| Amazon invests in billing service
Amazon.com has made an investment in Bill Me Later, a service that allows consumers to make purchases online without using a credit card. Terms weren't disclosed Amazon said in a statement Tuesday that it will make Bill Me Later's service available on its Web site. Seattle-based Amazon is the world's biggest online retailer. Microsoft Office 2007 update beats release target Microsoft said Tuesday that it has released the first major update of its Office 2007 productivity software at least one month ahead of its projected target. The software maker said Office 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) will crash less, is easier to use and is more secure than the original program that was released to consumers in January. Microsoft had said it planned to release Office 2007 SP1 in early 2008, but the company finished updating the software sooner than it expected.
Vesdia Launches Innovative Rewards Credit Cards
ATLANTA, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Vesdia Corporation, a leading provider of loyalty marketing services, announced today the launch of four new Visa(R) credit cards to support its leading reward programs BabyMint(TM), NestEggz(R), Stockback(R) and FundraiserRewards(R). The card launch in partnership with MXT Card Services provides consumers with additional earning opportunities in the rewards currencies that matter most to them. Consumers can apply for the Platinum Visa cards on the program websites through an easy to use web application, and earn rebates of 1% on any purchase made using the card. The new rewards credit cards offer competitive benefits and no annual fee. Cardholders can earn additional rebates of up to 26% of their purchases at hundreds of retailers in Vesdia's merchant network, including top brands like Eddie Bauer, Illuminations, Best Buy, Gap.com, Lands' End(R) and Banana Republic - representing over 100,000 store locations and service providers, hundreds of catalogs and gift cards, and more than 600 leading online retailers.
Fake News Scams Job Seekers
Courtni Klosloski thought she had found the perfect job.
After posting her resume to Monster.com she was directed to a website for WACT, Action 25 News, a cable news channel out of Macon, Georgia.
"I was thinking to myself, wow I'm going to be able to put a thousand dollars away for my daughters college, I'm going to be able to pay this, pay that, our lives are going to change," Klosloski recalled.
The website was complete with weather updates, an "award winning news team", and a consumer reporter claiming to know how you can make $84,000 a year by working at home.
Courtni used her credit card to purchase a set of job training DVDs for nearly $300.
After realizing she'd been scammed Courtni tried to reach WACT, but each try led to a dead end.
MasterCard spent $1.8M lobbying
MasterCard International Inc. spent $1.8 million in 2007 to lobby on Internet-related issues and on fees merchants pay when customers use credit cards. The Purchase, N.Y.-based company spent $880,000 in the second half of 2007 to lobby Congress, according to a disclosure form posted online Feb. 13 by the Senate's public records office. It lobbied on gambling regulations and the use of credit cards to purchase illegal material on the Internet. The company spent $880,000 lobbying in the first half of the year on financial literacy, data security, microchip technology and fees banks pay to credit card networks. Congress is weighing tighter regulations on the credit card industry. The industry came under fire in December, when a Senate subcommitee issued a report denouncing practices that include raising interest rates for customers whose credit ratings decline, even if they make their card payments on time.
Indigo co-owner pleads guilty to credit card fraud
A former co-owner of the now-defunct Indigo Lounge admitted Thursday in federal court to stealing thousands of dollars from restaurant patrons. Kevin O'Connell, 33, flew to Great Falls from Buffalo, N.Y., where he lives, to appear on a felony charge of credit card fraud. He pleaded guilty to the charge, acknowledging that he made $44,209 in unauthorized charges to the credit card accounts of several customers. He said he saved receipts from credit card purchases made in the restaurant, and later used the card numbers on the receipts to make additional charges. .
