Debit card compromised

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

I was doing my check of my account online as I always do yesterday morning ... saw two charges that stood out as not charges we( hubby and I) had made. One was pending from Sunday and the other had gone through the day before. They both were for the same amount, from the same grocery store.

I went to the store yesterday and they were able to find the first charge. It was made at the self checkout..( which we never use) and they purchased a case of beer ( which we never buy) and then took out $40 cash.

I assume the charge this last Sunday was for the same( beer and cash) it was for the same exact amount. The amount ( about $60.00) is more than we usually spend at the grocery store and we never take cash back.

.

So somehow the card was skimmed for the information somewhere....

We never use the debit card onlne... and if we take cash withdrawls we only go throught the bank, we buy all our gas with cash only.... so it is hard to say where our card was skimmed. I guess the chip feature is not really very helpful in stopping thieves......

We went to the bank yesterday and have new cards coming and a new pin . The bank is taking care of it swiftly and there was no problem having the money returned to our account. I am just glad I caught this early. It pays to check all your accounts daily. We bank with Bank of America. They took care of us very well.

Lipstickdiva · ‎03-10-2010

I'm confused how someone went into an actual grocery store and used your card numbers without actually having your card? I can understand the numbers being skimmed and on-line purchases being made, but I've never been able to just type in numbers from a card at the grocery store. I have to have the card on me to use it.

Mz iMac · ‎07-26-2014

I don't care what the chip manufacturers say about its protection, I still keep my chipped cc in a RFID protection case and/or pocketbook as well as all my other cards w/my personal info encoded.

~~Knock on wood, I have never been a "victim."~~

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

Bank of America had a large issue recently with a store that apparently had a breach. I was informed and sent a new card and number. This was their credit card.

As far as a debit card ...my financial advisor told me many years ago to only use it to take out cash from the bank. I have never bought anything with it because it would give thieves access to my other accounts.

Sorry this happened to you. I had my identity stolen about 3 years ago and it took quite awhile to clear up.

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@Lipstickdiva wrote:
I'm confused how someone went into an actual grocery store and used your card numbers without actually having your card? I can understand the numbers being skimmed and on-line purchases being made, but I've never been able to just type in numbers from a card at the grocery store. I have to have the card on me to use it.

They are able somehow to transfer the info onto another card... or a dummy card. Probably why they used self checkout.

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

Like LipstickDiva I don't understand how they can use a card at the grocery store without having a physical card. This happened to me one time with my debit card being used at a Starbucks in a different state. It was used about five times in one day for gift cards. They attempted to use it the next day after my bank had closed the card. I guess they had to have a card made for themselves illegally.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@NickNack wrote:
Like LipstickDiva I don't understand how they can use a card at the grocery store without having a physical card. This happened to me one time with my debit card being used at a Starbucks in a different state. It was used about five times in one day for gift cards. They attempted to use it the next day after my bank had closed the card. I guess they had to have a card made for themselves illegally.

The thieves make a duplicate card. That is what I was told when my identity was stolen.

BTW, I think it happened to me by giving a medical office my Social Security Number and they wanted a credit card on file.

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

@Mz iMac wrote:
I don't care what the chip manufacturers say about its protection, I still keep my chipped cc in a RFID protection case and/or pocketbook as well as all my other cards w/my personal info encoded.

~~Knock on wood, I have never been a "victim."~~

@Mz iMac If you see a symbol of radio waves on your credit card that means you have an RFID chip and the RFID protection will work. If you don't see that symbol it will not work. Neither my debit card or the credit card that I use have that symbol.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

Alison Wonderland · ‎02-05-2018

I have my debit card through BofA and use their Text features to get a daily message about my account balance. It also allows me to text at any time and get a real-time update on my balance and the last 5 transactions.

It helps keep me posted so I always know if something is wrong and don't have to wait for a monthly statement or go searching for the information.

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@Alison Wonderland wrote:
I have my debit card through BofA and use their Text features to get a daily message about my account balance. It also allows me to text at any time and get a real-time update on my balance and the last 5 transactions.

It helps keep me posted so I always know if something is wrong and don't have to wait for a monthly statement or go searching for the information.

@Alison Wonderland Thanks for the info!