Credit Card Fraud Alert

[smallbearelec]

Since about late May, we have received a large number of orders, paid for by CC, for shipment to a number of freight forwarders in Florida. In many cases, we think the ultimate destination is Venezuela. We had shipped several thousand dollars worth of goods before it became clear that the card numbers were stolen. I mention this as a heads-up to my fellow merchants, and to any of our friends and customers who may sell goods on-line as individuals. You do have to be completely paranoid, because the thieves ARE real and constantly out to get you.

Regards
SD

[Ice-9]

Thanks for the warning Steve, I hope you don't lose out and are able to recover any lost parts or funds.

[smallbearelec]

...able to recover any lost parts or funds.

Some goods are gone, and we will get nailed for a number of chargebacks. However, FedEx has helped with getting some packages returned to us before they were sent onward.

[R.G.]

We have a conundrum here. Commerce depends on exchanging strings of a few numbers - credit card numbers, activation numbers, social security numbers, birth dates, and so on. Electronic fraud depends on stealing or faking those numbers. Obviously, it's too easy to steal or fake numbers.

There exist cryptographic techniques which can provide one-time verification not subject to faking. Certainly not as subject to faking as cracking into the IRS's databases, which have lost the tax information of some millions of Americans. This is easy enough that one or a few people set up their own private/public-domain currency, Bitcoin. It works well enough that governments are trying to make it illegal, fearing for their own currencies.

Regulating and protecting legal commerce and private possessions is a duty of government, yes? Why don't governments get into making funds transfers harder to hack?

Sadly, there are two reasons: (1) they would rather spend their money buying votes by handing out goodies to their voters than improving the economic function that the voters depend on, and (2) governments have an interest in having all financial transactions be easy to hack, so that the government can follow the money. Well, there's inertia, too, I guess. An SSN and a birth date was OK 75 years ago, why mess with something that's proven?

It's one of those binary parasite things: the bad guys and the "good" guys both have an interest in the same conditions continuing, albeit for a different set of reasons, because they both feed on the same host.

[EBRAddict]

It sucks getting ripped off. I find it odd they are stealing guitar pedal parts. Not exactly fast turnover items like iPads or tools.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

I will say that one thing I have noticed in posts on here and other places (mostly from our South American brothers) is that pedals, and musical items in general are VERY expensive. Also, the taxing of packages is expensive. Maybe the motivation behind this latest thievery.

[smallbearelec]

I find it odd they are stealing guitar pedal parts. Not exactly fast turnover items like iPads or tools.

You got it: They were not after parts. We noticed a pattern of large orders for multimeters, Dremel tools, soldering gear--things that would be easy to sell on the gray/black market, especially in high-tax environments.

I have noticed in posts on here and other places (mostly from our South American brothers) is that pedals, and musical items in general are VERY expensive. Also, the taxing of packages is expensive.

The high tariffs and protectionism south of the border go back centuries--legacy of the mercantilist policies of the Spanish crown. Latin America has suffered from this stupidity under both so-called left-wing and so-called right-wing governments, and the madness goes on.

North Americans do not understand what Really high duties mean and the consequences for their society. My fellow citizens may find out, if the "Trumpistas" get their way and Sr. Donald is serious about building his tariff wall. Now that I think about it, the "Sanderistas" might be tempted to go the same route. If they do, one consequence will be that Small Bear will have to shut down. I can't function in an environment in which imports cost half again as much in taxes. The countries where many of my customers live will then erect their own walls, and we are into 1930s redux.

Also, the taxing of packages is expensive. Maybe the motivation behind this latest thievery.

It may be that the current misery, especially in Venezuela, has driven some otherwise decent people to doing things that they would not otherwise consider.

[armdnrdy]

My fellow citizens may find out, if the "Trumpistas" get their way and Sr. Donald is serious about building his tariff wall.

Well, I would rather pay more for goods than not have a job.

My business depends on other businesses doing well...expanding.

I live in Southern California. There are empty commercial/industrial buildings around every corner.
The economy is...and has been stagnant. My business has been down 50% for the last six years.

The U.S. has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world....and is currently very business unfriendly.

We need to change the business climate to bring jobs back to America.

As a business man, my thought for years has been to pay down our debt to other nations, then negotiate much better trade deals.

