So, I've had a frustrating experience lately with my credit cards. About two weeks ago, I noticed an unauthorized $2 charge on my Amazon account. At that time, I'd only used my card at trusted places like gas stations and Walmart, so I figured it was a card skimmer and canceled the card. I received a new card last Friday and used it four times at similar places. Unfortunately, today I woke up to find a $15 unauthorized charge on the new card, also from Amazon. The only common factor is that both cards had used the Steam platform for online purchases.
Given that I use tap-to-pay, I don't think skimming is the issue anymore. I suspect my information might have been stolen online, possibly through keylogging, especially since I have two-factor authentication enabled on Steam. I haven't received any notifications indicating my account was accessed, and I never store my card details in apps, so I believe this info was collected while I was making purchases.
This has me feeling quite anxious. I don't typically visit sketchy sites, and I've only downloaded games from reputable sources. I've already done a full reset of my computer and scanned for malware with no results. I'm uncertain how this could happen or if keylogging is the actual issue. What steps should I take now? Should I beef up my security, wait and see, or make cautious purchases going forward?
5 Answers
You might want to fully clean reinstall your OS and all programs. Switching to a password manager can also help; they often autofill passwords, which can minimize the risk from keyloggers.
Honestly, it could be a mix of bad luck and all the cyber threats out there right now. It's crazy how often these attacks occur. Just be cautious about where you use your cards!
Make sure to delete your old card info from Amazon as well. Sometimes they automatically update, which could lead to further issues if your details are compromised.
Great point! I lost my card once and forgot to remove it—definitely led to more unauthorized purchases.
It sounds like your Amazon account might be the weak link here. Make sure to check and update your security settings there, and consider changing your passwords regularly.
Definitely! Also, consider enabling two-factor authentication on Amazon if you haven't already.
The simplest answer could be that someone with access to your card info is making these purchases. Double-check any family members who might have the card or access to your accounts.
True, sometimes family members forget to mention minor purchases.
Yeah, with a password manager, even if one password is compromised, it doesn’t affect others. Great idea!