Fraudulent Apple.com/AU Sydney Charge - Citibank Credit Card

KingK on 11/12/2024 - 01:28
Last edited 11/12/2024 - 10:12 by 1 other user

Hi all, on the 5th of December I was going through my credit card transactions and saw this unauthorised transaction of over $2.2K!

Luckily I saw this on the day itself. I went through my Apple transactions, and I haven’t purchased anything from the real Apple at all this year so clearly it's a fraudulent transaction.

I immediately called Citibank and had the card cancelled, and transaction reported. This is quite unexpected as I am quite on top of my passwords and 2FA now (using a password manager), usually Citi even requires a 2FA message before such a large transaction.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar or have any advice moving forward.

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  bk1973 on 11/12/2024 - 03:00

  +1

  This is abnormal I think. Perhaps it was done in-store rather than online (not sure how, but maybe the sales person typed in the card numbers rather than inserted for a chip purchase). Who knows. If you’re worried about card security, get an ANZ card. You almost need a colonoscopy to use that card. I’ve had my card for a month with them and already they’ve put two separate blocks on my card, and each time it was me trying to use it. I had to go to a local branch to unblock it the first time.

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  kmwa on 11/12/2024 - 04:40

  Earlier this year, my wife's card (a Coles Platinum Mastercard) had two fraudulent transactions.
  Jul 18 Apple Online Au Sydney Au 149.00
  Jul 19 Apple.Com/Au Sydney Au 149.00
  We got the card cancelled and replaced. Coles have refunded the money, but they still haven't concluded their investigation.
  I think the scammers who do this just punch random credit card numbers in until one works - they don't necessarily have to gain access to your card in any way.
  But I'm surprised that a transaction of over two thousand dollars went through without needing some authorisation.
  The only advice I've got is - check your transactions regularly. And you're doing that already.
  I have some UK cards that I use infrequently, that have a facility to freeze the card. No money can then be taken out (though refunds can go in). Very useful, but it would be too much of a hassle with a card that's used on a daily basis.

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    Subere on 11/12/2024 - 06:56

    Yeah any large transaction like that and CBA will force a net code requirement.

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  ihfree on 11/12/2024 - 08:04

  Yeah, had messages regarding an attempted use at LG UK. Cancelled the card and got a new one.

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  netjock on 11/12/2024 - 08:54

  Crazy what sometimes the system lets through.

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  crazyguy on 11/12/2024 - 10:08

  Its happening a lot these days my AMEX was swiped to buy ChatGPT subscription in the US; Money refunded card cancelled and new issued.

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  c2pv1ru5 on 11/12/2024 - 11:22

  Cancelling the card is no use if the fraud is committed by internal staff in the card/bank. I had this similar case and after investigation it was internal staff within the card co. i.e. the fraud was not committed by someone charging your card externally, hence no 2FA required.

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    try2bhelpful on 11/12/2024 - 14:13

    I’m amazed they admitted it was internal staff.

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  MelbEng on 11/12/2024 - 14:03

  I too had my card used to make an Apple puchase back a few months ago. I contacted Apple, and they were able to confirm that my card and been linked to someone else's account. So they removed the link. Then had to contact my bank to have the card replaced.

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  try2bhelpful on 11/12/2024 - 14:15

  Was the card linked to your Apple account? I only have gift cards linked on my Apple account to reduce the damage if it is used fraudulently.

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  MrMarket on 11/12/2024 - 20:46

  citi card has an option where it can alert you if a transaction exceeds a certain amount
  I got mine set to $100 or over as soon as a transaction process with $100 or more I get an alert SMS

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  PerthectDeal on 07/01/2025 - 11:15

  In September my Citibank card had some fraud transactions (Uber in Uk) a month later my wifes Citibank did. Strange thing is we had not used her card much so suspect Citibank was at risk somehow.
  We got new cards and refunded. Now I just check the statements more carefully.

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  kanga91 on 07/01/2025 - 15:04

  Anecdotal but I also had a fraud charge on my Citi bank card last year ($6500 worth of furniture that I was able to notify the store of before they we're able to take the merchandise). I am also pretty good with my security so it was very strange.

  The bank was great about it though and instantly issued me a new card when I called and they handled it from there.