The first thing that I would do is repeal NAFTA.
I recently looked into that trade wreck.
We are importing all sorts of things that could be made here.
Fruits and vegetables in the grocery store are marked "produce of Mexico."
I don't know how many of you are familiar with the Central Valley of California. More than half of the country's fruits, vegetables, and nuts are grown in the Central Valley.
Now can anyone tell me why California would import fruits and vegetables from Mexico?

The real kicker is what's on the top of our export list to Mexico. Machinery!
U.S. companies are exporting manufacturing machinery to Mexico to produce products that could be made here. In essence...we are exporting jobs!

The U.S. is broken. We need someone to come along and shake things up!
Business as usual is bad business!

[Fast Pistoleros]

My fellow citizens may find out, if the "Trumpistas" get their way and Sr. Donald is serious about building his tariff wall.

Well, I would rather pay more for goods than not have a job.

My business depends on other businesses doing well...expanding.

I live in Southern California. There are empty commercial/industrial buildings around every corner.
The economy is...and has been stagnant. My business has been down 50% for the last six years.

The U.S. has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world....and is currently very business unfriendly.

We need to change the business climate to bring jobs back to America.

As a business man, my thought for years has been to pay down our debt to other nations, then negotiate much better trade deals.

The first thing that I would do is repeal NAFTA.
I recently looked into that trade wreck.
We are importing all sorts of things that could be made here.
Fruits and vegetables in the grocery store are marked "produce of Mexico."
I don't know how many of you are familiar with the Central Valley of California. More than half of the country's fruits, vegetables, and nuts are grown in the Central Valley.
Now can anyone tell me why California would import fruits and vegetables from Mexico?

The real kicker is what's on the top of our export list to Mexico. Machinery!
U.S. companies are exporting manufacturing machinery to Mexico to produce products that could be made here. In essence...we are exporting jobs!

The U.S. is broken. We need someone to come along and shake things up!
Business as usual is bad business!

I agree. I am unemployed and need work. Nafta killed my union construction job of 16 years,no more work. All I can say is 40+ years of clinton/bush globalist is not working for me. I dont understand how we can just flood people in here, over 100,000 in my area alone and these people make me nervous, especially the ones in beekeeper suits and religious garb. I am literally scared one will light off a bomb around me..I avoid downtown now like sporting events. restaurants etc, not chancing it .

I bought a 6505 peavey 112+ combo amp on reverb and it is shipping now, will arrive wednesday it says but UPS says the package weighs 42lbs and supposedly these weigh 65-70lbs unpacked ..

so I am freaking the hell out ..the guy has zero feedback I noticed .so I am getting a package underweight by 30 or so pounds , what the hell do you think is going on? 

[armdnrdy]

I bought a 6505 peavey 112+ combo amp on reverb and it is shipping now, will arrive wednesday it says but UPS says the package weighs 42lbs and supposedly these weigh 65-70lbs unpacked ..

so I am freaking the hell out ..the guy has zero feedback I noticed .so I am getting a package underweight by 30 or so pounds , what the hell do you think is going on?

Doesn't Reverb have some kind of buyer protection program?

Check the listing again to make sure that the speakers are included. 

[digi2t]

Now can anyone tell me why California would import fruits and vegetables from Mexico?

The real kicker is what's on the top of our export list to Mexico. Machinery!
U.S. companies are exporting manufacturing machinery to Mexico to produce products that could be made here. In essence...we are exporting jobs!

The U.S. is broken. We need someone to come along and shake things up!
Business as usual is bad business!

Not 2 miles from here (Saint-Lazare, Quebec, Canada) is a huge garden center. Every morning, I see about a half dozen Latino workers biking from surrounding homes to the center for the work day. I imagine that folks in California don't consider working in the fields suitable employment, much like here. As a matter of fact, there's a fairly large import Latino work force in the area, so much so, that they get bussed in every Sunday to the church in St. Clet for Sunday mass.

As for the machinery, that's a simple equation; operate the machinery in the US = $15 / hour. Operate same machinery in Mexico = $2 an hour.

At the end of the day, the picture has always been clear. The REAL economic strength lies not with the masses, but with the 1% at the top. What they decide goes, and the rest is trickle down. If they dicover a new way to line their pockets with even more money, then guess what... you'll be eating Cuban bananas soon enough.

[Mark Hammer]

I've been properly chastened by others abut wading too far into political waters here, so I'll simply say that I find it discouraging when someone who tries to operate a thoughtful business that is mindful of hobbyists gets screwed over by criminals.

