Credit Card Fraud involving Blizzard Entertainment

A question about : Credit Card Fraud involving Blizzard Entertainment

Blizzard Entertainment are a reputable games company. I or my wife have never bought anything from them directly. I have 3 CCs. We are currently using one regularly, another is for foreign trips and a backup one.

On the Back up CC which we haven't used since Feb 2007, I just noticed 3 fraudulent transactions made to BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD in US Dollars.

Either Blizzard Entertainment name has been hijacked by fraudsters or their systems are running amok. I searched online and found one post by someone who has been hit by BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD

Check your cards for

06 May 2007 08 May 2007 BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD Currency: USD Amount: 19.99 Exchange Rate: 1.93 £10.35
06 May 2007 08 May 2007 BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD Currency: USD Amount: 19.99 Exchange Rate: 1.93 £10.35
06 May 2007 08 May 2007 BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD Currency: USD Amount: 19.99 Exchange Rate: 1.93 £10.35

Best answers:

• Or alternatively - your credit card details have been either stolen or made up by someone and are being used to purchase stuff from Blizzard?
  Just because they are the ones putting through the transactions - doesn't mean they are the ones doing the bad thing.
• I think the fraudulent transactions from Blizzard are hitting a lot of companies. Have you spoken to yout CC's fraud dept?
• My card has been hit too. Three payments on the 2nd May 2007 $21.43, $19.99 and $19.99. I phoned my CC provider and the call centre person said I was the third person in a row to call about the exact same thing.
  I have closed my account and am awaiting a new one to open.
  Me thinks someone has a data leak!
• https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...90#post5146590
  (It could have been worse, at least you have not been accused of child pornography)
• This weekend, three separate charges showed up as pending on a debit card, each one for $19.99.
  BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD
  Had to cancel the account.
• are you all with the same CC company or have you all used your card at the same place recently ?
  there must be a common denominator somewhere along the line (i think lol)
• I'm seeing 2 hits on my card for Blizzard but I'm also seeing one for NC Soft. I've done business with Blizzard in the past but not with NC Soft. Is anyone else seeing suspicious activity for anything other than Blizzard?
  Thanks,
  Carl
• I've had 2 hits as well from Blizzard, both for $19.99. Never bought anything from them, in fact I didn't know who they were until reading this.
  Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. Anyone suffered similar? I've sent an email to my bank asking them to look into it. What happens next?
  Ta for any replies,
  Scott.
• Same here - 3 transactions on 23rd April for Blizzard then one a week later for NC Soft - we also had one to a software company for £815.47 and a cinema ticket at Cineworld (none of those anywhere near me!) for £6.50. The £815 one was refunded by the company - probably when the realised the addresses didn't match.
  All in all 7 unauthorised transactions on OH's debit card from our joint account - we bank with Abbey, they have cancelled his card but now I'm wondering if we should close the whole account down?
  I've reported it to Abbey last Friday when I discovered it and visited the branch on Saturday armed with the statement printouts - I'm just waiting to hear from them now.
• Yes I have had the hit for 3 x $19.99 payments which went out on 4th May. Been on to VISA and they are sending me the form to report and claim.
  I also got through to Blizzard-Ent accounts in the States. They were very helpful and confirmed that I am NOT an account holder but they left me convinced that their procedures are well above board but what I cannot understand is that they require a postcode as well - surely the fraudsters would need the correct postcode as well as CC numbers and verification codes and expiry dates?
  Good job the amounts are relatively small.
• I have had 6 x Blizzard transactions - 3 in the US and 3 in France. All identified by Egg as suspicious and refunded without any hassle. Well done, Egg!
• I have another thread asking for info on CCBill.com
  It may be the same type of thing. I have a payment on my egg statement to them for £20.25 on 13th May and I've never heard of them.
• I have just had my May Credit Card Bill and have 3 Transactions for $19.99 on the 09/05/07, I have never used this company, my credit cards fraud department are taking up these transaction.
  Ensure you check your statements.
  The Transactions are all for the same day, and the description is..
  09 MAY BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD 800-595-5499 CA
  (19.99 US DOLLARS @ RATE 1.94)
  09 MAY BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD 800-595-5499 CA
  (19.99 US DOLLARS @ RATE 1.94)
  09 MAY BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD 800-595-5499 CA
  (19.99 US DOLLARS @ RATE 1.94)
• I'm the OP, but haven't returned to this thread since, apologies for the unanswered questions. I last used this card in Feb, it's a spare emergency card and I've closed the whole account. It's an Amazon card issued by Halifax. I've another halifax CC for regular UK use and an Audi (Citi Financial) card for foreign use.
  I have contacted halifax fraud team twice, most recently 2 days ago and after two payments to WORLD OF WARCRAFT CDKE of £14.99. WoW is made by Blizzard Entertainment. I've now requested they close this account, hopefully no more charges can be made.
  The fraudsters are using small amounts that will not raise an alarm. I've read elsewhere that large amounts or amounts like 100.00 will most likely be investigated by default.
• I am a BOA customer and was also hit -
  05/07/07 PURCHASE 9 ON 05/05 AT BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD 800-592-5499 CA -$21.64
  05/07/07 PURCHASE ON 05/05 AT BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD 800-592-5499 CA -$21.19
  05/07/07 PURCHASE ON 05/05 AT BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD 800-592-5499 CA -$21.19
  I am going to call the bank right now and then try blizz. What a pain in the butt!
• I was hit as well
  05/21/2007 PURCHASE MADE ON 05/19/07 AT BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD
  800-592-5499 CA $19.99
  05/21/2007 PURCHASE MADE ON 05/18/07 AT BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD
  800-592-5499 CA $21.69
• Am a BofA client, and have *4* unauthorized transactions. Had BofA kill my ATM card yesterday afternoon, and will take a week or so to get the new one. Also, had to call BofA to file a fraud claim, and it usually takes a day or two to get those charges reversed. Here they are:
  PURCHASE ON 05/21 AT NC SOFT 1 512 2256359 NY -$39.99
  PURCHASE ON 05/21 AT BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD 800-592-5499 CA -$21.64
  PURCHASE ON 05/20 AT BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD 800-592-5499 CA -$21.51
  PURCHASE ON 05/20 AT BLIZZARD-ENT*ELECUPGRD 800-592-5499 CA -$19.99