I want to share with everyone about a credit card scam incident that involved the UOB PPV card which I signed up recently for my overseas use. It seems scammers have level up again.
I had used the card by inserting it into my phone as per the terms and conditions of UOB orchard privilege banking of the card to make contactless transactions and payment in Christchurch and somehow, a mysterious transaction of ~$35 was placed in Auckland where I was no where even remotely near the location.
When I contacted UOB Raffles Place,singapore to dispute the charges and make a police report, they told me that they cannot do anything about as I quote “the transaction was made with the mobile contactless via paywave with the same phone I used for my other transactions” but when I checked the merchant name as stated on the bank statement as attached, it listed as Southpark which does not even have a physical store in Auckland. It is listed in Malaysia as their physical store via google. And all my previous transactions were in Christchurch where I am currently at.
This incident seemed to be unique because I had use my mobile to make payment from my mobile phone all the time with that card wherever I was and somehow the hackers were able to clone the card AND phone details to make fraudulent transactions too regardless of whether we use the physical card or the mobile contactless.
This indicates that the latest technologies used by cloners have upgraded to even clone mobile contactless device ID to make payments and I urge everyone to be aware of this when even making mobile contactless payment.
Take note of this from UOB as now I am stuck with a locked mobile banking thanks to UOB and how the bank has been unhelpful to even assist. Hence consider rethinking if that’s the bank for you in times when you lose hundreds or thousands of dollars it as they will push it all around like tai chi to avoid responsibility.