it notarized before I can get the charge reversed. CRAP!
I also filed a complaint with the Alabama attorney general.
Great Blog. Just got hit this month, $5 from Brookshire Enterprises in Alabama. Capital One issued a new card which I’m cancelling anyway. I deactivated the card a year ago for a similar charge. How did they get the number? And how did they charge on an inactive account?
Pulled up my account on the internet this morning and $2.95 had been charged to my account from digismarket.com.
Will be changing my credit card number today. Thanks for your good work to help stop this type of crap.
EBOOKS BROOKSHIRE 205-4190624 AL “STRIKES AGAIN”
I had a false charge of $10 on my Chase Perfect Mastercard on 08/18/07
I searched google for ebooks brookshire and came across this site.
I contacted Chase and was credited and reissued a new card.
I also filed a complaint with the Alabama Attorney General.
Thanks for the info!
Al
I too got hit with $4.95 charge from digismarket.com today. My bank reversed the charges on the spot. Thanks for keeping this thread going!
I was robbed of a $4.95 charge by digismarket.com today Sept 24 2007. I contacted my bank and they blocked my card and will send me another card as well as reimburse me.
Me too — found a $5.00 charge from BROOKSHIRE ENTERPRISES 205-4190624 dated last August. The first Citi representative suggested I call the company to resolve the issue, but I got a “mailbox is full” recording and decided to do a little Googling. When I called Citi back, they reversed the charge on the spot. (Sorry the people using Chase are having such problems.)
I just recieved a call from someone from Digimarket.com…the woman said that I downloaded an electonic book…I told her that would have been virtually impossible since I was nowhere near a computer on Saturday September 22, the date my credit union say the transaction took place. She then proceeds to tell me that they would issue a refund and I should have it in about 7 days. We’ll see…keep you posted.
I got a $2.95 charge from digismarket.com as well. It’s still pending on my account, and the bank said that it looks like it won’t take, so I just have to keep an eye on it as far as that goes. Once it does it’s permanent thing, I’ll get a new card.
Those muther f***ers.
8/17 BROOKSHIRE-ENT.COM 205-419-0624 AL 5.00
I just saw the 5.00 BROOKSHIRE ENTERPRISES charge on my card. It looks like they (My Citi Card) saw the charged and are sending out a new Card /account number. Sounds like maybe they know about this fraud. I have to call for them to remove the charge when there systems are up.
Kudos to everyone submitting complaints to the AG’s.
I’ve also been charged, 08/08 BROOKSHIRE ENTERPRISE 205-4190624 AL 15.00. Currently disputing.
I too was scammed for 6.95 by DIGISMARKET.com. But how are they doing it? Thanks to the info user SYGYZY has left I closed the cards and are getting new ones.
Digismarket.com for $4.95.
Can’t file a complaint through BBB’s website, it’s saying that Digismarket.com is a new company and to check back in 4-6 weeks????
Brookshire Enterprises, $5.
Resolved with my credit company (reimbursement).
Registered my complaint with the AL AGO.
I’m interested to know if anyone else has experienced this kind of double whammy.
I found a fraudulent charge of $4.95 dated 8/24/07 on my Bank of America VISA statement from DIGISMARKET.COM LLC. B of A agreed to refund the transaction but the rep I spoke to did not seem concerned about the fraud angle. At my request I was transferred to another rep who canceled the card as “lost or stolen” and assured me I would receive a new card in 3 to 5 days.
I did not receive the new card in that time period (yes, I know, I should have called B of A immediately, but I was leaving for vacation and did not have time to deal with it). Upon returning from vacation I had 4 phone messages from B of A regarding possible fraud on my VISA card. I called them back and was told that someone had attempted to access my account and had set a password on it on 9/22 (a date that I was actually out of the country!). I am now required to present myself in person at my nearest B of A branch armed with proof of my identity. In the meantime I have placed an initial fraud alert on my credit reports.
Possibly the second issue has nothing to do with the first, but it seems like an odd coincidence. Has anyone else experienced this?
Lily, was the new replacement card waiting for you in the mail when you returned? If not then it certainly seems that is how your information was compromised. I do not think that the charge has to do with the account access however. No one else posting to the board has had this problem.
A $5.00 charge is on this months Visa statement, Ebooks Brookshire 205-4190624 AL.
I am going to contact the Attorney General in PA.
Got hit Wednesday… Contacted Bank of America to launch a fraud investigation, filled a complaint with the BBB and contacted the NY State AG’s office. Thanks to all the info once I saw the charge and googled this company.
$4.95 Digismarket.com
Scumbags!!!!
$15 charge from “Ebooks Brookshire 205-4190624 AL” in early September. Filed a complaint with the AL Attorney General.
Hi, I just notified wellsfargo about the 4.95 charge on my account from digismarket. How do I file a complaint with BBB and who do I contact with the NY AG?
