Credit card details stolen, email account hacked - what to do?

It would appear that she has been the subject of a co-ordinated cyber attack and this is worrying indeed. I sincerely hope this hasn't been too stressful and emotionally disturbing for her.

Has your mother registered her card with her credit cards secure payment service? I know Mastercard and Visa offer this service where when your card details are entered online it also requires an additional password, which opens in a new window and is encrypted, which requires a further password to be added before the payment is made.

What has happended to your mother is something we shoulld all learn from and ensure that sites we visit to pay for services use encryptyed software and make sure that a padlock logo appears in the information bar. I also use Rapport Software, which helps to lock down the security of sites.

I attach a link here, however other enhanced security software is available but this is one I use in addition to other anti-virus programmes.

http://download.cnet.com/Rapport/3000-18510_4-10972537.html

I wish her well!

Hello LP,
Your mother needs to get in touch with her credit card provider and ask for these items to be put in dispute. Also need to find out from the Credit Card provider whether a pin was used for the sale ... or whether it was cardholder bnot present kind of transaction. She can take it from there.

Hi LP, I do feel for your Mum, we all live in dread of this happening. I tend to agree with Parchester, it sounds like a co-ordinated cyber attack.

I do all the things Parchester mentions and so far have escaped being caught out, but we shouldn't get complacent as these attacks are becoming noticeably more prevalent!

The credit card won't be an issue, the bank will refund the money that was spent, to be honest the bank should be able to pick it up themselves. My card was copied at an ATM and they tested it by topping up an 0870 number with a £100 credit voucher they used my card to buy, the bank saw it and then monitored the purchases that day which didn't match with any of my previous buys with that card so they called me and told me my card was being used.

My direct response was erm... my card is in my pocket now, are you sure? but they were spot on and I couldn't thank them enough to be honest.

There isn't much to worry about if I'm totally honest, it happens on a daily basis to too many people I agree, but the banks have measures in place to cover the costs. They'll send out a new card to your mum. I would also suggest that she sets up a brand new e-mail address as opposed to just changing the password, once they are in they have ways of adjusting the password reset so that when it is changed they get updated with the new password anyway, or they can reset it again and have the reset email sent wherever they want it.

It's a never ending cycle, as the security systems get better the hackers do too. It's just like the flu and even this latest e-coli break out. You get rid of it and it comes back stronger so you have to adapt, but then it comes back even stronger again.

Just don't let your mum worry, it happens, just ask Sony lol! they got hacked again today. Glad I have an Xbox and not a Playstation =]

So sorry to hear this, some good advice already, however when I found my card copied/cloned after not using an ATM at all!!! the bank was slow to send out mailings and I felt dragged their feet, try to speak to same person and keep a note of their name most of these big firms have a fraud dept