Multiple users' credit cards were hacked and used for unauthorized transactions abroad. Some even had four transactions stolen?

Reported by Song Qinzhan, Edited by Liao Dan

Recently, multiple users on social media reported that unauthorized large transactions occurred on their Shanghai Pudong Development Bank credit cards around September 9, particularly in countries like Brazil, indicating fraudulent charges. Many of these cardholders are not in Brazil and have never even been there, so they do not understand why these transactions appeared out of nowhere.

A reporter from the Daily Economic News discovered that in a group chat formed by the affected individuals on a certain social media platform, the number of members has exceeded one hundred.

In the early hours of September 13, the credit card center of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank announced that it had promptly initiated an emergency response in conjunction with Mastercard, quickly identifying and blocking the risk.

The bank stated that it was “due to external attacks.”

Cardholder Xiao Pan (pseudonym) indicated that the abnormal transaction on his credit card occurred on September 9, but he did not receive a transaction alert that day, and only received a transaction confirmation message on September 11.

Other cardholders who received the transaction confirmation message contacted the customer service of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, and the response they received was to “report to the police and keep the report receipt.” Additionally, they were informed, “The relevant department will follow up and contact you, and during the investigation, you do not need to bear the amount of this transaction, so please rest assured. If there are any other situations or feedback, we will contact you promptly.”

Moreover, customer service clearly stated, “If the subsequent investigation confirms it as a fraudulent incident and you bear no responsibility, the bank will absorb the relevant fraud losses.”

On the evening of September 15, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank told reporters from the Daily Economic News, “Due to external attacks, some cardholders of cooperating banks using Mastercard have been affected. The card center has promptly identified and blocked the risks in conjunction with partners and issued an announcement, fully committed to protecting cardholder rights and preventing customers from bearing losses they should not incur. Our card center has contacted each affected customer to provide communication and explanation.”

From screenshots of transaction information provided by several cardholders, it can be seen that the amount of these abnormal transactions is mostly around 4900 BRL (Brazilian Reais, the main currency in circulation in Brazil), which converts to approximately 6400 RMB, seemingly aiming to avoid exceeding 5000 BRL. In terms of the types of merchants involved, some are “used car dealerships,” while others are “dining places and restaurants,” and some are “taxi services.”

Some individuals have been charged fraudulently four times in total.

Xiao Lei (pseudonym) revealed that he was charged fraudulently four times, all occurring in Brazil, amounting to nearly 20000 BRL.

The reporter learned that the credit cards involved in this large-scale fraud incident are mostly the Priceless World card issued in collaboration between Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and Mastercard, also known as the “Red Sand Seal” credit card.

It is understood that the Red Sand Seal card comes in two versions: old and new, with the old version primarily serving overseas consumption. In May 2024, this card will be updated to a new dual-application chip card that can be used both domestically and internationally.

Many affected cardholders indicated that they possess the old Red Sand Seal card.

According to reports, compared to previous magnetic stripe cards, chip cards are considered relatively safer due to their technological principles, as the magnetic stripe information on magnetic stripe cards is easier to copy.

The China Banking Association previously issued a notice highlighting that one of the significant reasons for card fraud is that cardholders’ cards are skimmed, personal information is leaked, or cards are misused. Consumers should enhance their awareness of transaction security, apply for and use cards through legitimate channels, and refrain from casually handing over personal information to others for processing. They should resolutely not lend or rent their credit or debit cards to others to avoid misuse by criminals leading to adverse consequences. When swiping cards, they should not let their cards go out of sight, be mindful of the number of swipes, and promptly retrieve their cards after use. For old or unused bank cards, they should promptly close their accounts and not dispose of them carelessly.

Furthermore, while online payments bring convenience to daily life, they are also accompanied by certain risks. Criminals can illegally obtain cardholders’ online transaction identification information and transaction verification information, potentially leading to fraud. Consumers should protect the security of their financial account login passwords, withdrawal passwords, and verification codes, and not provide these personal information to third parties. They should also be cautious in identifying the authenticity of online service channels to avoid information theft through “phishing” methods, such as being wary of unknown calls, messages, and suspicious links, not downloading unofficial apps, and not entering personal information like ID cards, bank cards, passwords, or verification codes in unsafe online interfaces or environments.

(Editor: Wang Zhiqiang HF013)

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