Debit Card Fraud?

[CowboyCO]

Well, this one got me thinking. Two weeks before I left for vacation I purchased a camera through Amazon. This was my first purchase from Amazon (my DH has made a few and said it was trustworthy) Now, I don't want to purchase anything online again. AARRGGHH!!! So frustrating!!!

I doubt they got your number through Amazon.. The poster was saying someone made a purchase on Amazon using her number. With us -- they rqan it through Target and Walmart until they cleaned out our account -- $3,000

I love it how these big retailers never ask for ID on a debit/credit purchase. It should be standard policy, because ultimately they will pay for the fraud if they accept a fraudulent transaction.

 

[Ava]

I was told the same thing could happen with a Credit Card. Now I am scared to use any of them!!

But the difference is, with a credit card it's not your money being stolen. The thief may run your CC up to the limit & beyond, but it won't directly affect your finances (except being unable to use that CC until you file a claim & the charges are reversed).

I very rarely use a debit card to make purchases (and never online) for this reason. It's a lot easier to just stop using a CC for a few days while the CC company investigates a fraud than to have $0 in your bank account for that time period if a thief cleans out your account.

 

[secretpantssam]

But the difference is, with a credit card it's not your money being stolen. The thief may run your CC up to the limit & beyond, but it won't directly affect your finances (except being unable to use that CC until you file a claim & the charges are reversed).

I very rarely use a debit card to make purchases (and never online) for this reason. It's a lot easier to just stop using a CC for a few days while the CC company investigates a fraud than to have $0 in your bank account for that time period if a thief cleans out your account.

I agree with this. I NEVER use my debit card online. I would much rather have them max out my credit card then have them clear out my bank account.

 

[mum4jenn]

Well, this one got me thinking. Two weeks before I left for vacation I purchased a camera through Amazon. This was my first purchase from Amazon (my DH has made a few and said it was trustworthy) Now, I don't want to purchase anything online again. AARRGGHH!!! So frustrating!!!

Well...actually the purchase was from Buy.com but the transaction went through amazon payments. The amount was under $30 but at this time in my life $30 was like $300 to others. I did make sure that I did not have any credit/debit accounts stored on any sites( to make purchasing quicker) after that and "Thanks very much but I will enter those numbers each time now even it it DOES tak 10 extra seconds" !!
I wonder if this guy made a small purchase to see if it would go through and then was planning on making much larger purchases next? I am SOOOO glad I check my activity often and was able to catch it only a day after it happened.

 

[maslex]

Oh okay. Now I get it. But I just received some good news from the bank.....all of the money has been deposited back into my acct. She said that they still have to investigate it to make sure I was telling the truth and it definately wasn't me who made that transaction.

 

[daleswife]

thats happened to about 5 men my DH works with. Something about the crooks are placing a card reader inside the pay at the pump swiper at gas stations. So Id go in and pay for your gas!!! Just in case....

 

[DISdreamin']

Every time my bank tries to send me one, which is now about once a year, I have to call and tell them I don't want it and to leave my ATM card alone.

Amen, sistah! I will NOT have a debit card attached to any account my mortgage comes out of. Ever. Period. It's just asking for trouble, IMHO.

At least with a credit card, I'm not out any money up front. I put the unauthorized charge(s) into dispute and only pay what I actually owe. If it were a debit card, I am out the money until the bank straightens things out. No thanks!

BTW, I just had a check go through twice - once correctly, and once because the bank scanning the check had two go through at once. My check was on top and was about 2/3 of the page, the other persons check was the right hand 1/3 and had the dollar amount. They charged my account for the other amount. It took me two phone calls and quite a few days to get the problem fixed. Thank goodness it was only a few dollars - what would I have done had it been thousands?!?

 

[Swimalie]

But the difference is, with a credit card it's not your money being stolen. The thief may run your CC up to the limit & beyond, but it won't directly affect your finances (except being unable to use that CC until you file a claim & the charges are reversed).

I very rarely use a debit card to make purchases (and never online) for this reason. It's a lot easier to just stop using a CC for a few days while the CC company investigates a fraud than to have $0 in your bank account for that time period if a thief cleans out your account.

Exactly. That's why I'll never have nor use a debit card. It's just asking for fraud and for someone to wipe out your money.

I have had banks try to get me to carry one of their debit cards. Nope. Give me a good old fashioned ATM card )with a daily limit). That and my Master card and American Express are all I need to shop and protect myself.

 

[bakalorber]

This has happened to me before too, I got my debit card # stolen and bounced a rent check years ago. It was not a fun experience, my landlord even tried to take me to court b/c my rent check bounced. I even told them with in 15 min of me finding out that I had no money in my account that my rent check would bounce but "It is standard procedure". Finally, I got everything taken care after a month.
Now, a co worker has had his debit # stolen twice in the past year and he finally switched to just an ATM card and uses his CC for purchases. I asked my bank if they still had ATM cards and they pushed hard to for me to keep my debit but the ATM card form is on the way and I am dropping my debit. It is much easier to deal with CC fraud then debit in my experience. And I have dealt with BOTH.
Good luck