PING: Atlanta Residents (Help with Address)

[Ksyrup]

I'm dealing with a potential credit card fraud situation, but I'm up on this MoFo and have already tracked an online purchase he/she made that was shipped from Santa Rosa, CA, to Atlanta, GA. I don't know if the Santa Rosa address is completely bogus or not, but I do know that someone will likely be wherever the package has been sent (I'm smart like that, yo).

Anyway, the address I have is 3929 Campbellton Rd SW. I can't find a direct hit on this address (although I'm learning that Google Maps will show you pretty much any address you give it, regardless of whether it exists or not). The closest addresses I've found are 3911, which is SW Atlanta Christian Academy, and 4000, which is Denise Spiritual Healer (hmmm...). Can anyone tell me if there is anything between those two places on Campbellton Rd? I know this is a pretty specific question, but we have a number of ATL people on this board, so I figure I'd give it a shot.

I already alerted the CC company this weekend, but their 6-8 weeks deal was a tad unsatisfying, so I'm doing my own investigation, at which point I'm going to tell them that I have confirmed a fraud and that this isn't just a disputed charge anymore (I pretty much told them that on Saturday, but all they did was treat it as a disputed charge at that point). The online vendor was understanding, canceled the order, and gave me the contact/address for both the billing and shipping info. I'm also looking into the possibility that this is connected to the NY-based restaurant fraud ring that was just indicted, seeing as though I was in Manhattan a month or so ago. Fucking Dave Wannestadt is behind this, I just know it...

Anyway, any info you guys can provide is much appreciated. Thanks!

[gstelmack]

MapQuest shows some sort of business or school there (large parking lot and what looks like a basketball court). Check out the aerial view.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=&address=3929+Campbellton+Rd+SW&city=Atlanta&state=GA&zipcode=

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, I saw that. It looks like it might be part of SW Atlanta Christian Academy - at least that's my guess. Of more interest to me is what is on the right side. Those buildings appear to be town homes or apartments. That address has to be somewhere, though, because that's where this package (it was purchased from an online pet supply company) is being sent.

[SnDvls]

usps.com says it's a "NON-DELIVERABLE" address

[Ksyrup]

Bizarre. It was definitely a "CHARGEABLE" purchase!

[SnDvls]

Bizarre. It was definitely a "CHARGEABLE" purchase!

sorry I should clarify my statment. USPS won't deliever there, but UPS or FedEx or DHL might. Guess you'd have to find out who the shipper uses.

[Shepp]

How was the package going to be delivered? Its possible that this scheme is complex enought that the delivery driver(s) may be in on it. If they see a package to a certain undeliverable street number in their territory they know its for them to keep. That is purely speculation but you never know. I have seen instances where fraud rings have items delivered to houses that they know are vacant or that the unsuspecting owners are not home during the day and then just go around picking the stuff up off of the doorstep once its delivered.

You should also try and report this to the Atlanta Police. That may be more effort then you want to invest though, because I'm sure they will try and give you the runaraound because you don't live in the city. If you don't take no for an answer you should still be able to get a report.

[Ksyrup]

I contacted my CC company and they re-configured my initial complaints as fraud investigations. Unfortunately, that means a new CC number for me, which is a tremendous pain in the ass (but necessary). I'll let the CC company handle it and bring law enforcement into it if it warrants.

I appreciated the help I got from the first company I called - the online pet supply company. I have to say, though, that the other disputed/fraudulent charge was with Comcast, and they were tremendous assholes and appear not to give a shit about fraud. I understand that they can't give me ID info for the account that my card was used on, but the way I was treated and got transferred around all morning was ridiculous. And in the end, they basically refused to help me and told me to just let the CC company handle it.

I told them that I wanted them to flag my CC number so that if anyone tried to use it again, they would know not to charge anything to it. They refused. They told me they have no way of tracing the CC number to a particular charge that was made or the account it might have been charged to. How in the hell that is anything but a straight-up lie, I don't know. How could they NOT know the account that a particular charge was credited to? What kind of business do they run, if that is true? They basically questioned whether I was being truthful - at which point I offered to stay on the line while they confirmed my ID with the CC company. I told them that if I was trying to scam them, I'd probably be trying to charge something to the card, not get them to NOT charge to it. And anyway, if they thought I might be trying to screw with someone, I offered to prove my ID directly with the CC company.

But they refused. They wouldn't even take the info from me to flag the CC in their system. I would think a prudent business would want to know if one of its customers was paying bills fraudulently - particular with a business like Comcast has, since their customers are almost entirely going to be monthly, continuous customers. But apparently not. It seems that I care more about them being defrauded than they do.

The Comcast charge appears to have been made in Atlanta, which is why I see a connection between the two charges.

[SnDvls]

Ksyrup, you may want to put a flag on your personal credit file as well sounds like it could be the start of some identiy thieft...PM me if you need/want more info I've been through it before and it isn't fun at all.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, I'm going to look into that tonight. The bizarre thing is that the Comcast charge was ridiculously small, like a PPV movie or something. The other was much bigger, but not something that would draw attention. Lucky for me, I have my account info update nearly every day through Money so that I see what gets charged within a day or two. That's how I caught this. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known until I got my statement.

