Payment Processing Scams in the News

This is a new section created on Oct. 26, 2005

Payment Processor Settles FTC Charges

Agency Alleges Defendants Knew or Should Have Known Charges Were Not Authorized

... The payment processor made the unauthorized debits on behalf of a business known as Pharmacycards. In May 2004, the FTC charged “Pharmacycards.com” with electronically debiting thousands of consumers’ accounts for $139, without consumers’ knowledge or consent. According to the FTC, Pharmacycards attempted to debit more than $10 million from consumers’ checking accounts in less than three months. The FTC alleges that the Pharmacycards defendants gained access to the banking system via third-party payment processors by claiming that they were engaged in a legitimate business – selling pharmacy discount cards.... Read the entire article

Woman Bilked out of Thousands in Work-At-Home Scam
WTOL, OH - Oct 20, 2005
TOLEDO -- A North Toledo woman is out more than $30,000. She lost it after falling victim to a work-at-home scam. ""I was looking for supplemental income, and I came across an email. The guy was looking for representatives here in America," says Nichole Anderson." ...

Counterfeiting a common tactic
Oshkosh Northwestern, WI - Nov 7, 2005
... Others in recent weeks were given work-at-home opportunities with ... The lottery scam received last month gave plenty of clues to its criminal intent. ... Others in recent weeks were given work-at-home opportunities with comfortable incomes — and all they had to do was cash checks and wire the money...