Just catching up on my bookkeeping. Ebook Brookshire showed up as an only charge in August (I was in Copenhagen and not using the card). Thank you for this site as it claered up the mystery right away.
After investing 30 minutes in BofA automated telephone purgatory and talking to two representatives they agreed to reverse the $15 charge.
Where do these folks get our CC#s? And why are they not in jail?
Well, add me to the list.
20 SEP DIGISMARKET.COM LLC 607-821-2630 NY $4.95
Called capital one they acted totally ignorant of any wrong doing by Digismarket and told me to call the company and try to resolve it first. So I did…(arggggghh before I found your site and yes I left a phone number)
Just got off the phone with capital one again and they cannot process my complaint because of some computer problem. I must wait a couple hours. So that is already about 6 hours waisted running this thing down. I would gladly pay the 4.95 if there was some way we could reverse the torment that these companies cause. Any geeks out there?
Just found a charge on my personal debit card for $4.95 on 10/27/2007. Can anyone explain why nothing has been been about this even after so many people have reported these people to the authorities? I can’t believe this company is allowed to continue this thievery.
Woke up checking my bank activity and I got the 4.95 digismarket too. Sigh.
What is sad is that no one cares, THE AG offices don’t care and neither do the credit card companies.
AM I the only one that had a credit card company come back to them? Washington Mutual told me I had 10 days to disoute again or I would be charged the $10 frmo MOL Resources as they sent them some BS fax.
Of course all fake info, claiming this e-mail and IP address ordered some ebooks but that they had no other information or records to prove anything. Are CC companies this damn stupid? Time for me to cancel my card with WASHINGTON MUTUAL for good.
I had an address on the letter head from:
Bob Mulherin
28414 Heritage Trail
Fair Oaks Ranch, TX 78015
SOmeone in the area should verify and go break his legs.
I got charged $4.95 on 10/25 by digismarket.com LLC on my debit visa from Compass Bank. I am in the process of disputing the charge. If this “company” is gaining access to people’s debit cards there should be more of an uproar about this. At least with CC it’s not your personal money that is being taken. I am a stay at home mom and my husband is in school and EVERYTHING adds up when your income is limited. The last thing we need is someone dipping their mangy little hands into what little money we do have.
Yep me too… Never heard of this site… http://www.smartEmarket.com... Sells E-books. I hate Ebooks. They stole 4.95. Bank of America did not know they were fraud and are sending me a fraud claim. Now my checkcard is cancelled and I have to wait 10 bus days for a new one.
If this is so prevalant I don’t understand how the government allows them to get away with this.
I emailed the FBI, the state Attorneys office in LA(where smartemarket is from) and the BBB.
Bamn Dastards.
Also, I want to add that I have a friend who works for Computer Associates, a security software company. He said they usually do small charges and is a pre-curser to test the account and see if it is active. It could lead to larger charges. Either way, nickel and dime to death or pre-curser to larger charges this is criminal. I would also like to know how they got my debt card number, and why the government or banks are not doing something about it.
I have a new one for you…
MYLIBERIA.COM
Another e-book web site. They charged my BoA VISA (pending transaction) for $6.95
Seems like similar on-line fraud.
They got me also. My $4.95 charge came from MFBPSITE.COM which looks the exact same as DIGISMARKET.COM (check out the contact us page). I called the support number and got a VM. The government has to do something about this. This is ridiculous. I have equifax credit monitoring, does anyone else have that. I believe that is where they derived my CC number because that is the only thing that is on that card.
Thanks for all your comments everyone. Keep it up. Based on the number of comments, it’s clear that we are getting the word out there. Someone asked why the credit card companies don’t do anything about this. The answer is simple – they don’t care. It’s cheaper to just reverse the charge (though some of you noticed that your banks made you jump through hoops).
I was hit on the 1st from MFBPSite.com (like Tasha), for $4.95. What a total waste of time! Now I have to cancel my card (debit) and get the bank on them… ARRGH!
Tasha, I also have Equifax credit monitoring… anyone else? I’m **very** concerned about how my card got out…
This is just weird…
I was just charged a $2.95 unauthorized charge. So I go to the URL that it shows on my online statement: MYLIBERIA.COM…and it’s some website about countries around the world?
So I dig around a little bit and find MYLIBRERIA.COM (notice the extra “R”) which is an ebook website.
So my statement says MYLIBERIA.COM (503) 616-3843….yeah, that phone number is the customer support # for the ebook website.
Anyways, I’m about to file a complaint with BBB and call the bank.
*sigh*
This is a follow-up to my 9/3/07 @3:48 posting re digismarket.com.
The Indiana AG won’t investigate: “a de minimus amount of money.” The New York AG says they turned it over to their Internet Bureau but I’ve never heard back. The New York BBB says they can’t do anything because digismarket is now out of business. Apparently, they don’t have anyone in their office capable of typing “www.digismarket.com” and looking at what appears to be a working website. So these jerks just keep on keeping on.