[DanGarion]

I can relate to why Comcast probably gave you the run around, you were probably talking to just a normal customer service rep. You may have better luck speaking with their Abuse / Fraud department, but you'd probably have to get in touch a supervisor or someone in the Office of the President before they are going to be able to figure out what is going on.

It is not a typical call that customer service gets, that's probably why the person was so baffled as to what they could do to assist you. And why they said they couldn't flag your CC (that isn't a simple process that a regular customer service person could do, if they even have th ability).

[Ksyrup]

No, I talked to about 15 different people, the final couple being the Fraud section, then when they told me they couldn't help, they sent me to their main Philly office's Executive Support section. That was my final discussion with them, and they basically told me there was nothing they would/could do for me.

I've already done most of the investigation - here I am, basically telling them they have someone trying to defraud them and me, and they don't give a shit. It's not that I wanted them to solve the case, I just wanted them to give a damn, and they wouldn't even do that.

[DanGarion]

No, I talked to about 15 different people, the final couple being the Fraud section, then when they told me they couldn't help, they sent me to their main Philly office's Executive Support section. That was my final discussion with them, and they basically told me there was nothing they would/could do for me.

I've already done most of the investigation - here I am, basically telling them they have someone trying to defraud them and me, and they don't give a shit. It's not that I wanted them to solve the case, I just wanted them to give a damn, and they wouldn't even do that.
Ouch, that's not good. Wish I could help you somehow, but it's Comcast not Time Warner Cable. :(.

[Ksyrup]

Well, assuming this is just an isolated case of someone getting ahold of my card number and making purchases, it's pretty much over. That number is canceled and I've paid enough attention to my purchases that I know these are the only two unauthorized ones I've had. Maybe something else will roll in from this past weekend or this morning over the next few days, but otherwise, I think it has been contained. It's going to end up being an inconvenience more than anything, although I'd like to know how it happened and who's behind it. I'm still thinking the Atlanta connection is too much of a coincidence to not be a lead.

[Eaglesfan27]

I also recently had to deal with a case of fraud where they charged over 2500 dollars to my card from an electrical supply store. That was also an Atlanta address but a different one. Very odd. In my case, I've already had the card cancelled and they are investigating the claim of fraud, no other charges have appeared on my other card and no new accounts have been opened. However, it has been a pain keeping an eye on all of these things.

[wbatl1]

Yeah, Comcast is complete crap when it comes to customer service. Earthlink can't figure out how to give me consistant DSL, but there is no way I would ever transfer to Comcast for internet. They are miserable at Customer service...

[GrantDawg]

Dang, got to find another way to pay for my "Girls Gone Wild on Demand." I wonder if Ben keeps a check on his cc....

[Ksyrup]

We closed this number yesterday and got a new one going forward, but checking my account this morning, another minimal charge from Comcast showed up as having been charged on Sunday. The address is 2925 Courtyards Drive in Norcross - I'm assuming that's a Comcast office. The strange thing is that both charges have been the same amount - $2.05. What could they possibly be charging? And what would it be that wouldn't go on a monthly bill? I'm not familar with what kind of office or pay center this is - is this a store where you can buy stuff? Because I'm thinking if it was related to a cable/internet account, wouldn't the charge just go on the monthly bill, instead of being charged separately at the time of purchase (whatever it is they are purchasing)?

I'm confused. But this second charge just makes me that much more pissed at Comcast for not helping me. I realize the amounts are so small that they probably don't give a shit, but I hope they get hit with some massive fraud and don't get paid a cent.

[JonInMiddleGA]

2925 Courtyards Drive Norcross, GA 30071

That address is actually the office where my Atlanta Comcast ad sales reps are located, as well as my Comcast SportSouth rep is, etc. A quick Google tells me that's also where their engineering department is. Basically that's the address for their corporate office in Atlanta, although I have no idea whether they also receive/process bill payments there.

As for $2.05, I wonder if maybe they've got something like Dish has, the "Last Chance Channel" for PPV movies that are about to end their run & are about two bucks.

[Ksyrup]

That's what I was thinking, a PPV movie, but is that something you call up and separately charge? Any cable/satellite provider I've had just puts that kind of thing on my monthly bill. Maybe there's some kind of package where people aren't billed, but can pay ala carte? Either way, one would think the payment would be directly linked to someone's account, so you have to be pretty fucking stupid to knowingly use a stolen CC number to pay for something like this, don't you think?

Also, is Norcross in the vicinity of that Campbellton Rd address? I think my perp is definitely in that area. Ans also not too smart - charging cable TV services and buying an item that is shipped to a particular address with a stolen credit card.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Also, is Norcross in the vicinity of that Campbellton Rd address?

Nope, opposite corners of the Atlanta metro. C'ton Rd is SW of the city, Norcross is to the NE of the city.

