We’re calling time on Splatt.co – cancel your cards ASAP
December 29th, 2010 • 66 Comments
In our earlier post on Splatt.co, we asked for readers to provide information on the company or its operations. We’re now confident in advising anybody who has placed an order with Splatt to take immediate action and cancel whatever cards used to make the purchase.
Why are you advising customers to take action?
We received an email from a source with specific knowledge about major credit card fraud. They have highlighted several key issues with the Splatt website:
• Splatt requires all customers to provide their data of birth, whether ordering online (this is requested during registration) or by phone – mostly unheard of when ordering from any other retailer. This is because information like DOB can be used to reset some security measures, like Verified by Visa. It also makes personal data far more valuable if sold.
• the website doesn’t process any card details; instead it is running a script (“obtained from an underground source,” according to ours) that knows what format card details should be in, i.e. Visa card numbers should begin with a 4, Mastercard with a 5 etc. The information is simply being collected for use at a later date. The web address of the payments page clearly shows that the payment processor is in an offline state.
• whenever you make an online purchase, the billing address has to match the card details. In the case of Splatt, customer addresses are not being verified because again, the site isn’t actually processing any information. To prove the point, we’ve successfully ordered a 16GB iPad using a fictitious name, an incorrect address and random credit card number:
We’ve since received an email confirming our order (an “Apple iPad With Wi-Fi 16GB Wi-Fi, White” – who knew?); simultaneously another email arrived to claim no stock availability would cause a “slight delay in delivery”. Splatt isn’t interested in charging you right now, presumably because if you’re not charged and you don’t receive the goods, you might forget you ever handed over your details.
If I made a purchase from Splatt, what should I do?
According to our source, the people who now have your information will not use it immediately, but “at a later stage in card fraud”.
If you used a credit card for a purchase over £100, your credit card company should cover any losses. If that occurs, you’ll have to cancel your card regardless. Debit cards don’t offer such protection, meaning you’re exposed to fraud from now on.
In other words, you need to take action now. Contact your credit card provider immediately, explain the situation and cancel your card. It may cause you inconvenience in the short-term, but better that than risk your details being used against you.
I ordered a tracksuit from splatt.co on the 20th december, Phoned the bank yesterday n cancelled my card as they hadn’t took the money out, better to be safe than sorry
Thanks for this very informative article. I had ordered from Splatt just before Christmas & went online tonight to check progress – their website appears to have disappeared! Suffice to say I have now cancelled my card, thankfully before any money was taken & before any suspisious activity.
Is this the first example of a possible repercussion of this scam?!
http://www.hotukdeals.com/misc/splatt-co-anyone-heard-of-them-ipad/822393/?page=4#post10297138
Anyone know the implications on having used a Visa Electron??? I called Halfiax and say that because i provided Splatt the details on my own accord that it cannot be classed as fraud. How ridiculous. Because its a Visa whatever they have taken out will not be covered by Halifax.
I have cancelled my card – so if they do not take anything out now does that mean they wont be able to in the future?
Ali – Whoever you spoke to is ill-informed. It is fraud as they are using your card details which were intended for a previous transaction and now doing so unauthorised.
Telephone your bank and say to them that you are aware that Visa allow a “charge-back” for unauthorised use of bank cards. This also includes Visa Electron. At first they may not recognise this procedure but when it escalates someone should be able to assist.
Please let me know how you get on.
Len
Ali – the above post was an option in case they take money in the meantime.
If you cancel the card they will not be able to take money as it should decline.
Ali – the above post was an option in case they take money in the meantime.
If you cancel the card they will not be able to take money as it should decline.
Hey Len. Thanks for the reponse. I have checked my statement. “Splatt” have not taken anything out of my account for the order i made Dec 31/12/10. I have also cancelled my card.
Anyways this has made me vigilant for the future for sure. Certainly not happy with Halifax customer services. The woman on the phone did say because i readily & willingly offered my details on the website it cannot be classed as fraud which threw me back a little. She didnt even suggest i cancel my card which was my idea and she said “to wait 30days after they have withdrawn money” from my account. I think i will be complaining and getting management to listen to the call.
One things for sure. Even though we have cancelled our cards. These fraudsters now have our names, addresses and dobs. I feel sorry for the folk who have not yet realised they have been had.
Ali – Remember this experience for the “BitterWallet Worst Company of 2011″!
i placed an order on the 17th of dec and received an email saying due to adverce weather there would be a delay.i made the payment with my visa electron debit card should i contact my bank.no money has been taken out of my bank yet
Have just cancelled my debit card after reading this. Ordered uggs as a gift for someone on 14th Dec…have tried to email and phone splatt no response…..website has now vanished and phone lines are just a message !Really annoyed as I only ordered as I got a leaflet through the post and thought it was legit!and guess where I live…SCOTLAND! like most of the rest of you!!!!thankfully no money has been taken…lesson learned!
@mick – as far as i can tell no payments have been taken out from anyones orders. Not sure what the criminals reasons were – possibly to sell the details on to other criminals. Any case just ring your bank and cancel the card. If no money has been taken out then they will never be able to take anything out in the future once the card is cancelled and a new one replaced.
Ordered Uggs from Splatt in December which of course never arrived – the money has now been taken from the visa account used, and in fact has escalated into a case of identity theft which the police are involved with. A number of catalogue accounts etc have been opened using the details provided to Splatt. The visa company have credited the money back, but horrible thought that someone is using my identity.
sorry to hear that Jo, hence my post on 01 Jan re CIFAS. It cost about 14 quid for a year but worth it if it blocks any attempt to use her details fraudulently. Gd luck.
I cant believe it i ordered from splatt the week before christmas and then cancelled a couple of days later .I recieved a email saying order delayed never thought anything else about it .Then this week i recieved a letter from my bank saying that there was suspicious activity on my account two top ups of 15 pound to o2 and other small amounts trying to be taken by various web sites ?????
I have just received a splatt catalogue through my doorn I to live in scotland. Went online to read all this, how on earth are they still able to send this out ?? Thankfully I’m fortunate enogh to dicover this website is unavailabe but its now Aug 2011 and there still at it somehowm