Thought I would share this since a lot of you might shop at monoprice....

Monoprice.com Shuttered After Fraud Complaints — Krebs on Security (http://www.krebsonsecurity.com/2010/03/monoprice-com-shuttered-after-fraud-complaints/)

Their facebook page is pretty busy with discussion.

This happens more then you think. Many times it's never reported from the company. Monoprice won't lose my business because this could happen to anyone.

I'm really surprised this hasn't been in the news more. I and another friend experienced what others are complaining about. I'm lucky it was only a few iTunes charges and the bank caught it as some are complaining on Monoprice's Facebook page of having thousands of dollars in charges made to their cards. Some were debit cards which cleared out their entire bank accounts. I loved their products and their prices. But until Monoprice admits to the source of the fraud and shows they have taken care of it, I would not shop with them again.

They'll be fine...and I'll be back.

Thanks for sharing. I use monoprice on a regular basis and as of now do not have any fraudulent charges on my account. I'm actually impressed that they were willing to take the site down to make sure they get it fixed. I love their products (and prices) and will continue to shop there. Just another reason to only use a credit card to make purchases online (as opposed to a debit card).

See, I told you guys to buy cables from Best Buy. Won't you ever listen?

I needed some HDMI cables a month or two ago and ended up just buying them from Amazon since I have Prime and an account and everything with them - Amazon.com: Amazon Basics: Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=Amazon+Basics&x=0&y=0)

Also, you have known problems if you take your site down like this, this isn't normal. This is much more than 'oh they're checking us out to make sure'. Their shopping cart is much more telling:


The Monoprice website is unable to accept any orders (which includes order via phone, or livechat) while we correct some problems and perform maintenance.

I've bought from MonoPrice.com a lot. Never had a problem.
Back in October I bought a box of candy from Macy's.com and a few days later the fraud department of my bank shut down my card because they seen 3 internet purchases within 75 minutes totaling over $800.00. One of the purchases, the last one, was at Macy's.com. Luckily, because of my banks quickness, I had everything corrected in about a week.
Ghpr13:)

I would not hestate to shop atMonoprice again, but to be cautious -

1.. Only use a credit card.
2. Even better, use a temporary credit card number with a $$$ limit.

I love them too. I've been using paypal lately whenever possible. I changed my paypal password because of this and got their secure ID, but I'll be back when they get it fixed. :)

Monoprice has the best prices for HDMI cables.. I order before 2pm and receive the next day promptly.

Never, ever ever use a debit card for internet purchases. If there is fraud, you have to take action to get your money back and in the mean time your back account is cleared out with other checks and debits bouncing at $39 fees each until you prove fraud.

With credit cards you are liable for a maximum $50 (in many cases $0) and the burden is on the credit card companies, not you and you are never out any money while the fraud is investigated.

Have used them in the past and have had no issues.

I always try to use a temporary, one time use only, CC for online purchases and that helps to not have to worry about these things.

I purchased many cables from monoprice.com over the years and never had a problem, but I haven't needed to buy anything from them in the past couple years. However, monoprice.com has due-care and due-diligence obligations (legal standard) to protect their customer's privacy and credit card information. As such, any customer victimized by monoprice's negligence is free to seek legal recourse.

I still don't understand why people use their debit cards online... I don't even hand my debit card to a waiter at a restaurant. Credit card all the way... I just pay it off every month to prevent any interest and I get the reward points too...win win.

Speaking of monoprice... does anyone know where to buy a switch like this? They have an ETA of 4/27... I really don't feel like waiting that long but this switch with the toslink out would work perfect not to mention I could buy a set of wireless headphones and hook them up to this!

HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more! (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=5557&seq=1&format=2)

http://images.monoprice.com/productlargeimages/55573.jpg

Since I help run an online store this kind of thing worries me and I feel for Monoprice. Working to keep customers information private is a lot of work and no matter how good your security is I am sure there is always a way for people to break in and get what they want.

Kind of scarry though!

As I said I feel for Monoprice and when them come back online I will not hesitate to shop from them again.

Ordered from Monoprice once and can't say I'd be enthusiastic to do it again. I picked two-day shipping, never got it. On the 2nd day looked at the tracking number and it hadn't shipped. Called them and was promised immediate shipping, that was on a Thursday. By the next Monday they still hadn't shipped and I called again, they promised to overnight it. They did, but I didn't get it until Wednesday. So I placed an order for 2-day shipping on a Monday night (after EOB), with 2 day shipping expected to get it Thursday - never got it until the following Wednesday.

