Shopping Spree

Apparently my credit card decided to travel out of state and do some shopping at Toys R Us and JC Penny today. My bank called me to let me know that they had some curious charges come through and they needed me to confirm them. Since I hadn't been traveling ... no, I didn't charge that amount at Toys R Us in Michigan. No, I didn't try to purchase almost $300 worth of goods at JC Penny's ... in Michigan.

Apparently my credit card was a victim of "skimming." A skimming device can be attached somewhere near where credit cards are swiped (gas stations, ATMs, Best Buy, etc) and it picks up the card information. That information can then be copied and programmed to a blank card, which can then be used by mysterious people in Michigan, with children.

There's really not much you can do to prevent this either. Experts suggest paying cash in restaurants or any other place in which your card is taken out of your sight. But beyond that ...

What I really find entertaining is what the "swiper" actually ends up using the stolen card for. Toys R Us? Kind of ironic, right? "Hey there kiddos, I'm going to be a good parent and buy you the toys you deserve with someone else's hard-earned money." Or then there was the time when Neil's debit card was stolen by some punk waiter at Red Robin who used it to pay his balance on his Wal-Mart card.

I can see why skimming is becoming such a huge problem in this decrepit country of ours. Instead of working 2-3 jobs to get by, people are choosing to steal from their fellow countrymen because it's easier and can be done from the comfort of their crummy home. There really is no hope for this society, and the few of us left with any dignity and self-respect are now out of money.