[Ksyrup]

Hmmm. Although I guess if that Comcast office is the Atlanta corporate office, it may show up as the billing address for all Atlanta-area services, regardless of where the residence is.

[Desnudo]

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-16-Mon-2006/photos/5bounty.jpg

[Ksyrup]

Another day, another 3 charges show up this morning when I checked my account. I canceled the number on Monday morning, so I don't think there can be many more, but I've got yet another $2.05 charge with Comcast and 2 other charges to that pet supply company. Oddly, it appears that all 3 pet supply company charges occurred on the same day, with the first one showing up on Saturday but the other 2 only showing up today. All three were apparently placed/charged last Thursday.

The pet supply company was very helpful when I called on Monday, so I'm going to call again to alert them to what is going on (AGAIN) and see if I can verify the billing/shipping info they gave me last time (or see if these orders have completely different info attached to them). And then I'll be making the daily call to my CC company to report this again.

I feel like I should move this into the dynasty forum...

[Butter]

Is it possible this is some kind of mistake with the CC numbers being inadvertently mixed up and not some sort of intentional fraud? Seems like if it were intentional fraud, they probably would've tried to charge a bit more than they have instead of 3 Comcast PPV's and some pet supplies. It's certainly possible, but it's very strange if that is the case.

[Ksyrup]

It is strange. If I was knowingly going to commit CC fraud, I think I'd probably not use a stolen number to buy PPV movies that can be traced to my account, or online merchandise that gets shipped to a traceable address (unless there's something realyl big going on with the address this stuff is being sent to). It's possible that it will end up being a CC company mistake - perhaps they gave out a duplicate number to a new CC holder by mistake? I don't know. But whatever it is, it has resulted in a big mess for me.

[JeeberD]

Is it possible this is some kind of mistake with the CC numbers being inadvertently mixed up and not some sort of intentional fraud? Seems like if it were intentional fraud, they probably would've tried to charge a bit more than they have instead of 3 Comcast PPV's and some pet supplies. It's certainly possible, but it's very strange if that is the case.

My wife and I went to a First Time Homebuyers seminar that past weekend, and when they were talking about credit they mentioned identity and credit card theft. They said to keep a close eye on your statements because usually thiefs will charge small items on your account to see if you're paying attention before they go after big ticket items...

[Ksyrup]

Small items are one thing - restaurants and such. But traceable things? That's why I can't understand what else could be charged to Comcast. Who would use a stolen CC to charge PPV movies? Once my CC company contacts Comcast, presumably Comcast will act more interested than they did when I called, and they'll be able to connect the purchase with a purchaser. That's the bizarre thing to me.

[Ksyrup]

Well, after speaking with the pet supply company again, it seems pretty clear to me that this is being done knowingly. The billing address has my name but a Santa Rosa, CA address that I have traced to an apartment complex. I don't know if there is someone there who is involved in this, or if that's just a dummy address they attached to my name to get the order through. I questioned why they wouldn't verify both the name and address on the CC when the order was placed, and the lady told me they only verify the name unless the amount of the charge is over $250. And guess what? There were 3 separate charges on the same day - all of them under $250. So this person knew what he/she was doing.

I also verified the shipping address as that address on Campbellton Road that doesn't appear to be an actual address (that I can tell). Odd. Between that and the Comcast charges, I'm wondering what this person is up to.

[Ksyrup]

OK, this is getting very bizarre. I've found someone who purportedly has my same name and the address matches the billing address for the pet supply company purchases (thank you once again, theultimates.com!). So it's possible that this other person - assuming he exists - opened an account with my CC company and somehow our two accounts got mixed together, and they sent him a card with my number on it.

It's also entirely possible that there is ID theft here. I still haven't seen anything that explains the Atlanta connection. And the 3 separate charges on one day to the same online vendor is still very suspicious. One thing in favor of a mix-up is that I found a wedding registry for "me" and a woman (who is not my wife). I can't tell if it is current or not, but it allows people to buy them gifts for their Hawaii honeymoon. I'm starting to think I'm Mr. Underhill.

[Ksyrup]

One other thing - I have a phone number. Do I dare call it and ask for myself?

[Ksyrup]

I swear, I'm such a freaking wiz doing research! I've now got a definite address and phone number for this other person, and between the wedding registry I've found and additional research I've done that confirms his attendance at a particular community college, where he played soccer and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, I think I have enough information (aside from a SSN) to conclude that this guy is, in fact, real. I'm going to call my CC company and see if they can't find a separate person with my name who recently was granted membership and a new card (with my number).

The internet kicks ass.

[Butter]

Hopefully it is just a wacky mix-up. Either way, it sounds like it's going to be a mess to untangle.

[Ksyrup]

Well, the other possibility is that someone targeted us, knowing my CC number and that someone with my name has a valid address across country, and this guy is just being used as a pawn to facilitate CC fraud. I still don't see a tie between this guy and Atlanta, and why he would be ordering stuff under someone else's account name and sending it to a third person in Georgia. And then there's the Comcast strangeness.

I checked my credit this morning and everything seems OK.