GUNS/RLTD TheMakoGroup.com -- Credit Card Fraud -- Caution

[MearKAt]

Just wanted to share a sad experience for others to use caution.

A friend mentioned that TheMakoGroup.com had 30rnd AR15 mags for sale and in stock, so I thought, even though my canoe doesn't shoot AR15 ammo, it might be a decent investment at $19/each to buy a few.

Well, I used a credit card I've not used for 4 months+ (since I paid it off) and made a purchase on their website yesterday before heading off for work. This morning at 08:02 local time the credit card provider I used for that purchase called me to inform me of the following fraud charges placed on my account last night, 1/4:
- $1800 to an escort service in NYC
- $400 to BestBuy.com, which the merchant returned due to incorrect information in the validation process -- this alerted the credit company to fraud
- $27 to some "OurTime" dating site

Again, this card hasn't been used in 4 months+, and the FIRST charge ran then resulted in rampant fraud immediately after. I could be all wrong here, and the credit company said they didn't have any information on wrong doing with this merchant, but my suspicions were probably correct.

Just wanted to share with everyone to protect yourself, or set a limit AND date on those virtual credit cards, and not just a time period.
-MearKAt

 

[nhwxguy]

MearKAt, Thanks for the update. I did order some mags from that site a few days ago. All correspondence from them so far looked legit. But I will keep a look on my account to see if there is any irregular activity.

 

[Tristan]

Could have happened from their end, but could have happened at your end too.

Is your anti-virus-malware-keylogger software up to date?

 

[TECH32]

Did you contact them to let them know? Could be a new employee decided to "help" himself to your card number. Wouldn't be the first time.

 

[pymaf]

Deleted

 

[Lurker]

Thanks - just killed my card with them and ordered a new one. Been through that 3 times now....not doing it again.

 

[MearKAt]

They have been less than receptive to the indication they may have been how my number became compromised. As for security, keylogging, etc, I'm a computer security consultant dealing with financial institutions, health care, and data security, etc. This order was placed from a well protected PC which has strict requirements for anti-virus, etc.... but good thought of course!

All the emails and info from my order looks fine too -- it was just way too erie and coincidental for me to pass up -- i don't believe in coincidences.
-MearKAt

 

[MearKAt]

Might also be important to know that I did NOT select the "remember my billing information" checkbox when ordering.
-MearKAt

 

[Adino]

i just double checked my cc and no monkey biz

mako has been around awhile this surprises me

especially since the mako rep has been camped out on the thread over at arfcom which is 21 pages long and counting

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_17/595156_Israeli_E_Lander_Mags_.html&page=1

no talk of fraud problems there either

not tech enough to know how else it could go wrong and will be watching but i will be surprised if mako wouldlet something like this happen and kill the golden goose

 

[MearKAt]

like I said -- I could be wrong... just VERY coincidental... sharing to share and not bashing them... I expect to get my product from them too, but it's just a little WEIRD that so many charges hit immediately after placing an order there and not using that card for several months. I'm not bashing anyone, but sharing an experience.

73,
-MearKAt

 

[1911user]

I checked the arfcom thread on E-lander mags and no mention of card issues except some are unhappy with cards being charged when the order is placed. Arfcom posters are not known for being shy. I'm considering this an isolated incident without additional evidence from others.

 

[AzProtector]

I've been ordering from them a lot these past couple of months without incidents.

 

[Adino]

like I said -- I could be wrong... just VERY coincidental... sharing to share and not bashing them... I expect to get my product from them too, but it's just a little WEIRD that so many charges hit immediately after placing an order there and not using that card for several months. I'm not bashing anyone, but sharing an experience.

73,
-MearKAt

its cool

you did the right thing by letting folks know. i don't think you've been untoward in any way. thanks for the heads up!

it is a big coincidence but it could be too someone hacked into the bank and/or visa and grabbed #'s and was holding off to use one from the batch until it saw action. once you charged they plucked it from the batch thinking the card was good and active and then the geisha girl spree began

 

[tanstaafl]

So, how WAS the phone sex and the date with the high-end hooker?

 

[MearKAt]

As an update, I did receive my products from Mako Group last week. Packed well and in excellent condition.