Debit card fraud

[Dave L]

I checked my account balance tonight and noticed a $480 then a $20 withdrawl from my accout. I waited for my wife to get home just incase she decided to take out cash but she didnt. I still have my card so they obviously "skimmed" it. I called the bank, they shut down the card and are going to do an investigation. I should get my money back in 4 to 10 days according to the rep.

Freaking Gas station was my last purchase with the card.

Has any one else had this happen?

[legion]

I had my credit card information stolen two years ago.

I'm glad it was my credit card and not a debit card.

I completely stopped using my debit card after that. Too much risk.

File a police report. The police most likely won't do anything. In my experience, they don't care about theft that isn't done physically. You will need the report number for the next step.

Put a fraud alert on your credit report immediately. It will prevent anyone from taking out a loan in your name.

[stomachmonkey]

Only use CC's at gas stations.

Common scam.

[boomvang]

I just read about this today in the current Consumers Reports, slimeballs install a reading device and then can obtain pin #'s as well as the account info. Gas stations are among the worst offenders. They recommend that ATM's and other debit card devices be avoided unless installed in a bank.

[glewis80SC]

Had ID theft last year, someone got hold of a check my wife or i wrote did the 'ol photoshop switch, put a name close to my wifes. They had the routing and acct number, also wives DL number. They got 1200.00 over 2 days. The credit union gave the money back but we had to close EVERYTHING, police report, then explain all the returned checks to all the companies, mail of PD reports to all the companies. Real pain in the ass!!!!
Always use CC for gas, if doing a check NEVER let them put your DL number on it, only use the license to verify who you are.

[maxnine11]

My new debit card has a chip in it. (As does my latest credit card)
Basically, it has to be inserted into the machine when you type in your PIN.
That should make it a lot harder to skim.
Please correct me if i am wrong.

max

ps - i hate f*@kin' thieves. Cutting their hands off should make a comeback.

[johnco]

got me one time. had a feelig I should check my account one day. it was not only empty, it was overdrawn for hundreds. someone got my number and charged a couple grand on it. luckily I noticed this by the next day. within 4-5 hours they had ordered these real estate rip off get rich vieeos, subscribed to many magazines, applied for student loans, etc. just stupid worthless stuff. and it was delivered to my address! the 16-18 charges were from $1 to several hundred, all online stuff. banker said they get payment somehow just by ordering crap online. noticed the charges about 2-3 am and was at the bank at 8am to get the card canceled. my money was refunded by the bank and all the NSF charges dropped within 2 weeks. fuuny thing is I remember ordering a new cell phone online and my computer locked up fro a while after I entered all the card info. the next day I got the charges. I inquired a bit and learned this crook gave them my cell phone number on his purchases but it was one number off the actual number. I remembered mistyping it the same way when ordering online.

[john walker's workshop]

my visa card statement started showing airline purchases in africa. about $4K worth. got it all credited in a month or so after filling out several claims, etc.

[Rick Lee]

A co-worker's husband is in the Secret Service and used to work CC fraud. She told me of a case where a cashier at Barnes and Noble or Borders was swiping credit cards into his own machine very quickly before he ran it through the store's machine. There was a Sopranos episode where a girl was doing this with Amex's used at Artie's restaurant. Sure is easy to get caught, but not before a lot of damage is done.

[Fishman7]

My bank shut down my debit card last week becuase of possible theft, got my new card last night, what a pain in the ass!

[Schumi]

I only use one gas station, and only like to go places where I can watch my car being scanned.
I hate when I can't watch the car being scanned, makes me think some guy in the back is cloning it.

I use a Debit card but always scan it through the "Credit" option (Visa). That way I don't ever have to punch my pin in where someone can read it or see it.

[Dave L]

I really try not to use credit at all but I might not have a choice. I also never carry cash so I have always heavily used my debit card. I am going to ask about a "chipped" card as that might make it a little more difficult to skim.

I actually paid for the gas at the pump so no one, other than myself, had the card.

It really pisses me off, we are trying to save money and spend wisely only to have some jack hole steal my money. GRRRRRRRR.

[genrex]

What Schumi says..

When it asks if you're using a debit card, press No.

[Dave L]

CDN cards are a little different, a debit card is a debit card and a credit card is a credit card.

[Dantilla]

I refuse to use a debit card, and I usually prefer good old cash.

Being a cheapskate, it's hard to part with the cash in my pocket. Using cash saves me a bunch of it.

[Bill Douglas]

I used to work in the CC section of a major bank. 19 out of 20 small time frauds were done by Chinnese resturaunts.

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I used to work in the CC section of a major bank. 19 out of 20 small time frauds were done by Chinnese resturaunts.

Don't pay your check with a credit card at a Chinese Restaurant.
They know all about how to "launder money".

LOL

[Dave L]

Update- went into the bank to get a new card.

I asked the girl what would happen now with my money. She told me not to worry that it would be returned in about 5 days. She has seen 100 people with the same issue in the last 3 days

SO Im not really sure if it is a skimming job or a case where thier database was compromised. 100 people over 3 days seems like a LOT of people to have randomly had thier card skimmed.

[campbellcj]

I just recently had my debit card, name and address (both misspelled) jacked by some residents of grey-bar hotels in California. The Bubba's used my card to buy various personal items and junk food at online "quarterly package" shopping sites.

What a PITA! My bank did promptly credit the funds back on a tentative basis as they investigated the fraud claims, but it is scary nonetheless. I was in physical possession of the card the entire time so it was clearly an electronic hack job.

I reported the Bubba's to the shopping site companies and one of them was very apologetic and said they see quite a bit of this, and would report it right away to the warden of the institution. The other company didn't seem to give a damn.

[Hugh R]

I think I'm going to start using my CC for everything, except cash from the ATM or cash back from the major supermarkets. I get frequent flier miles from United Airlines anyway.