Person who used my credit card to make online purchases is on AOL IM

[catback]

Hi,

Someone used my credit card to make online purchases at an adult web site. I found this out when my card statement came in the mail with hundreds of dollars worth of charges that I didn't make.

I looked up these purchases and found that the person created a presumably fake email address on AOL and earthlink with my name that he/she used when making these purchases.

I did a search on AOL's Instant Messenger with the AOL email address and it came back with a user that I added to my buddy list (how ironic).

This person has been logging into AOL's IM regularly at around midnight with this email address and username. Is there any way to get more info on this person knowing that he or she logs on to IM?

[-h]

Don't do anything illegal (unless that's your aim?).

Contact the authorities. And please tell me you've contacted the issuer of your credit card and demanded recompense, as you're only liable for the first $50 of unwarranted purchases on your credit card (in the USA anyway).

-h

[theReal]

Don't do anything illegalThat's right - if the guy who stole your card info was really good then the name you found might be an innocent aol user. The best way to hide is not to act anonymously but to act as someone else...

I once got back all of the money from a credit card fraud (it was only about 100EUR). After a few letters and phone calls, I convinced my bank to get all the money back. Maybe the law is different in Germany, so I didn't have to pay 50$?

[mpucoder]

Definately call your credit card company. But also call AOL. Even though creating an AIM name supplies no information to AOL they can determine the IP address used during logins. From there they can determine the ISP, and possibly the person (who may be an innocent victim).
Your credit card company should work with the merchants to get similar information about the online transactions. You could also contact them yourself, if you feel the need.
Your local police won't be able to do much except turn it over to the FBI, since this is a federal offence.

[xnakx]

all great advice!!

I may be new at all this dvd conversion stuff but i have been dealing with computers and the internet for a long while.

and well it happend to me and like an idiot i proceeded to hunt around birth records and real estate records untill i found the SSN of the person who stole my credit card number. and well after having my fun i contacted the CC isuer and tryed to get the charges reversed. well the guy suspected i was the one behind his newly closed bank acounts etc... (i admit when i look back i was kinda sloppy in my endeavors)and sued me!

I ended up paying more in fines that he charged on my card.


I learned my lesson Kinda....

xnakx