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I happened to look at my credit card statement online yesterday and spotted 2 odd transactions both for less than a dollar, but with a company I've never heard of in the U.S.
I also received a note from a large online marketplace saying someone has tried to open an account with my card, so they've canceled the transactions on my behalf.

I called the credit card company and they told me that it's normal for a credit card scammer to place one or two very small dollar value transactions (e.g. an iTunes purchase) on a card to test that the number works, then they'll place a large order somewhere.

Moral of the story - WATCH YOUR CARD TRANSACTIONS CLOSELY - if you're setup for online banking, look at the transactions during the month, don't just wait for your statement to show up. Look particularly at small transactions, they may be a precursor for something much larger. I was just lucky the marketplace (Amazon) had controls in place to catch and cancel the transactions, other vendors may have let the large charge(s) go through and I'd be fighting with the bank.
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I had this happen, and the bank caught it. There were two $1 transactions and a $3 transaction to strange online merchants. I couldn't find too much info on the merchants. I thought maybe they got lots of card numbers set up a fake store and took a dollar a month from lots of cards. Card holders wouldn't notice $1 per month. What ever it is they made the mistake of doing it too many times, and my bank noticed.
Chase canceled my card for the same, They caught it, before I did. I make note of my purchases and cross check when the bill comes.. Really, if there is a bad charge on your card.. It is the banks problem, not yours, I think the LifeLock credit insurance is a scam. 10 Bucks a month and he has 1 million customers..? He is selling fear. Pay me now, or it may cost you later. Be responsible for yourself!
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