Warning! Phony SKYPE Charges on Your Credit Card. It Happened to Me.

Gary North

Nov. 27, 2007

I just got hit with ten $18 charges from Skype. I am not alone:

http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=2000289511

Skype is a free web-based telephone service. So, the charges are some sort of scam. This is not some teenage kid out on a spending spree.

How someone got my card number, I don't know.

This CBS 60 Minutes broadcast shows how easy it is to collect credit card data from local branches of national chains. The protection is far worse than on-line commerce. This centers on the TJ Maxx heist.

We called the card company. The card company canceled my card. It will send out a replacement card in two weeks.

I do have a back-up card.

Be on the lookout for this in your monthly card statement.

Please forward this public-access report to friends. This scam is widespread.

I will add this to my Tip of the Week. But I wanted to let you know immediately.

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