NY-Camera Requesting Faxed copy of Credit Card??!!

Faltermyer

Is this for real?
I placed my order last night at about 1am which was for a Minolta Dimage F200 in Blue at totalof €288.
I have just opened an email sent to me at 6:20am this morning.

This is the content of the email:

Thanks for your order.

Please could you do us a small favour to help us with your order.
For all first time orders our bank insists that we take some form of
identification,
otherwise, we are not insured in the event of credit card misuse. Please
could you fax,
or scan us a copy of your card with both sides visible, and also of your
passport
or driving license, so that we can confirm this to them, and then we will
be able
to send this to you very quickly.

Our fax number is 0049 2382 853434

We will not ask for this in subsequent orders.

Thanks for your help.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Until then have a nice day.

Best regards to xxxxxxx

Your New York Camera Team.

Anyone else get this??

Samson

It is a practice which is not unusual with online retailers now.
It's to ensure that you do have a real card as opposed to a clone.
Two examples I can think of are B&H Photo and bigpockets.co.uk

Faltermyer

Thanks,
So it is a general practise for NY-Camera?

I was just worried that it was some form of fraud attempt...

I take it their phone lines would be open today?

Just to give a ring first to confirm everything.

beaver

Isn't this what the code on the back of the credit card is for?

Faltermyer

Thats what I thought when I got the email.

Because they do ask for it when putting the order through.

Tried phoning them all day yesterday to no avail.

Going to try again tomorrow, wont have access to a fax again until tomorrow evening anyway.

Burago

I scanned and emailed the required credit card and drivers licence when I ordered my Minolta SLR off NYC. I haven't noticed any odd transactions for German sausages, well no more than usual anyway:D

Faltermyer

Cool, I reckon its genuine then.

Somethings up with my international calls on my mobile though(I can call bloody middle east but I cant call Germany!!) so I cant call them til I get into work this evening.... but they are an hour ahead...!

Walter Ego

I have serious reservations about faxing BOTH sides of a credit card.

If you look at where you signed you card on the back you will see 2 small sets of numbers. A group of 4 and a group of 3.

These are used by the CCard companies to verify that the card was physically presented at time of purchase. This is normally only used if the purchase is large.

I don't want to frighten you but I think your card is compromised.

Faltermyer

Just to update this.

I was still aprehensive about doing this, so I did the following:

Took photos of the credit card and driving license, front and back of both. (Had to use camera in my phone in the end because my scanner is fcuked and I have no access to a fax when not in work!)

I then blanked out the following:

All but last four digits of CC number
Security code on back of CC.

Driving license number
DOB on Driving license.

I emailed it off, and they had no problem with it, my camera shipped this morning!

I think that the above is as secure as I could have made it really, but if anyone has any other suggestions then please post.

Dampsquid

I ordered from them for the first time about 6 weeks ago. They didn't ask for a photo copy of my Credit card or anything.

Samba

First time I ordered from them I had to take a scan, Same with Mxv.

bugler

Yes, there is no need to be paranoid. A lot of companies are starting to do this, seeing as buying over the net is so anonymous and offers much opportunity for deceit.

Nemesis

Pixmania Ask for a copy of a bill and passport.
But dont ask for a copy of your Credit card.
10 mins after I bought a Digi-cam I got a phone call from BOI credit card security to verify my purchase.
He wanted to speak only to my wife (CC was in her name) and wouldnt tell me whats up.
I'm lucky she knew I was buying a camera..and lucky I wasnt using the CC for anything dodgy.:).
Was happy BOI rang though and told him to ring anytime a large purchase is made.
Nem.

Faltermyer

My credit card only showed the charge on Friday but it shipped on Thursday...?

Fingers crossed it might arrive in time for chrimbo but Im not counting on it!