The REAL Reason Why GA Was Retired?

[Probo]

A few days ago, one of my Credit Cards that I use almost exclusively
for Internet purchases was 'suspended'.

When I checked, it was because one of my recent purchases (very low
cost) was to obtain access to the archives of a very well known
newpaper.

The explanation given was that Fraudsters have been using that site to
'test' stolen cards.

Accordingly, when I confirmed the transaction, my card was taken off
the suspense list.

However, the guy at the CC company said that it was the first
legitimate use that he had ever seen!

Certainly, that used to be a known problem for GA.

I wonder ....

Probo

[Roger Browne]

Probably there was no "one single reason" why GA was retired, but it
seems that credit card fraud was high at GA. Because the fraudsters
posted a high-value question, an authorisation would be processed for
the credit card, so the fraudsters could easily test whether the card
they held was usable.

However, GA wouldn't charge the amount to the card until the question
was answered (and the dummy "asdf asdf" questions would never be
answered) so the legitimate owner of the credit card would not receive
notification of the charge. Meanwhile, the crooks planned their
spending spree...

Regards,
Roger

[myoarin]

Which all explains uclue's system of refunding rather than waiting for
answers.
Clever of you. One can learn even from a bad example.

[Probo]

Yes, Myo, but Uclue doesn't take Credit Cards!

Interestingly, though, GA did make a small admin charge on every
transaction whether answered or not.

I seem to recall that it was 50 cents.

Of course, that was YEARS ago!

Bryan

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