I just found a charge for $4.95 on my statement from a company called DIGISMARKET.COM. After Googling it I’ve found several websites where the people who was also affected said they all had Equifax credit monitoring.
I too have Equifax Credit monitoring, so I’m wondering does anyone else have this in commen too? I emailed the fraud dept at Equifax today and havent heard anything yet. I’m interested in hearing from anyone else that has contacted equifax.
Please email me at mahealani06@hotmail.com.
Thank you,
nicole
Scammers at work here, too. I was hit this morning with the myliberia.com $4.95 charge. Thanks to your blog, I alerted my Bank of America, changed my account numbers and had the charge refused. I do have to sign & return an afadavit, but I feel like it’s well worth it. If only these scammers could be prosecuted.
Thanks for alerting & helping out the little guys like us. I referenced your blog and information to the fraud consultant from BOM.
DIGISMARKET.COM LLC 607-821-2630 NY
Thanks for the site with all of your comments. I just got charged $4.95 from DIGISMARKET.COM llc through my Wells Fargo cc account. I left them an e-mail to reverse the charges, as I have never heard of this entity. We all need to keep up this effort. I called the NY phone number shown on my cc account and was told to leave name and phone number, which I did not do. The only company I buy things from online is Amazon, but I have NEVER had a problem with them.
I notice a pending charge on my Bank of America account for 6.95 from Digismarket. Closed my account. A pain to do but necessary to assure no other funds will be stolen from my account. I recently used Paypal for a purchased. Paypal is linked to my account. Not sure if that’s how they got it. I use ebay and amazon too. I really wish I knew how they got the number. Be careful. From now on no e-shopping with my debit card.
I notice a pending charge on my Bank of America account for 6.95 from Digismarket. Closed my account. A pain to do but necessary to assure no other funds will be stolen from my account. I recently used Paypal for a purchased. Paypal is linked to my account. Not sure if that’s how they got it. I use ebay and amazon too. I do not have equifax monitoring however I do purchase my credit report from time to time. So I have a member account eith them. I really wish I knew how they got the number. Be careful. From now on no e-shopping with my debit card.
I was hit last Friday for $4.95 from this Ebook website MFBPSITE.com . I’ve never heard of this site till it showed up on my bank statement. I have closed all accounts related to this card but what I’m finding thats very common with other victoms are alot have equifax monitoring. I also have used equifax to monitor my credit.
Got hit today for $4.95 from MFBPSITE.COM through my Visa debit card issue by Wells Fargo Bank. I knew it was an authorized charge and found your website by googling on MFBPSITE. Thank you for providing this terrific information!
Also, as stated above by Tasha, WarrenW, and Nicole I, too, have equifax credit monitoring.
This stinks.
I’ve found a new player to the game – Electronic Business Resources (http://ebsebooks.com/). I purchased an equifax credit report over six months ago, on a debit card. Since then, I got married, changed my name, was reissued a new debit card, “cancelled” my old one, cut it up, and kept the pieces in a drawer of related sensitive matters. I say “cancelled”, because when I contacted the bank to report the fraud, it was made on, you guessed it, the “cancelled” card, which was the one that the Equifax report was purchased with so many months ago. Apparently, when the bank reissued my debit card, they didn’t cancel it on the “account end”, which I imagine is bank lingo for “oops, something slipped through the cracks.” So it is now DEFINITELY cancelled, and a charge dispute is in the works. Unfortunately, my bank (NBT Bank) is slow, so it will be a week or two before the money is “officially” refunded, but at least I know it was not on a card that is still valid. I also now know that Equifax is the common link, as I do recall an email from them (which I wish I had saved) recently stating that there had been a “leak” recently. I did not save the email, as I believed any cards, names, and accounts I had linked to them in the past were defunct. Just goes to show you, double check any cancellation. I’m sure these “companies” make plenty of money off of people who don’t notice, or don’t care, about 4.95, 6.95, etc. Ridiculous.
I got scammed for $4.95 on Nov 10, 2007 from mylibreria.com
Never heard of them. I turned it in to my bank as a fraud charge, and also joined the cjupin.com Credit Card Scam site.
I live in Missouri.
The bank cancelled my debit card for me.
The last online transaction I used it for before the charge was Amazon.com and Paypal. I use Paypal all the time so I doubt that was the site they pilferred from.
I also used the card for a credit report from Equifax a few months back.
They definitely need to be investigated nationwide.
Bob Sullivan from MSNBC wants to hear from you if you have been scammed.
you can go to MSNBC’s web site and get his email or go to the cjupin.com site and go to Credit Card Scam;Digismarket.com where others who have been scammed similarly have been posting for the past few months. Bob Sullivan posted on this site to let us all know he is interested in hearing from us victims and you can just clic on his name on his blog and get a link to email him.
