Submitted by gamerdudeNYC t3_yk5b64 in jerseycity

Went to The Ashford on Sunday the 30th, sat at the bar, then last night received an alert that my credit card was used last for a $30 purchase at The Ashford and attempted $500 purchase at an online casino.

I almost never use the card and it’s still in my possession so I’m thinking an employee there took pictures of it and stole the information.

Planning on going to talk to the manager today to let them know of my suspicions.

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bodhipooh t1_iurcopt wrote

This is the Universe's way of teaching you an important lesson: don't patronize the Trashford.

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tdrhq t1_iurdero wrote

Who the fuck eats at the Ashford anyway?

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HappyArtichoke7729 t1_iurdquc wrote

Why not call the police? You are condoning this behavior if you don't report it to the police.

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AgentLemon22 t1_iurfgjq wrote

Your first mistake was going to Ashford

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haiduz t1_iuri2lf wrote

I mean you can’t really prove it was an ashford employee. Your card number might have been collected as a card skimmer like a month prior, sold on the dark web, and it’s just a coincidence it was used the same night as you went to the ashford.

Doesn’t stop you from accusing them tho cuz an ashford hate post gets even more of the /r/jerseycity circlejerk local updoots than an Amy DeGise hate post.

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IamLars t1_iurivbr wrote

Report it to your credit card company. They will investigate.

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gamerdudeNYC OP t1_iurj1pi wrote

Right, like I said I can’t prove it so I feel that the least I can do is let management know and they can do what the wish, they can ignore me completely or if they’re getting multiple complaints then maybe they’ll be more vigilant about it

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haiduz t1_iurjkmq wrote

Be sure to mention that you made a Reddit thread publicly accusing their employees of theft before they had a chance to review or respond. They’ll love you for that!

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pixel_of_moral_decay t1_iurln9h wrote

Yup.

Way easier to purchase credit cards on the “dark web” than steal them in person.

No chance of getting caught online (there’s not enough resources to investigate, it’s just an insurance thing built into credit card fees).

Just buy numbers online and keep your day job.

There’s really no reason to lift a credit card to use yourself.

If you do lift cards, put a skimmer on a gas pump, collect a bunch and sell them. That can make financial sense.

But just stealing a couple is too stupid to be likely. The economics don’t make sense.

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SadMaverick t1_iurmezn wrote

Slightly off topic, but I wish credit cards would come without numbers on them like the Apple card. It’s perfect for bars.

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haiduz t1_iurnpcu wrote

The fact that the person bought online casino credits (online digital goods that can be converted to cash) makes me thing that it was probably someone that bought it online out of state rather than some local bartender with a crippling gambling addiction that he is willing to risk his job for.

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haiduz t1_iurpqbi wrote

Just a happy patron. If you dont spend all your time on /r/jerseycity where internet dorks like to hate on people having fun offline and actually hang out on Newark Ave you’ll find that’s it’s a decent mega bar, with good food, that caters to a much more diverse clientele than the other Reddit faves, is LBGT inclusive, and a nice rooftop on the summer. Is it the best bar in NJ/NYC area? Far from it. No, but it’s certainly not worth the hate that it gets here. Especially this post which is blind accusation of theft with little to no proof.

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el_leon_vago t1_iurpvio wrote

Foolishly dropped my wallet at 626 on Saturday as well (same place/owners) and they also charged $25 at the the bar and tried to run it thtough cashapp and Walmart for $700.

I had instantly blocked all my cards when I noticed my wallet was not in my pocket.

Edit: they as in "someone" or "a person" not directly accusing an employee

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haiduz t1_iurqah3 wrote

Nope. I just like to make fun of the /r/jerseycity narrative. And on a given month there will be like 5 to 15 posts making fun of ashford by people that don’t go there or barely go out at all. I like to provide the counter voice because farming downvotes from dorks is just as fun as farming upvotes on Reddit.

It’s pretty fucking stupid to think that anyone that has the BRAVERY to say trashford isn’t the racist shithole that /r/jerseycity makes it out to be (and is actually the opposite) must work there. Some people just can form their own opinions.

My connection to is that it’s in my top 5 most visited and fave Newark Ave bars.

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Gmen9256 t1_iurqk35 wrote

Not OP, nor do I work at The Ashford or have any connection to it, but I do like their wings and it's a great spot for Sunday football.

This sub has had an anti-Ashford circle jerk for years now but here they are packed out every weekend - it's almost as if some people do like it and can speak positively about it without having any sort of connection to it.

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gamerdudeNYC OP t1_iurtm3d wrote

But I used it at the Ashford on Sunday and then last night it was also used by someone again at the Ashford and later to try and buy casino credits

So unless the person bought it off the dark web and went to the same bar I went to on Sunday, I’m thinking it was an employee that took a picture of the front and back while I was there

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Tankmaster5000 t1_iurzbsu wrote

That place looks like they told a bunch of old executives to design a bar that’s “cool and will attract the kids with their tik-toks and instant grams.”

