Somebody charged $$$ on my debit card!

[Pinktiger]

I am a victim. I've been keeping close tabs on my checking account, which also has a check card, and last week I noticed a charge for $177.33 on my account -- I didn't recognize the vendor, and it really put me in a bind. A phone number on the vendor was an Oregon cell phone that was out of service. I called my bank and they put a fraud alert on my account, refunded the money, and canceled my check card immediately. I'm getting a new card in the mail.

In the meantime, I wonder -- how did this happen? I'm really very careful. It was a non-pin purchase, meaning someone got my card number somehow and made the purchase.

The only place I can think of on the date of the charge was, I was in Barnes and Noble and used my card for a purchase. I was with my daughter and not paying a lot of attention. Someone could have taken a cell phone photo of my card very easily and i would never have known.

Anyone else having similar problems? Or is it just me??

[SinkingFast]

We haven't had that problem yet, Pink. But we have the kind of card with Zero liablity on it. If it get's used and we didn't do it, we aren't out anything.

Our Barnes and Noble here is run, for the most part, by a bunch of college students. We have a major University in town. Maybe a B&N employee is a college student from outa state, that got your number when you flashed your card and used it. I think I'd bring this up with management at B&N. Point out that that is the only place your card number could have been accessed for an outa state charge. You never know. B&N may have a student working there who's from Oregon.

Sometimes thieves aren't real bright, or they count on the victim not being real aggressive. The person could have been the one that rang up your purchase at the book store.

It could have been a random number generation thing too. They had the bank routing number and just started generating Debit Card numbers to see what hit. Most of the time, I use my PIN, but sometimes, the CC machine is set up to sign instead. So they get a random number generation that hits on your card and use a machine that allows them to sign instead of using a PIN.

Good Luck!! Good thing it's all covered, the money was put back, and you're getting a new card for your account.

[13inOR]

I hate that!! That happened to us once when we were out of town, there was
a wierd charge for nearly $300 on my debit card that totally tied up the money we needed for gas and food.
I went to use it and it was declined, so when I called the bank I realized there was a charge I didn't make.
We had used it at a restaurant the night before, and the waiter took it and then brought it back with the receipt, which is standard, and it would have been very easy for him or someone else to copy the number down. It was that very night that the charge was made for an internet purchase. So, we had our suspicions there.
Anyhow, the bank did reverse the charge so I got my money back but not without a lot of inconvenience because of it happening when we were out of town and it was the weekend. Ever since then I try to avoid using my debit card at restaurants because I don't like for it to be out of my sight!

[Minnymouth]

There was a thing on Nat News over the weekend about debit card fraud....... and how its going up.....

Hackers overseas are obtaining the numbers from where you are on line or a bank is registering your purchase on your debt card and the hacker seizes it as it process. They inturn go to a local ATM and access your account with a duplicate card they've made..... (they have your name, account number and access code)

All this was on the evening news..... Friday nite, I think....
They cautioned everyone to check their debit accounts..... for errors and withdrawls.

[ilovemycaitybug]

YIKES!!! It's happened to us before, luckily (I guess?) for a much smaller amount, but it makes you wonder how they got it! I really need a regular credit card for online purchases so it doesn't mess up my life if they hijack my card!!!!!!

[twuoo]

This happened to me two weeks ago. I log online daily to look at my account. I saw suspicious action and called the fraud line on my debit card immediately.

The rep was a dork. I told him the charge was made when I was already in bed sleeping. He actually suggested, and was serious, that somebody came, took my card, made the charge and returned my card to the wallet. What a dope!

I asked him if the transaction was swiped or punched and he said it was punched. Well HELLO! That means the card didn't physically have to be there for the transaction to take place.

It's like rocket science for the rep I had. I try not to get overly distraught about this stuff because you can't really avoid it. If you hand your card to somebody to pay for dinner, they walk to the back to swipe your card. But it might not even be your wait person that does the swiping. So anywhere along that transaction line, somebody could get ahold of your card number and jot it down.

And now, all these websites force you to register all your information before you can make a purchase and they keep your info on file. That's just another way for somebody to steal our identity.

I'm sure there are countless ways if somebody really wanted your ID. Dumpster diving for junk mail etc.

My best defense is just to stay on top of it. And call right away for any questionable transactions. Let's face it, in this society, you almost HAVE to have a credit/debit card in order to do some buisness like rent a car or even get a silly membership at Blockbusters!

[BKOnce]

Someone in the family might borrow the card. Could it be daughter, son, brother, sister, dad, mom, or hubby!?

[twuoo]

I live by myself. Nobody else has my card #.

[robivi3]

and you've never heard of Card fairies?

[twuoo]

Oh man! I just saw another fraudulent charge come through on my card! Geez!!!

[lrprn]

Oh man! I just saw another fraudulent charge come through on my card! Geez!!!

Your debit card has been compromised. If you haven't already, call your bank immediately and have a fraud alert placed on your debit card. Then ask your bank for a new card immediately with a different account number and close out the current card. Time for immediate damage control before this person cleans out your account!

[twuoo]

I called already. I have less than $200 in my checking anyway....they picked a poor sucker to try and snipe on...LOL