Articles

Stores like to give you the convenience of using a credit card. They want to make it simple for you to shop, but do they also make it easier on crooks to run up your credit card?

10News went on an undercover buying spree and put all kinds of stores in San Diego to the test.

Fred Blankenship anchors the weekends on 10News. Blankenship is tall and looks nothing like 5-foot- 2 10news intern Kate McKenna, so we gave her Blankenship's credit card and McKenna went on a shopping spree. We did the same thing for 10News employee Charlie Miller, but we gave him reporter Elizabeth Sanchez's credit card. The buying began at Ross Dress For Less store, which didn't know Miller was shopping for 10News. Miller racked up more than $50 in merchandise.

"(The store employee) said the total was $51 and he said 'just swipe right here.' I swiped and it came up and said show card to cashier, but he never asked. I signed my name and hit accept and he printed the receipt and put it in (the bag) and I was on my way," Miller said.

When 10News told the store supervisor what happened, she told us the cashier was new and had been trained the day before. We checked and Ross's policy is to check identification if the signature doesn't match or the credit card is not signed.

McKenna went into Target with Blankenship's credit card, and came out with a DVD player.

"It was about $100. I simply put the credit card into one of those machines that feeds it through, signed my name on the electronic thing, she gave me the receipt and that was it," said McKenna.

The next stop was for some shoes at Payless, and again, Miller came out with a bag full of stuff.

Shopping does make you hungry, so 10News headed over to a Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill . Lunch was on Blankenship.

"I went in there with Fred Blankenship's credit card. I gave (the employee) the credit card; he asked for ID to check it. I gave him my own license. He saw that it wasn't the right name on the card.. he hesitated and basically said ok," said McKenna.

When 10News asked the Rubio's manager about it, he said he can't talk about it, but a Rubio's customer did. She said she is concerned.

"Your card can get out of your hands and someone else can be using it and charge all kinds of things to you, too," customer Debe Finch said.

Consumer advocates said cashiers are not signature experts but they should pay attention.

"If it's obvious it's a card of a different gender or a different race or ethnicity and they allow that through I find that to be (inconceivable)," Beth Givens, with the Privacy Rights Clearing House, said.

According to 10News, Target, Payless and Rubios all have a similar policy of checking identification when the credit card is not signed or the signature doesn't match. In each case, their employee didn't follow store policy. However, 10News went to one store that did pass the test.

Sports Chalet checked ID and McKenna was caught. 10News reported writing "check my ID" next to your signature can help, but of course it won't guarantee them verifying you are who you say you are.

Another good tip is to check your credit report at least once a year to make sure someone hasn't stolen your identity.

How To Access Free Credit Report

• Online: annualcreditreport.com
• By Phone: (877) 322-8228
• By Mail:
  Annual Credit Report Request Service
  P.O. Box 105281
  Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Applicants are required to provide their name, address, Social Security number and date of birth. Requests should be processed within 15 days.