I hope the damage is minimal Steve,

[electrip]

Now can anyone tell me why California would import fruits and vegetables from Mexico?

Water or more the lack of.

Californian pistachios
price in germany for 250g
2008 1.50€ / 1.70$
2016 4.00€ / 4.50$

Maybe it is more profit to grow almonds and pistachios to sell worldwide
and to buy melons form mexico. Just a guess.

electrip

[Mark Hammer]

I can't speak to almonds, but I was under the impression that the #1 grower of pistachios was Iran.  Why ship them all the way from California, or is it a matter of embargos?

[armdnrdy]

Californian pistachios
price in germany for 250g
2008 1.50€ / 1.70$
2016 4.00€ / 4.50$

electrip

I just checked the price for California grown pistachios from Walmart...$4.98
You actually get them cheaper than I can in California!
I've taken road trips from So. Cal. through the Central Valley to go Salmon fishing just East of Sacramento.
You can pull off the Interstate 5, to visit farms growing various produce. Some of the farms have produce stands open to the public.
That's where you get the good deals on pistachios.

[smallbearelec]

I've been properly chastened by others abut wading too far into political waters here

I apologize for setting off the political rants. I am aware that the open global trade on which SBE depends does not benefit nearly everyone all the time.

I hope the damage is minimal

Thanks for the good wishes. It could have been worse. I have cleaned up the immediate mess, we now know what to look for (until the scammers come up with a new twist), and we will move on.

[Fp-www.Tonepad.com]

noted. Best wishes!

[analogmike]

Steve, I guess you didn't ship to the billing address? We only ship to billing address (AVS address verification service checks it) and if they want a different shipping address, we have a way of contacting them to see if they actually have the credit card in their possession. (If you ship to the billing address, you are covered against chargebacks)

In the last few months, we have been hit by TONS of fraudulent orders, starting with several Paypal orders, usually women's names, and shipped to TX. The orders were WEIRD, didn't make sense, so we contacted paypal and they confirmed fraud. But we were covered as we shipped to the Paypal verified address. I think paypal lost MILLIONS last month to these people.

It's tough to rip us off with a credit card, as I explained above, but people try it every day as I can see all the DECLINED orders, some of which are repeated many times with different card numbers.

I hope the banking system in this country will enter the 21st century soon, it's THEIR problem that theft is so easy.

[Fast Pistoleros]

My fellow citizens may find out, if the "Trumpistas" get their way and Sr. Donald is serious about building his tariff wall.

Well, I would rather pay more for goods than not have a job.

My business depends on other businesses doing well...expanding.

I live in Southern California. There are empty commercial/industrial buildings around every corner.
The economy is...and has been stagnant. My business has been down 50% for the last six years.

The U.S. has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world....and is currently very business unfriendly.

We need to change the business climate to bring jobs back to America.

As a business man, my thought for years has been to pay down our debt to other nations, then negotiate much better trade deals.

The first thing that I would do is repeal NAFTA.
I recently looked into that trade wreck.
We are importing all sorts of things that could be made here.
Fruits and vegetables in the grocery store are marked "produce of Mexico."
I don't know how many of you are familiar with the Central Valley of California. More than half of the country's fruits, vegetables, and nuts are grown in the Central Valley.
Now can anyone tell me why California would import fruits and vegetables from Mexico?

The real kicker is what's on the top of our export list to Mexico. Machinery!
U.S. companies are exporting manufacturing machinery to Mexico to produce products that could be made here. In essence...we are exporting jobs!

The U.S. is broken. We need someone to come along and shake things up!
Business as usual is bad business!

I agree. I am unemployed and need work. Nafta killed my union construction job of 16 years,no more work. All I can say is 40+ years of clinton/bush globalist is not working for me. I dont understand how we can just flood people in here, over 100,000 in my area alone and these people make me nervous, especially the ones in beekeeper suits and religious garb. I am literally scared one will light off a bomb around me..I avoid downtown now like sporting events. restaurants etc, not chancing it .

I bought a 6505 peavey 112+ combo amp on reverb and it is shipping now, will arrive wednesday it says but UPS says the package weighs 42lbs and supposedly these weigh 65-70lbs unpacked ..

so I am freaking the hell out ..the guy has zero feedback I noticed .so I am getting a package underweight by 30 or so pounds , what the hell do you think is going on?

pray for the Dallas police today..and now you know why I avoid going downtown or anything ..someone is inciting riots and violence and me thinks its coming from the top ..a fish rots from its head