Looks like you have been posting a lot longer than the cjupin site.
Lets get those criminals, those B——ds.
THis has got to end somehow.
Or we just go back to old fashioned cash.
THE SAGA CONTINUES:
Digitmarket.com got me too. 11/07 However, it seems as if they are upping the ante, as they hit me with a $6.95 charge rather than the $4.95 or $2.95 charge that every one else seems to suffer. I guess with the price of gas going up they needed a little more money, or perhaps they gave all of their employees a well deserved merit raise for doing such a SUPERB job.
A NEW FOCUS:
In any event, Sygyzy perhaps the focus of these post should now be on commonality and national attention rather than the “I am a victim too” type of post Let me explain.
Many on this site have dismissed Amazon, ebay, Paypal and Half.com and other major sites as potentially involved with this credit card scam. However, all of these sites “store” your credit card data. The one question that has been asked over and over again is “how did they get my credit card number.” One of these major companies could very well be the answer. Now the obvious response is likely to be that these companies are legitmate companies and would not engage in such activities. However, consider this both paypal & half.com are wholly owned by ebay. Paypal, which through a great marketing scheme is hailed as the best thing since slice bread, has been accused numerous times of scams. However, the great marketing allows them to not only continue but to prosper. To read on some of the paypal scams used by paypal Simply google “paypal froze my account” or take a look at this link http://www.paypalsucks.com/PayPalFormerEmployee1.shtml , which gives you some reasons why but not the full impact of paypal’s abilitiy to nickel and dime people for HUGE profits–ie digitmarket and other e-books fraudlent sites.
HOW I THINK THE SCAM WORKS
So, this is how I think the digitmarket scam works. An ebay, paypal, half.com or Amazon employee has access to credit card data. Either because of their own financial struggles, because they are disgruntled or because it’s easy money (it only takes one bad employee) our credit card information is given to a partner/friend at digitmarket.com and other similiar companies who pocket and split the profits with the paypal, ebay or amazon employee. If no dispute is made then eureka and effortless bonaza. If a dispute is made then they refund the money immediately to stem your rage and your desire to follow up or spread the information about this scam. One paypal, ebay or amazon employee tells another one how they have enough money to retire after 6 months and “bam” another bad apple and another 10,000 unsuspecting customers have a fraudlent charge on their account. If you read the link above by the former paypal manager, you will see that this company does not go above and beyond to hire the best and most trustworthy employees. The sad part is even if they are caught, because of the third and forth parties involved (digitmarket and your bank) it’s would be nearly impossible to determine what employee at ebay, paypal or amazon is responsible for what fraudlent charges, making it nearly impossible to fully prosecute. For their part Digitmarket.com claims that they were merely filling orders for their GREAT (ie bogus but legitmate) product that they sell. If investigators get too close they shut down operations and reopen with a brand new company name and the same great product, but more importantly the same great scam and the same great profits.
TESTING THE THEORY:
If one of these companies are involved we can expose it right here. All everyone has to do is to state if they have ever done business with ebay, paypal, amazon or half.com or a similiar company. If we find that there is a reoccuring theme we can then take the data from this site and forwarded it to investigating companies such as Bob Sullivan from MSNBC and Dateline. Who if nothing else could embarass these companies into doing a better job to protect their customers and their financial information.
So I will start. The companies I know that have my credit card data stored are
1) Amazon.com
2) Half.com. and by affiliation Paypal and ebay.
got a charge for MFBPSITE.COM(Services and Merchandise) 4.95 in October. Recurring theme with this site from what I have read is equifax.com. We had a monitoring which we didn’t believe that we ordered either.
got a charge in ocober for 4.95 MFBPSITE.COM A recurring theme from what I have read is equifax. We had monitoring which we didn’t believe we had ordered either.
How ironic the credit agency, pulling the scam.
I got hit for 4.95 from http://www.smartemarket.com on 11/13/2007. I made 2 seperate purchases before that using paypal.
Got a charge in October from this site 4.95 MFBPSITE.com . A common thread is equifax credit monitoring. Very ironic the credit report company is the culprit. We also erroroneously got charged for monthly credit monitoring we did not order.
Got a charge in october on credit card for $4.95 from this site MFBPSITE.COM. Come thread is equifax credit monitoring. Also we didn’t order monthly equifax credit monitoring but had a 8.95 charge for that for several months as well. Ironic that a credit bureau is at the center of this one.
I have used Equifax, Paypal, EBAY and Amazon
Just got hit with this over the weekend from MYLIBERIA.COM, $4.95.
I use PayPal frequently to accept business payments and usually pay for things off ebay, and they do have the card I got the charges on stored. Same with amazon.com.
Half.com I’ve never used. Not sure who they are, but I guess that would rule them out as a source unless they’re connected tightly with ebay/paypal.
