Credit Card Fraud - My Freedom Smokes?

[Sully]

I just found over $300 of fraudulent charges on my credit card!!

When I researched the merchant that charged me I found a fraud fb page.

https://www.facebook.com/TeamBeachbodyFraud/

Most of the people who posted on this page ordered from My Freedom Smokes prior to receiving similar fraudulent charges from this merchant.

Considering I have ordered from them too, I hardly find this a coincidence.

They are such a big name in vaping, I don't want to slander them. But this is a major concern IMO.

Perhaps a security issue on their end?...I've always had great experiences with them.

Take this for what it is, and keep a close eye on your statements if you have ever done business with them!

 

[Whiskey]

Thanks for sharing this VERY important information with our members Sully!!!
It's just terrible that this happened

 

[Sully]

I canceled my card and gave the bank all the info I could dig up.They need me to sign an affidavit and mail it back to them, and it may take up to 90 days to resolve the dispute. Such a pain...

 

[f1r3b1rd]

Thank you for the heads up!!!!

 

[The Vape Crusader]

Yeah, this knocks them out of my vendor list. eBay and any company that uses PayPal offers you purchase protection. And they also can't just take money from your account with some number

 

[Robert B]

MFS keeps your CC on file for the next time you order. Which means, your info is stored on a dbase, which is probably what is getting hacked. You can delete your card info when you log into "my account", but I don't know if that will do any good. There could be some malware sitting on their dbase server collecting cc info as it comes in.

 

[f1r3b1rd]

Either way they are off the list of vendors I buy from and that I refer people to. I remember seeing someone im the dmz make a similar claim last year so obviously its a recurring issue.

 

[Jimi]

Sorry to hear that Sully, seems to be a lot of that happening now-a-days they got me too but I was lucky it was only for $40 and my cc card co shut my card down on the second attempt sighting a suspicious charge. How I found out was I went to use my card and it was denied, Ihad to get a new card and sign paperwork to recover my loss. What a nightmare. There is another thread [credit card fraud] started a wk or so ago in this category with several responses. Everyone be on the lookout.

 

[smacksy]

I got my new card from Chase..
This card has a chip in it but no added security for online purchases... I'm not sure if I'm gonna put it out there again either..whew!

sent from my XT1080 via Tapatalk

 

[Robert B]

Either way they are off the list of vendors I buy from and that I refer people to. I remember seeing someone im the dmz make a similar claim last year so obviously its a recurring issue.

It's really too bad because they have special coupon code deals all the time, like the last one for 40% off coils. I bought my Disrupter + Battery from them for a final delivered price of 38 bucks, which is better than anyone I've seen advertise it. Although my card data has never been compromised by them, I won't be able to recommend them anymore either, until they answer my email about keeping my CC data on their system.

I was one of the 40million who had their cards compromised by the Target Stores hack, and one of the 53 million with the Home Depot hack. Both occasions, Capitol One preemptively replaced our cards.

Bloomberg said this last October

 

[f1r3b1rd]

It's really too bad because they have special coupon code deals all the time, like the last one for 40% off coils. I bought my Disrupter + Battery from them for a final delivered price of 38 bucks, which is better than anyone I've seen advertise it. Although my card data has never been compromised by them, I won't be able to recommend them anymore either, until they answer my email about keeping my CC data on their system.

I was one of the 40million who had their cards compromised by the Target Stores hack, and one of the 53 million with the Home Depot hack. Both occasions, Capitol One preemptively replaced our cards.

Bloomberg said this last October

View attachment 29252

Oh I know, they have killer deals! I bough my first authentic tugboat from them 6months ago, after the coupon codes, I paid under 60$ shipped. They also run some of the best deals on nic that I've ever seen. But, they got kiwi and I think Chief in the dmz last year and someone else her a few weeks back. That's just too many people that I know who can all trace their CC issues to the same vendor.

I remember that big cc scam last year. Makes me want to go back to bartering in silver. Hana

 

[woodyt74]

Thank you for the heads up! I went to their site and deleted my card, hope that helps. They are off my vendor list!!!

 

[skeene]

i use paypal or google wallet online, never a credit or debit card

 

[woodyt74]

i use paypal or google wallet online, never a credit card

That would be my preference but most sites don't take paypal or google wallet (unless you use the google wallet card).

 

[skeene]

but you can just add money to your wallet and pay with the card, it's free to use

 

[woodyt74]

Yeah I just set it up for that and now waiting for the card, looks like my best bet.

 

[skeene]

wallet's always worked well for me, but in today's world I guess you're never 100% secure.

 

[5150sick]

i use paypal or google wallet online, never a credit or debit card

It is illegal for US vendors to use PayPal for vaping related items.
The ones on eBay are still there because they haven't got caught yet.
First time a customer complains and escalates that compliant the seller gets shut down.
I sold an Itaste VTR on eBay and they came 3 months AFTER the sale and took the feedback for the transaction away and gave me a warning.

 

[f1r3b1rd]

It is illegal for US vendors to use PayPal for vaping related items.
The ones on eBay are still there because they haven't got caught yet.
First time a customer complains and escalates that compliant the seller gets shut down.
I sold an Itaste VTR on eBay and they came 3 months AFTER the sale and took the feedback for the transaction away and gave me a warning.