And then when I got it in, it was the wrong item, had to call them back and they did overnight a new one, of course it didn't get delivered until after EOB Wednesday so that one didn't come in until Friday.

Would have been nice if they had at least offered to refund my shipping.

Seems like this is not a common occurrence with them but it was a bad first experience and I'm not likely to go back.

I feel for them. My experience has always been positive. I need some cables, any suggestions on a source while they get straightend out?

Check out the facebook page.

Monoprice | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Monopricecom?v=wall)

Ordered from them in February and last weekend got a call from my credit card company asking about some charges that I hadn't made. Luckely they were all denied.. Always had good luck with them before this..

[QUOTE=digiblur;2136502]I still don't understand why people use their debit cards online... I don't even hand my debit card to a waiter at a restaurant. Credit card all the way... I just pay it off every month to prevent any interest and I get the reward points too...win win.

Speaking of monoprice... does anyone know where to buy a switch like this? They have an ETA of 4/27... I really don't feel like waiting that long but this switch with the toslink out would work perfect not to mention I could buy a set of wireless headphones and hook them up to this!

[url= Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more![/url]

[IMG]

check out cablestogo.com. They might have it..

Mine was one of the numbers that was stolen it appears. The bank informed me of some attempted charges that were made. Fortunately it appears that nothing went through. If so though, I will not be liable, so good job First State Bank!!!!! lol

Got hit with some charge from zznetwork, about $20. I can only assume it was due to monoprice. Had last purchased from monoprice late November. Card canceled, and amounts credited back. Just a hassle as I have about 5 bills autopaid with this card that I'll have to fix.

Monoprice is open again and taking orders.

I wish they would've found the problem and made sure they are stopping it from happening again before they reopened...

I wish they would've found the problem and made sure they are stopping it from happening again before they reopened...

It might be wise to use PayPal for now just for added safety.
Ghpr13:)

So far they have not been able to find any problems within their network but that does not eliminate an employee with a concealed thumb drive or passport drive or a problem at the CC processor.

Fyi last night I had charges on my account for about $300. Blizzard ent , Apple, hotfile. It fits the pattern of charges from people who had info stolen from Monoprice. CHECK YOUR ACCOUNTS!!!

It might be wise to use PayPal for now just for added safety.
Ghpr13:)


To me, Paypal and safety don't go in the same sentence. :)

Just checked my credit card. Looks like my data is safe (for now.) I'll still use this site. I need to order a 25 ft HDMI cord and I shudder to think what the price of this would be at another store...

That reminds me I need to order some cables. :)

So who ever stole the information is still using it. I need to contact Monoprice today and tell them about this. They still haven't found out who did it if the person or persons is still using the credit cards.

I've made two orders since they came back online and so far haven't had any issues. Not really concerned if I do. Once call to Amex and they go away. Not something worth losing any sleep over as far as I'm concerned.

About two weeks ago I got some kind of Id Theft program courtesy of Monoprice . Bank of America sent me a email about the charges. Bank of America is sending me paper work to fill out. I have no idea what happen but the person or persons haven't been caught seeing it happened just yesterday . I'm guessing it's more then one person.

Fortunately the card I've used with Monoprice in the past expired in January, so since they (the hackers) don't have the new date and last 4, I'm pretty much safe.

I would recommend that anyone who used Monoprice prior to the shutdown have their card replaced.

I always pay via PayPal. Then you only have to worry about PayPal screwing you over! But, since I'm not a dealer, that doesn't happen much to me anymore. :D

Get the buy and fill credit cards like they sell at Walmart, $3 to get it and then you fill it and use it when ever you need it, its not linked to any critical information and if something happens you can dump it.

Again, I don't understand why people are so worried about this. The one time that my card (it was actually my Amex) had any fraudulent charges on it I was not out any money and they overnighted me a new card so I was "inconvenienced" for less than 24 hours. That is one of the reasons why you use credit cards instead of debit cards. What's the big deal?

Exactly... I had this happen a while back with some battery website. They got a $2 charge through but the $500 one failed. The CC company contacted me and they sent me a new card and unfroze my account once the new card was activated.

I got a free 3 yr credit monitoring thing out of the deal that actually helped me with some other unrelated things.

Again, I don't understand why people are so worried about this. The one time that my card (it was actually my Amex) had any fraudulent charges on it I was not out any money and they overnighted me a new card so I was "inconvenienced" for less than 24 hours. That is one of the reasons why you use credit cards instead of debit cards. What's the big deal?
Well. Some won't notice the charges. Believe me. Not everyone checks the charges on Credit Card statements. Now Monoprice appears to not have caught the person or persons because almost a month later and someone charged on my card. I didn't think this was a big deal at first but it makes me wonder if the people who stole is could try other cards months of even a year from now.

