I would like to recommend that any members and also their friends & family who use online ticket bookings for a Panamanian national airline, pay close attention to their card statements for possible fraudulent activities.
During the latter part of 2014, I had 3 credit cards which had to be cancelled and re-issued due to fraudulent charges in several countries but mainly in the U.S. Two of the cards were issued from U.S. banks and one card from a Panamanian bank. One of the cards was only used in two locations being an in store purchase at a large electronics retailer in David and an online air ticket purchase. The only common denominator was that all 3 cards had been used during the previous 5 months to purchase tickets online for flights between David and Albrook. After discussions with the Airline and explaining the issue and my concerns, I was informed they were looking into it and were focused on a particular staff member. There was nothing else from them after that despite trying to follow up with them.
For the next 6 months I purchased all of my tickets at the Airline's David office until about 6 weeks ago. I called the Airline's financial department in Panama and asked if the problem had been resolved since it is more convenient for me to purchase online since it is not always easy to get to their David office. They assured me there were no problems and they had introduced tighter security for online credit card bookings. I proceeded to purchase a ticket online and then again purchased another ticket approximately 4 weeks later using the same card. A few days ago the bank called in the evening as there had been 2 charges both for approximately $250 at a large department store in Arizona. Of course these were fraudulent charges and the card was cancelled yet again. I had not used the card anywhere else since it was issued except only at that same one place being the Airline in question and as mentioned it was only ever used twice during the past 6 weeks. It's pretty cut and dried for me where the source of the problem is. If it is not the Airline, then it would have to be the bank. Yet the card was unused for 6 months and was only after the ticket purchases that the fraudulent charges occurred. I have tried to report this to the same department at the Airline's main office in Panama but they no longer seem to answer the phone during business hours. It was reported in person to the airline employees at their David office, but unfortunately they showed the same lack of concern this time as they did last year when it was reported to them and they made no attempts to act on it.
I suggest anyone here on this forum and indeed anyone you know who may purchase tickets online should be very careful and check your future statements. If you have already purchased anytime this year you could also become a victim if you haven't already.
Replies
I was just there in July and had the same thing happen to me shortly after returning home. My bank had notified me that two purchases were made at a Target in California and closed my card. I didn't make the connection to where it could have originated from but now after reading this thread it makes sense. I only used my card twice during my visit, booking a flight cross country before returning home was one of them. Copa was booked up since I waited till last minute. Thanks for shedding some lite!! ~Cynthia*
I always get a little suspicious of "first discussions" from "new members" that are critical of something or someone. And, frankly, your post and replies seem to have "too much information".
I don't believe anything you have said.
But, credit card fraud is a good thing for people to think about, so thanks for the reminder.
Well, we are all entitled to our opinions whether they are right or as in your case completely wrong.
Hopefully there still remain some opened minded enough people on this forum who are able to understand and take a simple advisory at face value for what it is.
Thank you for all the feedback.
I do use a subscription service AV Internet Security program together with Malwarebytes too. I regularly perform the necessary maintenance on my personal PC. However the purchases were made online from a company PC and it is a large company using high end corporate security software. The dedicated IT department thoroughly checked the workstation at my request which was in addition to their own regular checking.
In addition, a credible source advised that 4 other people with the same bank had the same issue as myself on the same day. All of those 4 had also purchased online at the same company as I mentioned in my earlier post. Of course for them they also had used their cards in other locations on various other dates too.
As probably some of you may be aware, the information obtained in an online transaction is all that is needed to initiate the future fraud or theft. The person who has the direct access to the sensitive data entered, card number, name, expiry and CCV, sells the information on to the group of thieves who have the technology to take it further. Also in this case they also had my address and phone number too. I wouldn't have expected a clerk to hop on a plane to Arizona or anywhere else for that matter. it is all part of a chain. It could have been any city in any country.
Again, my intention for this post was to simply advise others to beware based on my own unfortunate experiences. I have all the facts and which ever way you look at it there is a very high probability that my card details were stolen at the place I advised. Take it for what it is and if you disagree and feel it requires scrutiny to find any other possibility than I have already mentioned that is fine too.
AirPanama double billed my credit card once, it was a nightmare getting the charges reversed.
You might also want to have your computer checked for virus's that can steal your credit card number and passwords. I don't think Air Panama flies to Arizona.
My card was compromised in Florida and charges were made in California.
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Doesn't help with online purchases
Air Panama doesn't fly to Arizona, but the employee who stole the credit card number might have gone there. I had a fraudulent charge made to my card in Miami. I was in Texas, but never went to Miami on that trip. But somebody with my credit card number did. Who knows how they did it? A simple report to my bank absolved me of the charge.
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