Need help from my Norwegian (and maybe other Scandavian) friends

[Don Corleone]

Hello,

I'm afraid I was the victim of fraudulent bank charges. An account that I rarely use (it's closed now) was debited by a Norwegian company to the tune of $94. The bank was kind enough to credit the money back to my account and begin an investegation, but they've asked me to contact the merchant to see if I cannot get them to reverse the charges. Here's the problem. All I have to go in is the following:

The amount, the name of the company: "Mounkoro Veilednings" (there may be some Norwegian characters that don't show up in the bank statement) and that they're in Bergen, Norway. When I do a websearch, the only results I can find are in Norwegian. Can somebody tell me what this company is and what they sell? I couldn't make heads or tales of the Google results I found, even the ones in English.

You will have my eternal gratitude. And when you do a favor for the Don, this kindness I will never forget, and your enemies will be my enemies, and they will wish they had never been born. They will go to sleep with the fishes.

[KukriKhan]

I'm not Norwegian, but they sell internet cigarettes...

and you're not alone on the unauthorized charges Link to different forum.

94 bucks equals a sale of about 4 cartons of ciggies.

[Husar]

I'm not Norwegian, but they sell internet cigarettes...

You mean virtual cigarettes that you can smoke online?

I don't speak Norwegian, but I hope you can solve this Don, keep us updated.

Concerning Kukri's link, someone there says they provided the secret PIN, I know that some mafia rings here in Europe break into stores at night and install small chips in card readers. These chips will then SMS the credit card info including the secret PIn of everybody who pays using that card reader to the mafia so they can create a false card and get money from peoples' bank accounts. Yeah, scary, but what can you do except complain to the bank and police when someone wrongfully charges you?

Use real money of course but then that can be hard when you're ordering online for example.

edit: Great offer, HoreTore.

[Myrddraal]

break into stores at night and install small chips in card readers

In the UK they fit devices to the slots on Cash Machines, remove them a day later after having recorded all your card details. It doesn't steal the pin, but you don't need the pin to buy online...

[Viking]

Yup, all about Russian trade.
From the webpage:

Bedriften kan tilby praktisk bistand til norske forretningsmenn og private personer som har eller vil starte forretninger med russiske selskaper eller som vil bare besøke Russland. Vi kan også hjelpe forretningsmenn som søker pålitelige forretningsforbindelser og private personer som vil vite mer om Russland.

(should )translate to:

The company can offer practical help to Norwegian buisnessmen and individuals that have or will start buisness with Russian companies, or that simply wants to visit Russia. We can also help out buisnessmen that seek trustable buisness-connections as well as individuals that want to know more about Russia.

In other words a random charge.

[Don Corleone]

We're trying a kinder, gentler Don Corleone these days. Instead of the standard , I sent the indivdidual in question a polite email explaining that I had no recollection of business dealings with him (or anyone in Norway since my last visit there 3 years ago, when I bought some duty-free souveneirs at the Oslo airport). As they say, don't assume malice when incompetence will suffice. Maybe a couple of digits got transposed. Anyway, thank you everyone for your help, and yes, Hore Tore, if I'm having difficulties, I would be very grateful to take you up on your offer of having you ring him up. Thank you for all your help, I'll let you know how it goes.

[HoreTore]

Norwegians to the rescue!

According to "Brønnøysundregisteret"( http://w2.brreg.no/enhet/sok/detalj.jsp?orgnr=887729352 ), the goverment register for corporations, the company's full name is "Mounkoro Veilednings- og formidlingstjeneste" and it's listed as a "single mans business"(no idea how to translate the norwegian term, it means it's a small business run by one guy).

Their web page is www.mvit.no and their listed email address is mounkoro@mvit.no(they have a different one listed on their web page, which is post@mvit.no).

According to the web page, this company's business is to help businesses operating in russia or who wants to start operating in russia. It's listed as operating in Bergen, but according to the web page, it operates from Oslo.

I'd say your best shot is to send an email, since he doesn't list a telephone number. If that doesn't work, I can try to get hold of his number and call him for you

[Seamus Fermanagh]

...and it's listed as a "single mans business"(no idea how to translate the norwegian term, it means it's a small business run by one guy)....

We use the label "Sole Proprietorship." Means one person who is the sole owner and operator of the company/business in question.

[IrishArmenian]

Kick some internet ciggarette vending arse, Don!
How could you/why would you buy smokes over the internet? Why not walk to the store?

[KukriKhan]

Kick some internet ciggarette vending arse, Don!
How could you/why would you buy smokes over the internet? Why not walk to the store?

'Cause these would be duty-free, low (local Russian, or Ukranian, or Moldavian) -taxed, cigs at about one-third the price of say, California or New York cigarettes. A carton of Marlboro Red Box here costs $37.50 (discount store) to $45.00. On the net, if you shop, you can find the same product for $12.75. Even with shipping charges, it's a deal.

Some States in the US have begun to demand the sales records from cig-sellers, so they can recover unpaid local tax on the weed. But only US-based sellers MUST comply, so many folks have resorted to buying from overseas.

[Ronin]

how could this company charge money from your account if you gave no prior express consent to your bank to accept such charges from that company???

me thinks I´ve run across a difference between our banking systems.

[KukriKhan]

To make Don's thread totally backroom-ish, here's a link to a story of A US Senate bill, that, if enacted as law, would allow ID theft victims to seek restitution.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

To make Don's thread totally backroom-ish, here's a link to a story of A US Senate bill, that, if enacted as law, would allow ID theft victims to seek restitution.

....now all we need is a "bollox! " from Tribes and an over-long, thoroughly tedious post from myself and the thread will be complete!



oh, wait, I'm insulting me -- what will our noble moderati do?

[Sigurd]

MOUNKORO VEILEDNINGS- OG
FORMIDLINGSTJENESTE

Organisasjonsform: Enkeltpersonforetak
Forretningsadresse: Hordagaten 88, 5055 BERGEN

I know the street.
Just give me a word if you want me to rough up the guy.

[Husar]

Just give me a word if you want me to rough up the guy.

Ohoh, that sounds painful.

[Don Corleone]

MOUNKORO VEILEDNINGS- OG
FORMIDLINGSTJENESTE

Organisasjonsform: Enkeltpersonforetak
Forretningsadresse: Hordagaten 88, 5055 BERGEN

I know the street.
Just give me a word if you want me to rough up the guy.

I don't think that will be necessary, but I'll keep you in mind should it come to that. :-)

You guys want a good laugh? I sent him an email offering to settle the matter between the two of us, just have him withdraw the charge. That way my bank doesn't investegate him. He responded with "I'm very concerned about identity protection and I cannot discuss the case with you. You may not be who you say you are". I guess he's got a point... who would know better than he what unscrupulous fiends reside in cyberspace.

[HoreTore]

He responded with "I'm very concerned about identity protection and I cannot discuss the case with you. You may not be who you say you are".

Idgit.