I have "check ID" on my credit cards, and the tellers do check about 75% 
of the time.

Lee

Rob Wultsch wrote:

> What I wouldn't do for a $3500 shopping spree at Best Buy.
>
> OSX (do they have macs?) and HDTV here I come...
>
> Ed Skinner wrote:
>
>>      I know of at least one other reader of this list that goes to 
>> the same gym (Bally's at Cave Creek and Cactus), hence this posting.
>>      Two credit cards were stolen from my wallet in my padlocked 
>> locker at the above gym on Saturday the 16th. The locker was 
>> padlocked before and after the theft and was not detected by me at 
>> the time. The theives (I'm assuming there was more than one person -- 
>> probably a "lookout" in addition to the "lock pick" individual) used 
>> the two credit cards to chart $269.23 at Sports Authority, $1900.00 
>> (odd) at Best Buy, and another $1600.00 (odd) at Best Buy (dunno if 
>> it was the same store or not), and finally $416.00 at Sapporo 
>> Japanese Restaurant in Scottsdale (to celebrate, no doubt). These 
>> charges were all completed that same evening.
>>      Sunday morning (the 17th), the fraud department of one of the 
>> credit card companies telephoned us. (This was when we discovered 
>> that the cards were missing.) The fraud department reviewed the 
>> recent charges and we identified which ones were fraudulent. (If I'm 
>> not mistaken, because we did not know the cards had been stolen, we 
>> will not be liable for any charges, not even the token $50 amount. 
>> Anyone know how this works?) I then checked my wallet and determined 
>> that another card was missing, called that company and, sure enough, 
>> it was also being used fraudulently. (Half of the above charges were 
>> on each of the two cards.)
>>      Here's what I'm guessing happened.
>>      My wife and I arrived at the gym at about 5:00PM on Saturday 
>> evening. (Married folks "have no life" on Saturday night.) I change 
>> clothes and lock (Masterlock combination lock -- I've since learned 
>> this is a really bad choice because they are so common, and 
>> pick-able) my wallet and street clothes. I am probably observed by 
>> one of the thieves who waits until I leave the locker room.
>>       Probably posting a lookout, or just proceeding on guts (as the 
>> gym doesn't have a lot of people in it), the thief picks the lock and 
>> examines my wallet. He leaves the ATM card and, of the stack of three 
>> credit cards, leaves the topmost one. He also leaves the small amount 
>> of cash I have. He takes only the two credit cards that are 
>> underneath another. Presumably this strategy is so I won't notice the 
>> theft. (And it works as planned.) He relocks my locker and vacates 
>> the area. They leave the gym and use the credit cards to buy stuff at 
>> stores that don't do a very good signature check. (Someone suggested 
>> writing "ASK FOR ID" in the signature area of the card instead of my 
>> signature -- would that help?) Finally, they ended the evening with 
>> lots of celebratory drinks and several rounds of sushi.
>>       Googling for "How to pick masterlock combination lock" turns up 
>> lots of hits. Although I was unable to open my own lock using the 
>> techniques listed, I figure it may just be a matter of practice.
>>       We're going to change our habits.
>> 1) When going to the gym, take only driver's license, gym membership 
>> card, and car ignition key. All other non-clothing items stay at home.
>> 2) At the gym, keep these three items on my person while working out, 
>> in the shower and the steam room. (I'm thinking some sort of 
>> bungie-cord wrist band and sealable plastic bag for the shower, and 
>> that in my pocket while working out.)
>> 3) Use a better (keyed) lock on the locker, regardless (and carry the 
>> key while working out, etc.). [Brand/model suggestions?]
>>      We're *not* locking things in the car because I don't want to 
>> tempt a thief to smash my windows. We'll park in a "highly visible" 
>> location (and not under a shade tree -- bummer!).
>>
>
>


-- 


Lee Einer
Dos Manos Jewelry
http://www.dosmanosjewelry.com