November 21st, 2007…I was just hit up for the infamous $4.95. I immediately called my credit card company and was told that the charge is still “pending” so it cannot be considered fraudulent until it posts to my account and then I can dispute it…a little reactive and not proactive I think. Needless to say, I canceled my credit card (not even a debit card) and am stuck for 7-10 days before I get a new account (no Black Friday shopping for me)…I don’t use ebay, amazon, or equifax…My last charge was from lillianvernon.com…checking to see if they use paypal right now. Goodluck to everyone else…criminals beware!
Well…I got hit my #myliberia.com too, $6.95. Disputed the transaction with bank and they promptly credited the amount back to card and said I do NOT need to cancel the card, also that they will monitor the transactions for rest of the year.
Good that I google’d myliberia.com.
Thanks to all those who posted.
Worthless effort. You’re going to find that a huge number of people use eBay, Paypal and Amazon.com.
No possible association of commonality.
Add bestdigimarket.com to the list. Starting around 9/15 to 11/22/2007 (current date).
Says Ohio.
got the 4.95 charge from digitmarket.com 11/13/2007 time to change cards. no help from VISA. I only use this card for Amazon.com so nothing major could be charged. I have other cards for each of the few web sights I buy from. I think its time to let Amazon fix this!
$4.95 on the 24th of Nov! Thanks for the site! I was racking my brain and it’s a scam! Time for new cards
Add another one to the list, logged in to check my statement and found $4.95 charge from digismarket.com. Currently in the pending stages but I’m sure it’ll auth at some point and I get to do the chargeback dance as well.
Sadly, canceling cards and getting new numbers isn’t all that is it cracked up to be. Certain banks will still process charges to former account numbers for some time to the current account number. Keep eagle-eyed on those statements guys and when you cancel your card for new numbers make sure you mention it is because of fraudulent use.
In the meantime, best bet to help stave off such scams is to use virtual account numbers offered by BoA or Discover with low limits and short expry times.
Good luck!
I was charged back on 11/15 by myliberia.com for 4.95. I went on the website and it said it was down at the moment. I tried to email them because they left an address at the bottom of the page but my email was returned saying that the address was invalid. I called my bank (Chase) and they told me it was a Debit Purchase. She gave me a # to call and it was an answering machine. I have a dilemma because I use my DC alot and this scam could’ve came from anywhere. BUT, I have an account with Equifax and Ebay like some of the other victims. I will cancel my bank card and Equifax 2morrow. I just moved from La now in Ga.
11/15 Myliberia.com for 4.95. Tried to email the company and my email was returned. Tried to call the company and the answering machine picked up. I have both an Ebay and Equifax account. 3 n 1 monitoring my a**. I will cancel my bank card and Eq in the morning. I bank with Chase and I am in Ga.
Just got hit today w/ the same $4.95 charge to my debit card from MYLIBERIA.COM. Bank is sending me new cards and I do have an account w/ Equifax and recently had a charge from them as well.
FWIW, one of my family members got a fraudulent charge from “Electronic Business Resources Inc” (or “Electronic Business Resources LLC” — their website is inconsistent). ebsebooks.com. The name on their credit card statement read “Electronic Business Reso.” Sounds like a similar scam.
Domain name: ebsebooks.com
Administrative Contact:
-
Richard Stewart (ebsebooks@yahoo.com)
1.3094077237
Fax: -
910 Freeport Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
US
Technical Contact:
-
Richard Stewart (ebsebooks@yahoo.com)
1.3094077237
Fax: -
910 Freeport Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
US
Registrant Contact:
-
Richard Stewart (ebsebooks@yahoo.com)
1.3094077237
Fax: -
910 Freeport Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
US
Status: Locked
Name Servers:
ns3.jaguarpc.net
ns4.jaguarpc.net
I get alerts from BOA whenever my debit card is used. When I saw a 6.95 transaction from mylibreria.com I called Bank of America and have asked them to investigate and have also filed a complaint and intend to pursue it, even though the amount is small. Did call the mylibreria.com phone # from their website, spoke with a heavily accented woman who finally said that my money would be refunded, and I told her that they should expect an investigation. I hope it works out that way. BOA was very helpful. BTW I had gone to a credit reporting agency online, as well, on the same day that this charge was supposedly made to MYLIBRERIA. Interesting.
Myliberia got me for 4.95. I had equifax report done recently. We just got back from the bank. Had to open new checking account and wait for new cards. I called my bbb but they said they can’t help, I tried to get ahold of a live person at equifax but can’t. I called the phone number for myliberia but it was an answering machine.
How many of us have to get scammed before something is done? As with everyone else, it’s not the amount of money, but the principle that angers me.
