Fake Charge
Complaint
David E
Country: United States
Received a fake charge for $15.89 on my credit card, when I called the merchant "Amazon" the number is not in service and fake. The charge says: "Merchandise - Direct Marketing - Continuity Subscription. I do not have an Amazon Account or do I order from Amazon. Called my bank Citibank and they said call Amazon. Great customer service, I will be closing this account and destroying my card.
Comments
Although many banks might handle phone disputes in accordance with FCBA, that does not preserve your rights under the act.
File a WRITTEN dispute, mailed to the dispute address from your statement, and refer to your earlier notification by phone. Include a copy of your statement marked to show the disputed charge. They should "investigate" (or whatever they do for $15.89), reverse the charge, and maybe send you a fraud affidavit to sign and send back,
Since you're getting unauthorized charges, you should also request that this card number be blocked, and a new card with a different number issued. Customer service should at least have directed you to their fraud department, who should have blocked the card number immediately.
Be aware that charges flagged as "recurring" (commonly subscriptions, utilities, etc.) will often be rolled over even to new card numbers (as a "convenience to you"), which is why scams commonly flag their charges this way, so watch your new statements to be sure any reversed charges don't reappear on your new card number statement.
If you have problems with banks complying with FCBA, you can contact the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which has regulatory authority over them.