Yea I was hit with this problem a month or so ago. I ALWAYS check my account daily, and noticed 2 charges. One from Victoria's Secret and one from I-tunes. I contacted the credit union as soon as they opened. I also contacted Victoria's Secret which was able to contact UPS and intercepted the package that was overnighted. The credit union gave me a new card the same day they cancelled the old one. I also was able to get all my money back the same day too. I used a debit card but since its a "Master Card" debit, I am protected just like a credit card. But I will still get my cables from Monoprice. This can happen to any company.

Yea I was hit with this problem a month or so ago. I ALWAYS check my account daily, and noticed 2 charges. One from Victoria's Secret and one from I-tunes. I contacted the credit union as soon as they opened. I also contacted Victoria's Secret which was able to contact UPS and intercepted the package that was overnighted. The credit union gave me a new card the same day they cancelled the old one. I also was able to get all my money back the same day too. I used a debit card but since its a "Master Card" debit, I am protected just like a credit card. But I will still get my cables from Monoprice. This can happen to any company.
None of you have been asked to fill out any kind of paper work from your credit card company to say you didn't make the charges? I have to and it's a pain in the rump. I just find interesting and disturbing that who ever stole is still using the information. That is very troubling. That might be the reason Monoprice sent me a free year of ID Theft Protection from some company.

None of you have been asked to fill out any kind of paper work from your credit card company to say you didn't make the charges? I have to and it's a pain in the rump. I just find interesting and disturbing that who ever stole is still using the information. That is very troubling. That might be the reason Monoprice sent me a free year of ID Theft Protection from some company.
Yea, they filled out a form for me, I just had to sign it. It was painless. But something I really would not want to go though again. The night I found out about the charges I couldn't get any sleep.

One funny thing was that Victoria's Secret wouldn't give me ANY info except that it wasn't going to my address. But when I called them back the automated system sniffed out my phone number as a current order in process and gave me the order number, the items ordered and a UPS tracking number. Its funny a real person wouldn't give me that info but a computer could.

Yea, they filled out a form for me, I just had to sign it. It was painless. But something I really would not want to go though again. The night I found out about the charges I couldn't get any sleep.

One funny thing was that Victoria's Secret wouldn't give me ANY info except that it wasn't going to my address. But when I call them back the automated system sniffed out my phone number as a current order in process and gave me the order number, the items ordered and a UPS tracking number. Its funny a real person wouldn't give me that info but a computer could.
So if this happened about a month ago the credit card information must be all over the place. Who knows how many people may have it. If it was just one person they would have nabbed them by now. I don't have anything against Monoprice but I would like to have them tell us more about what is going on.

Is it safe to buy from them now?

Ramy - I've made 3 purchases since they came back online. No issues.

I'm waiting to purchase from them.... but I doubt they'll ever have this switch in stock. Wish I could find out who makes this switch for them and buy it from somewhere else. I've read the reviews and such, and this is exactly what I need. argghhhh..... I could go with another switch but I would need a toslink extractor for the cable running to the TV.

For only $41.62 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 4X1 HDMI 1.3b Certified Switcher with Toslink & Digital Coaxial port | Auto/Powered HDMI Switches (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=5557&seq=1&format=2)

..... I used a debit card but since its a "Master Card" debit, I am protected just like a credit card....

Perhaps by company policy, but debit cards are not protected like credit cards under the law.

My credit union 'Visa' debit card acts like a visa when I use it on-line. I have a choice at local stores, Visa or debit. It still all comes out of my checking account.

Is it safe to buy from them now?

I made a purchase the other day. However, I clicked through to PayPal, and paid from there. That protects my account/credit card better (IMO)

My credit union 'Visa' debit card acts like a visa when I use it on-line. I have a choice at local stores, Visa or debit. It still all comes out of my checking account.

Unless it is a true credit card you are not covered under the law. Although as pointed out above an individual company may choose to give you those benefits. Just get a credit card so that no one has acces to your checking account.

Is it safe to buy from them now?

I would say ebay/paypal and you are fine. I ordered cable in February from the off ebay and used paypal and had no problems, but of course that could have been before their march issues.

it's also funny that I saved about $3 for the cable delivered than I would have paid for cable/delivery directly from their website so I plan to use ebay in the future for purchases from monoprice.