Hey, Has anybody had any trouble with a company named Ignotius??? They say they promise online jobs to people that join. I was billed, & never received any support or information afterwards about becoming an employee of theirs. I think this “company” is running a scam. I can’t be the only one that is having problems with Ignotius. I have never received a refund. Aftre several months of nothing from them, I was emailed to “join”. When I emailed them that I had already paid, & had received NOTHING in any way whatsoever, I was sent an email that I was already a member & all I had to do to access their program, was to login. I haven’t been able to login, because their system doesn’t recognize my User Name & the password reset
hasn’t helped either. Their address is: contact@ignotius.com . I haven’t gotten any reply to my last email to Ignotius about being unable to login. I guess I will be contacting the BBB to see if there are other complaints. Ignotius is based in California I believe. I will update, & check my bank stement for mylibreria & digis
charges. Thanks for the info.
Hey thanks for creating this site — I just got hit for $6.95 from SMARTEMARKET.COM. Think it’s time to cancel this credit card!
We just got a call from a collection agency saying we were 129 days past due on an account we haven’t used in over a year. It is over $200 we owe to Capital One all stemming from a $5 June charge from Brookshire Enterprises (the rest is late fees)! It makes me really mad because we never have received statements from Capital One. The last statement we received was in March showing a zero balance; we don’t even carry this card with us.
Me too. Ordered Equifax credit report from their website in June.
The same card I used for that transaction got hit in November by myliberia.com for $4.95. Jumping through all the hoops now.
Me too! 4.95 – dont’ use Equifax – so it has to be Amazon – Paypal, etc. This is ridiculous – how long will it go on until someone does something?
Add me to the list. Today had charge from MFBPsite.com for $4.95. Checked online and found numerous posts like this. Contact my bank and cancelled the card, contact company, fraud service, etc… Common thread, I also have Equifax credit monitoring and this is my Amazon.com card as well.
I just saw a charge for 4.95 on my bank statement..so I googled the name..it came here..EMBINTELLIGENCE..I use 3 in one and ebay and paypal
December 10th a $4.95 charge showed up from myliberia.com on the Visa debit card (issued by Old National Bank headquartered in Evansville, IN, but we do business at the local branch). After I got over my initial freak (I have done business online at many places both big and small companies since 2004 using this card and never had this happen until December 10th) I immediately had my husband call the 800 number off the back of the card and report it and have the debit card dissolved after the legitimate 2 other pending charges cleared but to allow no new charges during that time. The debit card accesses what money we have which also is the same stack of money that I use bill pay online through the same above bank to pay our monthly utilities, rent, etc. I have had this card listed as a source of payment at Amazon.com since 2005. I have purchased a total of three times from Ebay sellers using PayPal (that was within the last two and a half months) and this card had been listed on my Ebay account for over a year but I was and still am reluctant to purchase through Ebay because of all the phishing/spoofing email I get even to email addresses I don’t have listed or ever listed with my Ebay account. I and my husband did fairly consistently purchase credit reports from Equifax (approximately 2 a year in addition to the free once a year one since 2005 because my husband has an ex-wife who tended to recall his social security number better than her own in any dealings with credit even after she found out she had been divorced) and that number was on file with them under two separate accounts. Something to note here though. I had gotten an email from Equifax to my hotmail address (but yet not the email address the other Equifax account had used) on October 31st stating recent phishing attempts on Equifax. I didn’t think anything of this email at that time but I did think about it on December 11th when I saw that fraudulent $4.95 charge from myliberia.com and yes, aat that time I googled the number listed with the transaction (503)616-3843 out of Beaverton, Oregon and found this post site. After the call to the bank to cancel the debit card number associated with our bank account I went online and went to Equifax and logged in. Guess what. The credit card information I am sure they had on file is now gone off of both accounts. I am also sure I did not remove it. Connected? I think so. Getting Equifax to own up to their customer credit card database having been compromised? Probably never will happen but I think thats what their spoof alert email really wanted to say. I will be slowly locating the Oregon Attorney General’s contact information to file a complaint (I am a mother of 8 all day long so I don’t ever have a “lot” of time to do anything else) and filling out the form for the Illinois Attorney General complaint in regards to this but I don’t foresee the IL AG doing much of anything considering just a month ago they did nothing in regards to a check being applied to a delinquent medical account that did not belong to me by a in-house collection service when it should have been applied to the medical account number listed right on the check. My balance went to 30 days overdue when in reality they received the payment before they ever even billed for it. I am willing to do whatever I can in the attempt to see these bastards pay x1000 for what they have done and I think I will also send a nice diplomatic thank you note to Equifax and ask them what they intend on taking off our credit reports as reparation for this invasion. As I said I have no solid proof but it seems really strange to remove a card number that was far from being expired (and was listed on multiple accounts) and had even in July purchased a report from them using the same saved card information and now they have apparently purged all credit card information (at least from our accounts) from their site? Almost makes me wish two cards had been listed as payment sources because that would nail it.