Thats all kind of fucked up

 

[5150sick]

I just found over $300 of fraudulent charges on my credit card!!

When I researched the merchant that charged me I found a fraud fb page.

https://www.facebook.com/TeamBeachbodyFraud/

Most of the people who posted on this page ordered from My Freedom Smokes prior to receiving similar fraudulent charges from this merchant.

Considering I have ordered from them too, I hardly find this a coincidence.

They are such a big name in vaping, I don't want to slander them. But this is a major concern IMO.

Perhaps a security issue on their end?...I've always had great experiences with them.

Take this for what it is, and keep a close eye on your statements if you have ever done business with them!

See THIS GROUP for 50 or more people who also got burned by MFS.

This has been going on for close to a year but MFS give so little of a fuck for their customers that they haven't even attempted to fix the problem.

As a matter of fact if you complain on their Facebook page they will delete the complaint and block you:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NotRecommendedVendorsAndProducts/843819252353804/

 

[Robert B]

Paypal is accepting ecig vendors. They have to be pre-approved. They also accept tobacco vendors like JR Cigars

 

[skeene]

.

 

[f1r3b1rd]

See that kind of shit! (them pretending its not happening) pisses me off more than it happening in the first place.
Im the type of asshole thats willing to buy a ten dollar (thingamajig) just to be a douchebag customer and make a point for pure personal satisfaction.

 

[Sully]

See that kind of shit! (them pretending its not happening) pisses me off more than it happening in the first place.
Im the type of asshole thats willing to buy a ten dollar (thingamajig) just to be a douchebag customer and make a point for pure personal satisfaction.

Maybe they are in on it and taking a cut of the of all the money that's being stolen....

 

[Zamazam]

See THIS GROUP for 50 or more people who also got burned by MFS.

This has been going on for close to a year but MFS give so little of a fuck for their customers that they haven't even attempted to fix the problem.

As a matter of fact if you complain on their Facebook page they will delete the complaint and block you:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NotRecommendedVendorsAndProducts/843819252353804/

I suggest MFS get their asses over to this thread to see the bad ju-ju they are spreading. I will no longer deal with them, not even with google wallet because of their "fuck you customer!" attitude. For this to be going on over a year is just fucking insane. Don't they care that prior customers (some who were very happy with MFS) are actively discouraging others from shopping with them, or is it they don't give a fuck once the purchase is made?

 

[Zamazam]

Maybe they are in on it and taking a cut of the of all the money that's being stolen....

Would not be the first time.

 

[Sully]

 

[f1r3b1rd]

Would not be the first time.

Me neither!!!!!
They can go fuck themselves!

 

[Robert B]

Softpedia says it was malware

http://news.softpedia.com/news/My-Freedom-Smokes-Website-Burnt-By-Malware-479314.shtml

It also says

"The company informs that the payment card numbers it stores are only partial and that CVVs are not saved on its infrastructure"

and that has to be bullshit. otherwise you would have to enter that info again every time you placed an order.

An this. 97 people in New Hampshire alone. Imagine how many nation wide.

http://doj.nh.gov/consumer/security-breaches/documents/freedom-smokes-20150422.pdf

 

[PuffPuffPass]

Softpedia says it was malware

http://news.softpedia.com/news/My-Freedom-Smokes-Website-Burnt-By-Malware-479314.shtml

It also says

"The company informs that the payment card numbers it stores are only partial and that CVVs are not saved on its infrastructure"

and that has to be bullshit. otherwise you would have to enter that info again every time you placed an order.

An this. 97 people in New Hampshire alone. Imagine how many nation wide.

http://doj.nh.gov/consumer/security-breaches/documents/freedom-smokes-20150422.pdf

Thanks for posting that. At least I'm not as concerned about my banking account being emptied.

I was assuming all this was taking place within the last couple of weeks. It's nice to see some firm dates on the data breach.

 

[f1r3b1rd]

Softpedia says it was malware

http://news.softpedia.com/news/My-Freedom-Smokes-Website-Burnt-By-Malware-479314.shtml

It also says

"The company informs that the payment card numbers it stores are only partial and that CVVs are not saved on its infrastructure"

and that has to be bullshit. otherwise you would have to enter that info again every time you placed an order.

An this. 97 people in New Hampshire alone. Imagine how many nation wide.

http://doj.nh.gov/consumer/security-breaches/documents/freedom-smokes-20150422.pdf

Its nice to see mfs still doesn't give a shit...
Still to frequent an occurrence and still off my list!

 

[Robert B]

Thanks for posting that. At least I'm not as concerned about my banking account being emptied.

I was assuming all this was taking place within the last couple of weeks. It's nice to see some firm dates on the data breach.

I think what people are saying is, the breach may not be fixed or have been hacked again, since many are still having their cards compromised to this day (see OP's original post and the link provided), and they are not truthful about keeping only partial CC data in their database.

 

[skeene]

even a little bit of worry would keep me from ordering from them

 

[f1r3b1rd]

even a little bit of worry would keep me from ordering from them

Right?! 40% off coils gonna drain you dry.

