Debit Card Fraud: A Costly Layover

I travel a lot for work. Airports are routine to me. In fact, I know the layout of many airports by heart. Several years ago I was on a layover at O’Hare International Airport, which wasn’t uncommon, and I decided to grab a magazine and a pack of gum in one of the Hudson news shops. The entire transaction took less than 75 seconds, and nothing about the clerk seemed suspicious or out of the ordinary. My debit card was within my sight the entire time. 
 
Shortly after I left Hudson news I boarded my plane and landed in my ultimate destination a few hours later. But by that time the damage of debit card fraud had already been done. Someone had used my card to buy an online domain and some online porn. As soon as I recognized it I informed my husband (who thankfully was with me on the trip and could vouch for the fact that the purchases weren’t mine) and together we contacted our bank about the debit card fraud. 
 
The initial conversation was awkward to say the least. “And what did they purchase with your card, M’am?” After an awkward pause, I cleared my throat and muttered, “Porn”. After another awkward silence the person on the other end of the phone pelted me with another question. 
 
“Were you in Chicago on the 15th?” At this point I felt accused and was quickly growing annoyed. I re-explained that I had been in Chicago for less than an hour on a layover and that I had swiped my card at Hudson News. But this lady wasn’t done questioning me. She wanted to know if I still had my debit card in my possession (I did), and she wanted to know if I had contacted Chicago police (I hadn’t). Since the crime occurred in a state other than the one in which I resided nobody wanted to handle my crime. Apparently, I was outside of everyone’s jurisdiction. 
 
The bank issued me a temporary credit to my account for the amount that was stolen, and promptly cancelled my debit card. Two weeks later I received my new card in the mail along with a letter advising me not to spend the money that had been issued under a temporary provision. According to the letter my incident of debit card fraud was still being investigated and the funds could be withdrawn from my account at any time. Every time I called to follow up, I had to have the same embarrassing conversation with another person who worked at the bank. As soon as I told people that someone used my card to buy porn they instantly began to treat me like I was just trying to cover up my dirty little habit. 
 
Three months later I received a letter in the mail informing me that my debit card fraud investigation was closed and the perpetrator couldn’t be located, but the bank would be happy to let me keep the credit as a courtesy. Imagine that. Courtesy—something I hadn’t been treated with throughout the entire fraud investigation. 
 
I no longer use my debit card unless it’s absolutely necessary. Instead, I use a credit card for store purchases and gasoline, and when online I opt for one of Bank of America’s Shop Safe temporary numbers to prevent fraud. That way, even if the number is stolen, it won’t get an identity thief anywhere.
 
For me, a huge hassle and several degrees of embarrassment were all I had to endure in my case of debit card fraud. But they were enough to let me know I didn’t ever want to deal with an identity theft related crisis ever again.

7 Things to Do When You Discover Debit Card Fraud

Lose your debit card? Had your wallet stolen and all your credit cards and debit cards along with it? As shown here, these days neither of these have to happen in order to become a victim of debit card fraud. Aside from your debit card number being noted physically, your card can be “skimmed” or copied by store credit card machines. When using your debit card to make a credit purchase or to debit your account, the card is copied, the information downloaded and used to commit fraud at a later time.

Keep in mind that your debit card are not always covered for credit fraud the same way a credit card may be. Often you will still be liable to pay for the fraudulent debit changes.

Should you find yourself a victim of debit card fraud, act quickly:

• Contact the bank that issued the debit card immediately. Speak with a Claims Department representative; take good notes and note names, dates and contact phone numbers. Ask the representative to verify the day and time the your debit card was used.
• The bank should freeze your account; you may also want to close these accounts and open newsiness.
• Call anyone you wrote checks to or made deposits to and inform them the accounts have been frozen or closed,
• File a police report in the jurisdiction that the fraud occurred (for example, if you were traveling and in another city and the fraud occurred in that city, you must file a report with the law enfacement agency in that city). Make sure to ask for a copy of the document as well as the report number. It is helpful for the police to have the vendor name and contact information and transaction date and time of the debit fraud occurred.
• Take lots of notes and keep a file specifically to document any reports, conversations, mail, email print outs and financial statements.
• Be proactive and follow up with anyone you are expecting a response from. While your debit card fraud is your only concern, agents may be handling several credit fraud cases at the same time.
• A preventative action to take should you become a victim of debit card fraud is to open an account separate from your debit card account; deposit living expenses for at least a month as well as a month’s worth of pay. In case you become a victim of identity theft or other credit fraud, you will have these funds available to you.