# Fraudulent use of credit card -- why gas station? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 3, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraudulent-use-of-credit-card-why-gas-station/830499 "2019-03-03T20:29:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraudulent-use-of-credit-card-why-gas-station/830499/21 "2019-03-06T17:47:41Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > Presumably they didn’t need $500+ of gasoline – and if they did, whatever for? Otherwise what would they buy at a Speedway that could easily be turned into cash? Beer and cigarettes ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraudulent-use-of-credit-card-why-gas-station/830499/22 "2019-03-06T17:49:34Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > If instead, the thief goes to Best Buy for a big purchase, and the card fails, he has to make a scene, attract attention, and it’s all recorded on the security camera. Why? I guess people _notice_ the folks who make a big scene but I’m guessing most failed transactions are handled with a “Oh, shit. Uh, sorry… guess I need to call my bank or talk to my spouse” then sheepishly leaving. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraudulent-use-of-credit-card-why-gas-station/830499/23 "2019-03-06T18:06:24Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Beer and cigarettes Lots of lottery tickets. I like the gift card theory. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraudulent-use-of-credit-card-why-gas-station/830499/24 "2019-03-06T18:22:14Z")
Lots of gas stations are little convenience stores, especially right off the highway. Cigarettes, beer, groceries, burner phones and other electronic gadgets, lottery tickets. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraudulent-use-of-credit-card-why-gas-station/830499/25 "2019-03-06T18:31:01Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Lots of gas stations are little convenience stores, especially right off the highway. Cigarettes, beer, groceries, burner phones and other electronic gadgets, lottery tickets. And, don’t forget the [Huggies](https://i.redd.it/yd1ndyu5io411.jpg). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraudulent-use-of-credit-card-why-gas-station/830499/26 "2019-03-06T18:38:30Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > And, don’t forget the [Huggies](https://i.redd.it/yd1ndyu5io411.jpg). 😃 Well hell, that explains it, right there! ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraudulent-use-of-credit-card-why-gas-station/830499/27 "2019-03-06T18:48:16Z")
I am surprised that they spent $500 on the first purchase. What is more common when professionals steal your credit card information is to make a small purchase to see if you and your credit card provider are paying attention. If not, then they hit it for a big cleanout. My Chase card info was comprised probably at some sketchy web site I bought something at. The first fraudulent purchase was for only $18 at some computer store in Florida, I am in Oregon. Chase called and asked if I had made this purchase and of course I had not. Cancelled card and got a new one and they were only out $18. Turns out after a little research, that this computer store probably doesn’t even exist and has been used before to make the initial purchase on stolen card info. Which I think is why Chase flagged the purchase. Either that or the distance involved. $500 on the first purchase, Ha, amateurs. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraudulent-use-of-credit-card-why-gas-station/830499/28 "2019-03-06T19:04:36Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Turns out after a little research, that this computer store probably doesn’t even exist and has been used before to make the initial purchase on stolen card info. The two times I’ve had a card number stolen, they were used at the same electronics web store, for something like 999.99, presumably under a limit to ring alarm bells. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraudulent-use-of-credit-card-why-gas-station/830499/29 "2019-03-06T20:57:22Z")
I had my card compromised once. I checked the charges, didn’t recognize one, called the company listed on the charge (thinking it might have been something I did online and forgot). Someone in Denver bought a fancy coffee machine of some sort. Called the CC company to dispute the charge. Security looked at it, said they saw the charge come in, and credited it back. I checked online a couple of days later, and the charge was still there. Called back, asked what was the deal. It turns out that while I was on the phone with the CC company the first, the scammer apparently ordered yet another fancy coffee machine, and that was what was credited to me. So then they reversed the original charge also. The timing was somewhat amazing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraudulent-use-of-credit-card-why-gas-station/830499.md?page=1)