Alert: Debit Card Scam

Submitted by a Slightly Creaky Reader: May 11

An incident recently happened to me that I want to pass on to you. I was in line at the grocery store. Like most of us do, as the cashier was ringing up my items, I held my debit card in hand. When it came time to pay, I handed my card to the cashier. No problem - WRONG!!

My bank called me the next day and advised I had overdrawn on my bank account. Imagine my shock when I was told of some transactions of well over $2,500 that I did not make; An HDTV from a store in Oklahoma; Three packages were sent from Fort Worth, Texas by FedEx to a Bahamas address; and an iPod was purchased from a store in California. My bankcard had never left my possession. She closed that debit card account once and for all and issued me a new card. I asked her how someone could have used my debit card to make purchases when it never left my possession?

She then told me about a new method that thieves use to obtain debit//bank card information. They purposely wait in line behind some checking out and use their cell phone camera to take a picture of the credit/debit card. This way, they have the name of the cardholder, numbers and expiration date. Literally within an hour they post on a specific underground Web site that they have credit card information to sell. The same credit card info is sold to lots of different people. These people then make purchases over the telephone using your card information. Once they can no longer use the card, they move on to another stolen card. It was then that I recalled while waiting in line to check out, I heard a "ping" and turned around. A female of about 20 years of age had her cell phone in hand and quickly told me "I'm sorry. I pushed the wrong button." Oh well... yeah, yeah!

Now, the tip. When you are waiting in line to check out, keep your debit/credit card face down and hand it to the cashier the same way. Then tell him/her about why you are handing it to them face down and advise them to return it to you face down also.