There’s nothing like starting your weekend by finding out someone has been helping themselves to your money!

I got an email from Blockbuster advising me they were having trouble collecting their monthly payment which confused me since I know there is definitely money in my account and my card wasn’t near the expiry date. Out of curiosity, I logged on to my bank account and discovered a couple of overseas transactions that weren’t mine.

WP STAGECOACH SERV
MC WWW.VBULLETIN.COM

I did a Google search for the Stagecoach name and ended up straight into Martin’s Money Tips website forum full of stories of people finding similar transactions to the above. I phoned my bank straight away and they confirmed someone had been buying bus tickets with my account details. I was connected with the fraud dept who took a few details and immediately cancelled my card. I will get my money back but I just dread to think what could’ve happened if I hadn’t checked my account tonight.

The forums at Martin’s Money Tips are naming a few sites that may have been to blame and one of them is Amazon. I have been using Amazon Marketplace lately and I’m a bit concerned they aren’t as secure as they should be. It seems to be chip and pin cards that are affected. I’m careful when I enter my pin in shops and most of the time, they are big name shops like HMV and Boots so I can’t see how they could have been at fault.

The only other concern is cash machines but I tend to use only two. One inside my bank and another outside the shop across the road. I’m now considering only using cash machines inside the bank.

So, everyone, please keep an eye on your bank accounts and if you see anything suspicious - call them right away!