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CatWings64 t1_ius01hf wrote

Another friendly PSA : This is why it's best to always pay with credit cards instead of debit cards. I mention this because so many people pay with debit. At least with credit cards, it's the bank's money and the bank will likely wipe the charges. When a debit card is compromised, it's your money that was spent. Good luck getting that back in a timely manner, if at all.

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centech t1_ius02qu wrote

Protip: Be a minority and they won't let you get far enough to use a credit card.

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pixel_of_moral_decay t1_ius8o6u wrote

Yup.

It’s not worth losing a job over something so trivial to get other ways.

And someone that stupid to risk a job would likely take it to a liquor store, or Walmart for impulse purchases. Order online with the number and pickup. Not something more sophisticated as you suggested.

Years ago I had a card that was likely cloned to be used at a liquor store, which was apparently down the street from where I legitimately used the card.

But back then magnetic strips were widely used, and cloning is trivial. With emv cards, it’s the default and beyond gas stations few places are even possible to use magnetic strips now.

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haiduz t1_ius9d2u wrote

Okay but tell me another bar on Newark Ave or JC that has a rotating happy happy hour each day. Seriously I’m asking. Happy hour in this town are sooo mid so it’s nice that they are at least trying.

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bklokis t1_iusdui0 wrote

Lol who actually goes to the Ashford?

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ribasad t1_iusnsfb wrote

Does anyone frequent the Ashford? Asking seriously. Seems empty, often.

Not interested in visiting after seeing this post.

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cookiesarenomnom t1_iusxx30 wrote

They don't. If it's under a certain amount, they don't investigate. They refund your money, send you a new card and write off the loses. It's far cheaper and quicker than investigating for a measly $500(from their perspective). They only investigate when fraud happens in the thousands of dollars.

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GreenTunicKirk t1_iut2cco wrote

Grove St Station on the corner?

I find their (ashford) food to be … edible. It’s all geared to be plated and look good in pics - specifically, the Instagram crowd. Honestly it’s a clever business model to focus more on attracting clientele obsessed with how they appear on social rather than provide good food.

The large venue is cool, and the drafts are fine. But honestly it’s an overwrought club/restaurant trying to be a destination and it lacks any authenticity to it. It belongs in Florida, not Jersey.

And I don’t even hate it.

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ip3p t1_iuthxw1 wrote

They don’t investigate because it’s not their money to lose. Fraudulent charges for online (card not present) transactions end up being covered by the merchant who accepted the card, the banks don’t cover anything in that case.

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Mother-Dragonfly7595 t1_iuticef wrote

I would think technically it’s not the bank’s money but your money + other people’s money? Your deposits but I do agree with you on your PSA though. Never used my debit cards for purchases. Except for that darn one restaurant which doesn’t accept credit cards.

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a_trane13 t1_iutrfy3 wrote

Credit means a creditor is literally lending you their money. They have enough cash flow and assets to borrow against to do that. Same as a house or car loan.

Debit cards spend money that is specifically yours, held by the bank.

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HElGHTS t1_iuu5rj4 wrote

Can merchants use insurance to guard against this, or would that just increase the expected value of their losses even more (in exchange for turning a variable cost into a fixed cost)?

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HElGHTS t1_iuu65ib wrote

If you're able to tap the terminal, you're pretty safe either way because nobody is walking away with your payment.

If someone will be walking away with your payment, are you suggesting they walk away with an unlocked phone instead of a card?

Doesn't add up.

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ip3p t1_iuutidl wrote

It's mostly used by larger merchants, but there are services that do essentially that. The services analyze the transaction and will approve/deny it based on fraud risk. Denied transaction they won't cover if a 'chargeback' occurs.

The cost is usually a fixed percentage of the transaction, usually ~1% but can be higher and lower depending on the risk level of the industry.

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sturmen t1_iuvpkpg wrote

Color me surprised that the racist Ashford is only improving their reputation...

But this is an example of why always using Apple Pay/Google Wallet/Samsung Wallet is safest way to use your card!

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nycnola t1_iuvqml9 wrote

Their system could be compromised, not necessarily an employee stealing info.

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henry_sqared t1_iv0xcp0 wrote

It's deceptive because the place is seriously massive. There are like 4 different environments. Don't get me wrong, it's not my scene; I've only been in a couple of times, but I was amazed at how expansive the space is.

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henry_sqared t1_iv0xnuh wrote

Yeah, it's a concept that looks great on paper. 10 big screens showing sports in an edgy, dark bar sounds fun. The reality is that you are blinded by the screens and then can't see shit anywhere else in the room.

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HElGHTS t1_iv2du1i wrote

Exactly. The implied circumstance that we are discussing in this post (including OP's story as well as this Apple Card comment thread) is where an employee walks away with the payment. I'm saying that using a phone instead of card doesn't really apply to this circumstance, because it would be even more of a risk than using a card.

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