MY Bank Of America Credit Card was chareged illegally on 12/14/2007 by smartemarket.com for $4.95. The only transaction that I have used this card for was through http://www.paypal.com. So the owners of http://www.smartemarket.com are phishing credit cards off of paypal.com. Please e-mail http://www.paypal.com as I am today
Hmmm… you know…. I’m not so sure the leak isn’t at a credit card processor. In order to generate an approval on a credit card sale, the terminal needs to be connected to a phone line. The terminal dials a toll-free number to connect to the processing center. Assuming the card is valid, the printer will generate a receipt which is signed by the cardholder. Or not signed as in internet transactions. Some people claimed to have never purchased over the internet and others said they have with that particular card but it had been years ago when they made an online purchase. But the only sole connection is that everyones credit card purchases ARE processed by a credit card processing center. A processing center that should keep their financial records a minimum of 5 years.
You are probably already familiar with a credit card terminal – the terminal or “swipe” machine at your local restaurant, market, or hotel. This machine is a direct connection to a card processor and contains an internal serial number that uniquely identifies the terminal to the card processor when a connection is made. This identifier links the terminal, via the processor’s records, to a processor account. I will see if my bank (as it was a debit card which duns my bank) will turn over the terminal identifier information and see if there is anything to learn from that information.
Some good info here on ebook scams:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r19620593-Re-Ebook-websites-fraud-charges-Dev-billDigitalAgePluto
Thanks JM. Wow. It’s even bigger than I thought it was.
I am a debit card fraud investigator. If anyone has information regarding these scams please email me. I have noticed a trend with these charges and credit reports. It seems that all of the cases I have involve ordering credit reports online.
Please tell everyone to be careful with this.
I just got hit by EMBINTELLIGENCE.com for $4.95 I have used this debit card on Equifax, Ebay and Paypal. My bank, 1st Citizens says that I have to come in and fill out forms to investigate the charge, meaning time off work to do this because of my working hours. So I will lose even more money by trying to get the $4.95 back.
Well I’m back. I got hit by CFM for 9.75 back on the second of this month. I guess it’s my fault. Last time I didn’t cancel my card ASAP because I had Direct Deposit coming for that week and didn’t want my check to get lost. So I forgot about it. And Myliberia.com did call me back and gave me a refund but I guess CFM didn’t call me because of the message I left(It wasn’t that harsh). But anyway I’m about to cancel Equi because they p*ssed me off. I opened a Credit Account up at the beginning of this month and they still haven’t alert me yet.
$4.95 posted to my account here in Atlanta, GA on 12/26/2007. The attached information was http://www.smartemarket.com with the phone number 337-935-0141. I filed a complaint with the BBB which had the company’s location listed as Lafayette, LA. My bank credited the amount back, but it was a twenty minute process that I would rather have avoided – not to mention the inconvenience of having to cancel my checkcard and wait a week for a replacement. My bank said that my checkcard number was manually keyed in on Christmas Eve. I have recently done business with Amazon as well as with online credit report companies.
Same here. I live in Georgia and $4.95 was deducted out of my account from smartemarket. It showed up on my online bank statement as “SMARTEMARKET IN”. I called the number and it was a voicemail. I also have equifax monitoring. From all the websites ive been reading about this company “SMARTEMARKET IN” im almost assuradely convinced that equifax is a direct link to a “leak” of personal information. My girlfriend thinks i should call equifax or write them a letter but I just know how that will go. If i do get a response, which i doubt, im sure they wont have any idea. Oh well, guess i just have to keep a closer watch on all my transactions.
I think it’s a pretty big leap to think there is some connection between these scams and Equifax. This would be headline news if it is. I do admit it’s strange that everyone shares this common factor.
They hit me for $6.95 on Jan 16,2008 Am in TX. I also did use this card on Equifax. I dont know why they are not STOPED.
On 1/16/08 I was charged 2.95 to my Bank of America Master Card from bestdigimart.com — called B of A to dispute charge which will take 6 to 8 wks. After talking to cs representative, I googled the information and found this site. I called B of A back and told them about the scam. They told me they will process as a lost card and issue a new one — which will take 7 days. They didn’t seem concerned about the scam part of my story. I stopped using this card about two months ago, but I used it a lot — amazon.com, half.com, equifax, barns and noble, and others. I will def. file a complaint with the NC AG. But how did they get my cc info????
I also have had this issue (Jan 5 2008) but worse, I find it creepy that Susan on December 27th up there says she is a debit card fraud investigation but if you click on her it takes you to more eBooks. It looks like Equifax is sending everyone who complains the same form letter which doesn’t give me much confidence that they are even digging into this. Yes, this would make national news if it indeed is Equifax but don’t you think they will do everything possible, even if it is there fault, to keep that from happening? Remember, they had a major breach of data about 2 years ago that did make national news, and it would make sense if it was an inside job and a smart criminal to boot, that they would wait a while for the news to die down, before starting to use our card numbers.
