Posted by
lennox
12 yrs ago
"I was in a pharmacy 5 days ago on 17 December 12, and bought 374HKD worth of essentials using my eps card. As in usual eps procedure, I entered password, the retailer walked away with the eps machine. but he walked back saying the password was incorrect so I reentered.
I was suspicious since the eps machine normally has the text "INCORRECT PASSWORD" but it was as if it was a new transaction, indeed it was a repeat transaction. I checked my account and 374HKD was withdrawn twice on 17 December.
Should I get in contact with my bank, HSBC, contact consumer council or contact the pharmacy with the transaction shown hoping for a refund? I still have the receipt.
"
l contacted the police and they said that l should go to HSBC to confirm the 2 x 374HKD withdrawn on the 17 December, were withdrawn by this pharmacy and con men pharmacy agreed to pay me the money back if this is the case.
l thought get money back first, then go to the police. does doing it in this order nullify proceeding with the police? anyone know?
thanks for advice
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Today is Christmas Eve, I don't think too many people are going to be interested in this topic.
Have you considered the possibility that it was a genuine mistake? On the assumption that you can easily get your money back, is it really worth getting steamed up about?
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Yes it may be a possibility, but overwhelmingly more likely that it was a deliberate scam, one that l have unfortunately learned the hard way, as a common scam. l learned it is normal practise to have a REJECTED PASSWORD receipt if this happens and the machine will state that as well. also judging by the sly mischevious reactions and chuckling of the group of pharmacist counter boys.
suggestions of what to do?
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Card issuers do not take kindly to merchants trying to scam their systems. I really doubt that a reputable pharmacist would try to swindle their card issuer. After all, most of us do check our statements, and, if there is a problem, we take it up with the issuer.
I agree with Cara. When there is a choice between an operator error, or system failure, on the one hand, and an attempt at fraud on the other, 99.99% of the time it is the operator error or the system problem, unless you are in a dodgy establishment in the first place.
The staff reaction was probably embarrassment at this problem happening. If they were trying on a fraud, why would they behave in the way that you described? They would have to be stupid.
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yourselves are probably correct. good con men are convincing though, using reverse psychology. and it is a dodgy establishment, certainly not a watsons or mannings retailer. group of ~ 5 young men in a new pharmacy ie definitely not established.
anyway l went to HSBC yesterday and they said they couldnt help, that I have to contact EPS. I want to convincingly confirm that the two withdrawals were from the same pharmacy.
cara, thats what I want to show, that the money was double charged and went to the same pharmacy, not sure if that can be shown. HSBC couldnt help :(
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tala
12 yrs ago
This happened to me in one of the big supermarkets about a month ago, it's not uncommon. I would think it is a genuine mistake. In busy periods the comms line to the banking system doesn't always work first time. Report the transaction to the merchant, giving the date, time, amount and if you still have it, show them the receipt. Your money should be deposited back into your account - but this can take up to a couple of weeks depending on their accounting system.
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Why dont you just go to the pharmacy first and show them the mistake?
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