 

[PuffPuffPass]

I think what people are saying is, the breach may not be fixed or have been hacked again, since many are still having their cards compromised to this day (see OP's original post and the link provided), and they are not truthful about keeping only partial CC data in their database.

No one is truthful about their data base.

A certain ticket seller (who shall remain nameless) was asked for a client list. So the data could be processed locally.

And you would be amazed what is kept on file, in spreadsheet form.

IP
Geo location
Address
Phone number
ALL CC data
Time of sale
How you ordered (PC or phone)
And much more.

 

[DripDripptyDrip]

even a little bit of worry would keep me from ordering from them

The internet is a dangerous place people, CC fraud been going on for 20 years, do research before you buy something

 

[Robert B]

View attachment 29276

View attachment 29277

I just found over $300 of fraudulent charges on my credit card!!
When I researched the merchant that charged me I found a fraud fb page.

@Sully Log into MFS account and see if you had any transactions between the dates Feb 11 & March 16th. This CC card data is sold by the hackers and can take quite some time for it to be used if at all. If you did do a transaction during those dates, did MFS ever email you saying your card info was possibly compromised?

David Hammer from MFS emailed me back this morning and assured me that if you remove your CC info in "My Account", it will remove it from their system. I replied saying he needs to make the system default to Not save CC info, and perhaps have a check button to give you the option. Told him I never purchased from MFS because my card info was databased on their system, I purchased because of good deals and fast shipping period, and even though the breach a few months ago was malware point of purchase related, removing all cc info may help restore the trust.

Communicating with the customers would have been my 1st priority, but maybe they don't give a shit and just hope it all goes away.

 

[Robert B]

No one is truthful about their data base.

A certain ticket seller (who shall remain nameless) was asked for a client list. So the data could be processed locally.

And you would be amazed what is kept on file, in spreadsheet form.

IP
Geo location
Address
Phone number
ALL CC data
Time of sale
How you ordered (PC or phone)
And much more.

Why would you want it to remain nameless? I'd like to know

 

[skeene]

The internet is a dangerous place people, CC fraud been going on for 20 years, do research before you buy something

i did, that's why i only use paypal or google wallet

 

[PuffPuffPass]

Why would you want it to remain nameless? I'd like to know

They would know where it came from, silly.
That list is rather short.

 

[PuffPuffPass]

..... I replied saying he needs to make the system default to Not save CC info.....

That probably went right over his head.

 

[Sully]

@Sully Log into MFS account and see if you had any transactions between the dates Feb 11 & March 16th. This CC card data is sold by the hackers and can take quite some time for it to be used if at all. If you did do a transaction during those dates, did MFS ever email you saying your card info was possibly compromised?

David Hammer from MFS emailed me back this morning and assured me that if you remove your CC info in "My Account", it will remove it from their system. I replied saying he needs to make the system default to Not save CC info, and perhaps have a check button to give you the option. Told him I never purchased from MFS because my card info was databased on their system, I purchased because of good deals and fast shipping period, and even though the breach a few months ago was malware point of purchase related, removing all cc info may help restore the trust.

Communicating with the customers would have been my 1st priority, but maybe they don't give a shit and just hope it all goes away.

I always deselect "store my CC info" I never gave them permission to keep it in their database to begin with. My purchases with them were actually August and November last year. The hackers waited almost exactly one year to use my CC info.

 

[OneBadWolf]

MFS keeps your CC on file for the next time you order. Which means, your info is stored on a dbase, which is probably what is getting hacked. You can delete your card info when you log into "my account", but I don't know if that will do any good. There could be some malware sitting on their dbase server collecting cc info as it comes in.

True that. Could be anything from a scrip/kiddie using his EliteHax0r freshly DL'd version of KALI to a disgruntled or dishonest former/current employee.

 

[Whiskey]

Right?! 40% off coils gonna drain you dry.

I did a dummy order, it did NOT give 40% off on a $60 order, only took off $10 and change

 

[OneBadWolf]

Bitcoin is the answer. I use that Sht on everything!!

 

[Tom950]

I got hit after using a virgin CC with them earlier in the yr. I'll go back to FT and get my coils for almost the same price as the 40% off

 

[Whiskey]

I did a dummy order, it did NOT give 40% off on a $60 order, only took off $10 and change

 

[Jimi]

There is no way I will ever order from MFS again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Discobob]

Just got some charges recently also,not from MFS but I ordered from 3 different vendors On the date of the first bogus charge.I have had a google wallet forever but never put money on it, just transferred money and it was easy peezy still haven't got my replacement card in the mail so this worked out. I will just use the google for online purchases and add as I need from now on....

WAY too many post and talk lately to not take precautions, I only got hit for 120 bucks but what if they drained my account.....bad day for me.

 

[PuffPuffPass]

I did a dummy order, it did NOT give 40% off on a $60 order, only took off $10 and change

Ditto! I even posted a screen shot. Dummy order for $200+ allotted me just over $11 in discounts. Entire order was coils.

I'm seeing a lot of pricing issues there. $40 worth of VG was suddenly $110 at check out. F that!