Brandy's mom: Kim Kardashian, siblings had chance to avoid litigation
The mother and manager of former America's Got Talent judge Brandy Norwood filed a lawsuit on Monday alleging Kardashian and three of her siblings charged $120,636 worth of purchases to her credit card without her permission. Kim and her sister Khloe had previously worked for Brandy, while Kim also dated Sonja's son William "Ray J" Norwood Jr.. "I did not want to commence litigation against the Kardashian family without conducting an exhaustive investigation into the charges, and discussing all options, including criminal prosecution, with my family," Sonja told OK! Weekly in a statement released Tuesday. "After Ray-J and Brandy urged me not to file criminal charges because of their prior friendship, I decided to afford the Kardashians an opportunity to resolve this matter without a lawsuit." Sonja told OK! that once "the fraudulent charges" were brought to the Kardashian's attention, "they apologized profusely." "[They] advised us, through their attorneys, that they would pay the debt in full," Sonja told OK!. "However, they have since reneged on that promise." According to the lawsuit, Kim used Sonja's American Express credit card to make the unauthorized purchases when she was employed as Brandy's stylist in 2006 and 2007. The lawsuit also accuses Kim of sharing Norwood's credit card information with siblings Kourtney, Robert Jr.
Credit card scam warning
This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U with all the information, except the one piece they want. Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself. One of our employees was called on Wednesday from “VISA", and I was called on Thursday from “MasterCard". The scam works like this: Person calling says, “This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank) did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing company based in London?" When you say “No", the caller continues with, “Then we will be issuing a credit to your account.
Chase Card Services Announces ChaseHealthAdvance financing options and ...
WILMINGTON, Del. - Chase Card Services, a division of JPMorgan Chase & Co. [NYSE: JPM], announced today that it has finalized the acquisition of Unicorn Financial Services, a leading patient financing company. The combined company officially launches its expanded set of patient financing products today as ChaseHealthAdvance financing options. Rising medical and dental costs have created a need for new and adaptive healthcare financing options. In addition, the demand for elective procedures ranging from dental, vision correction and cosmetic procedures to veterinary care for pets, is increasing at a rapid rate. The knowledge base that Chase has built in providing consumer credit to millions of credit card holders prompted Chase to develop ChaseHealthAdvance. "As a premier and trusted financial institution, Chase is able to offer affordable, flexible options for those looking to finance healthcare procedures, as well as provide competitive service fees for providers" said Hugh Bleemer, general manager, ChaseHealthAdvance.
It's time to renew hunting-fishing licenses
Hunting and fishing licenses for 2008-2009 will go on sale Feb. 18 at license agents throughout the state. Current licenses expire at midnight Feb. 29 and the new licenses go into effect March 1. Besides license agents, licenses can be purchased at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's Web site, and charged to a credit card. Licenses can be purchased over the phone by calling 1-888-814-8972 and charged to a credit card. All licenses purchased via a credit card carry an additional $3.95 processing and handling fee. TWRC Meeting Cancelled: Due to a light agenda, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission has cancelled its February meeting scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. TWRC's next meeting will be March 19 and 20 at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's Region II office in Nashville.
Heartland Payment Systems buys majority stake in Collective Point of ...
PRINCETON, N.J. - Heartland Payment Systems Inc., which offers payroll and debit and credit card processing services, said Tuesday it bought a majority stake in Canada's Collective Point of Sale Solutions Ltd. Terms of the deal for the payment processing and secure point-of-sale services company were not disclosed. Heartland said it does not expect the purchase of a controlling stake in Collective, which has about 5,000 Canadian customers, to have "a material impact" on the New Jersey's company 2008 revenues or net income. Shares of Heartland fell 6 cents to $21.95 in afternoon trading. .
Identity thieves turn to old-fashioned channels — mail and phones
NEW YORK When it comes to identity theft, most people think they're especially vulnerable when they're working on their computers or when fraudsters hack into big databases and steal card numbers. In fact, consumers are far more likely to be victimized if their wallet, checkbook or credit card is lost or stolen, according to a new study released by Javelin Strategy & Research. The research group, which is based in San Francisco, also found that as financial institutions and retailers have improved their in-store and online security, ID thieves have turned to more traditional channels of theft, especially the telephones and the mail. While the incidence of ID fraud through in-store and online purchases declined in the latest survey, conducted last October, from a similar study in 2006, the portion of fraud stemming from mail or telephone purchases jumped to 40 percent from 3 percent.
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