National Car Rental Credit Card Fraud

claufket · #1 08-12-2009, 01:06 PM

We rented a car at National Car Rental in Punta Cana and sure enough two days after we come home there is over US $2,000 in fraudulent activity coming through on our card. National was the only place we used our card and from the other postings on this account all fingers point in their direction. We have used National several times in Punta Cana so I didn't pay much attention to the other postings about National but I will now.

Robert · #2 08-12-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claufket

We rented a car at National Car Rental in Punta Cana and sure enough two days after we come home there is over US $2,000 in fraudulent activity coming through on our card. National was the only place we used our card and from the other postings on this account all fingers point in their direction. We have used National several times in Punta Cana so I didn't pay much attention to the other postings about National but I will now.

I would send them an email and find out whats up.

Send an email to Aida Diaz ( ai.diaz@grupoambar.com ) she speaks and writes perfect English. Tell her Robert from DR1 sent you.

This is the first time I have ever heard of them having a problem.
They do 1000's of transactions yearly.

Yachtmaster · #3 08-12-2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claufket

We rented a car at National Car Rental in Punta Cana and sure enough two days after we come home there is over US $2,000 in fraudulent activity coming through on our card. National was the only place we used our card and from the other postings on this account all fingers point in their direction. We have used National several times in Punta Cana so I didn't pay much attention to the other postings about National but I will now.

Returned home after one week in Santo Domingo August 5th. Used my credit card several times while there. Did NOT rent a car from National. Found out today that my credit card has been used several times in Thailand and France, mostly for electronics purchases. Credit card company cancelled the card and issued a new one. They asked me if my card was in my possession as the fraudsters were actually swiping a card! This may be a scam originating a little higher up than from merchants like National......Time will tell.

DRandGR · #4 08-13-2009, 09:54 PM

You are not alone. I have rented several times from National / Alamo in Punta Cana. On my last statement after returning to the US, I too had some fraudulent charges. I only use this card when I travel and I too only used it at National/ Alamo.

Looks like a pattern is forming

Yachtmaster · #5 08-13-2009, 10:45 PM

On my last trip to Santo Domingo, after having had bogus charges on my credit card, seemingly due to National/Alamo having my credit card details from a previous trip, I stopped by the National booth at the airport on my way out to get the mangers contact number. I was given a phone number for a lady named Gracie who I was told is the DR manager for National/Alamo. I contacted her the next day and told her about the credit card frauds that seem like they may have some National car rental involvement. She was quite disturbed about the situation and passed it over to National customer service.

I was contacted by a lady named Gladys from National Car Rental customer service in the Dominican Republic. I told her about the credit card fraud situation and also sent her an email describing the situation further and provided a copy of the link to the discussion of the situation on the DR1 message board. (another discussion in the Santo Domingo section) She said they would launch an investigation into the situation.

I thought I would give her the benefit of the doubt and not say anything at all on DR1 until she responded to me with an appropriate answer. Well, now I am ****ed off! Following is a copy of her response:

"I have contacted the local American Express Bank and I explained them your situation. They informed me that as the fraudulent charges were in other country they can not help us. Also they told me that your bank should realize the investigations about the troubles in your card.

We sincerely appreciate that you alert us about this kind of inconvenient with the credit cards. We have never had inconvenient like that, reason why we will take measures to avoid similar situations with other customers.

We are very sorry for the inconvenient and we hope you can solve it.

If you need any further assistance, just let us know.

Regards!

Gladys"

WTF! I never even mentioned American Express! My fraudulent charges were on my VISA card not American Express. Did she contact the administration at VisaNet and CardNet in the DR? Likely not. Do they at National/Alamo in the Dominican Republic give a **** about this situation? Probably not. Sorry Gladys, your response to the situation is not sufficient! And I am also very sorry for the inconenient as well and hope YOU can solve it.

MrMike · #6 08-13-2009, 10:59 PM

When credit cards are stolen in the DR, they are cloned at the point of purchase by low level employees, sometimes with or without management complicity.

They are then sold to a third party on the black market through street contacts and used in faraway places.

Contacting the company where your card was stolen will only ever get you the runaround, denials, idiotic excuses and blank stares.

There is nothing they can actually do and deep down they don't care. It is your duty as a foreigner to accept theft from honest, hard working Dominicans.

What you CAN do is let the community know where you card was stolen and contest the charges at your bank. With enough reports management may be forced to audit its cashiers and of they don't the loss of business will at least have some minor impact.

Other than that, just keep a spare card on hand for traveling (one where you don't mind the downtime waiting for a replacement) I have had few problems with my DR credit cards here, but EVERY SINGLE US CREDIT CARD I HAVE USED IN THE DR NO MATTER IF EVEN ONCE AND AT REPUTABLE STORES HAS BEEN STOLEN and had to be replaced.

Fact of life.

bigbird · #7 08-13-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMike

.......Other than that, just keep a spare card on hand for traveling (one where you don't mind the downtime waiting for a replacement)........

Fact of life.

Sad, but true. I travel with two credit cards. One I use only for my car rental and the other as a back up. You can add me to the list. Last year I used my CC at the SDQ Alamo/National car rental. This was the only time the card came out of my wallet. Upon returning home I received a phone call from the issuing bank that my card had been "compromised".

I was questioned when and where did I use my card. I simply replied I used it once..........National at SDQ.

I still continue to use Alamo/National for car rental. I guess I just feel it could have happened anywhere.

There is an old thread on this board somewhere about card fraud. I searched and could not find the thread, but this scam is no new news.

bigbird · #8 08-13-2009, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yachtmaster

....I was contacted by a lady named Gladys from National Car Rental customer service in the Dominican Republic.

Don't get all bent out of shape. Let your CC bank handle the problem. You won't be billed a dime. Your biggest problem is waiting for a new card and changing some online info.

I remember Gladys, she handled a small fender bender claim for me awhile back. I have nothing but good words for her. She called me in the states to get info on the accident. She was very professional and spoke very good English. She handled whatever was necessary to process the claim.

For the most part I have been very pleased with Alamo/National both at the SDQ office and the office on Maximo Gomez and Independencia.

La Mariposa · #9 08-13-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMike

When credit cards are stolen in the DR, they are cloned at the point of purchase by low level employees, sometimes with or without management complicity.

They are then sold to a third party on the black market through street contacts and used in faraway places.

Contacting the company where your card was stolen will only ever get you the runaround, denials, idiotic excuses and blank stares.

There is nothing they can actually do and deep down they don't care. It is your duty as a foreigner to accept theft from honest, hard working Dominicans.

What you CAN do is let the community know where you card was stolen and contest the charges at your bank. With enough reports management may be forced to audit its cashiers and of they don't the loss of business will at least have some minor impact.

Other than that, just keep a spare card on hand for traveling (one where you don't mind the downtime waiting for a replacement) I have had few problems with my DR credit cards here, but EVERY SINGLE US CREDIT CARD I HAVE USED IN THE DR NO MATTER IF EVEN ONCE AND AT REPUTABLE STORES HAS BEEN STOLEN and had to be replaced.

Fact of life.

Is this a joke ???

pedrochemical · #10 08-14-2009, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by La Mariposa

Is this a joke ???

Tragically not!