A lot of the complaints have one thing in common, EQUIFAX. A large # of Equifax users seem to be getting hit for this stuff, Equifax says it’s all just a coincidence.
This happend to me too in New York, My bank of america check card was charged $6.95 I called the bank and they refunded the money. The site is Smartemarket.com I also have this card linked to Equifax it is disturbing that a leading company in credit monitoring can be behind this.
jan (2008) 6.95 smartemarket.com,also used equifax with
debit card to purchase credit monitor,did not use debit
card on any other sites to order anything else,is there
a connection with equifax and this information getting out
from raleigh north carolina
I rec’d a debit for $4.95 from Smartemarket phone 337-935-0141. I also have fraud alert on my equifax and experian. Hopefully nothing came form them. As it is a debit charge they can do it again up to the debit limit on your account. My bank suggests filing fraud with the local Police and closing that account.
I can’t believe this thread, that this has gone on for so long. Got hit last night, MFBPsite.com, $4.95. I did an Equifax report about 2 weeks ago and my card is (now WAS) on file with Amazon for the 1-Click shopping. Ridiculous.
Oh yeah, I am in CA. I was also stupid enough to call and leave my phone number on the MFBSwhatever cs anwering machine. They have that too now.
I too have been fraudulently charged $4.95 from smartemarket.com and had my debit card registered with Amazon. I emailed amazon and will no longer being doing business with them as somehow, these scammers got a hold of my debit card number on file with amazon.(which has since been cancelled). This is the ONLY company I had my debit card on file with.
I was just charged 11.89 for something from “Interactive Designs” on a card that i’ve nerver used to make online purchases. I did a search and ended up here. I’m confused as to how anyone even got my card number. I’m filing a dispute with capital one right now as I cant even locate the website that charged me. If anyone can help me out or give me some information about “Interactive Designs” I’d really appreciate it.
I also used Equifax .Was hit from ebsebooks.com twice $4.95 and $2.95 Bankstatment did say DEBIT CARD ELECTRONIC BUSINESS
I have had two charges on my account from smartemarket.com ph. 337-935-0141. One charge on 12/01/2007 for 4.95 and one on 4/16/2008 for 6.95. I had to cancel my debit card. I don’t know how they are getting this information. I do have accounts with both amazon.com and equifax. Weird thing is I bought a book from amazon.com on 4/15/2008 the day before the latest transaction.
I recently discovered a $4.95 charge on my credit card from MFBPSITE.COM and when I called that one in to my CC company, they mentioned that I had one for the same company back in December. I reported both of them as fraud charges and am awaiting an affidavit from them to fill out. I can’t believe how much trouble I’m having to go through for $11.90 but am willing to do it for the whole principle of the issue. This needs to stop.
Happened to me too!! Back in January & now, just this past weekend. mfbpsite.com scammed me for 4.95 in Jan & got it removed from my acct. Now I’ve had my debit card blocked & having another one sent to me.
These bastards aren’t going to get away with this any more. I have low friends in high places & they get ticked off when people mess with my money.
I got hit today for $4.95 from MFBPSite.com. I had my debit card canceled right away and am getting a new one. How do they do this?
Happened to me as well. $2.95 charge on my credit card. Canceled the card the of course. Here is the company and # from my statement.
ELECTRONIC BUSINESS RESO 412-927-0410 (voice mail message asking for your email address to respond to questions).
I’d like to find these guys and punch them in the face.
FYI – in reading some of the above posts, don’t use debit cards for online purchases. You don’t want someone draining your bank account if your card/PIN or # gets compromised. Also your liability is typically higher with a debit card vs. a credit card.
Well I can say that digismart.com is back in the game again. I was hit with $4.95 and 2 $10.00 in 2 days. I have made my complaints to the NY Atty Gen, the FTC, the NY BBB, Mr. Sullivan whose article came out in 11/27/07 and the Atty Gen for the state of Maryland. I also contacted Digismart and let them know about the agencies that I have filed complaints with and that it was now a purpose of mine to report their scams to as many agencies, and congress people that I could find. I will become a pest until I see that someone actually cares enough to find out why this company is still in the business of scamming people by using their stolen debit/credit card information. Keep on posting your complaints. Sorry for each of you who has to take time out from their work, their time with your families or their lives to deal with the those who try and take from others instead of actually working to earn what they have.
Gena Taylor, Maryland
this brookshire was he/she a seller on amazon because on 8/22 i bought a ps3 limited edition metal gear solid 4 bundle and it never arrived and ever since i ordered that my account has been locked. all i know about this brookshire is that it said he was from wisconsin. will someone please help me out with this. my email is dustyjdavis@hotmail.com thanks he/she owes me $500.00