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I've been dealing with fraud on my ATM card for the past week. Just before I got to Aspen to meet up with family, I got a call from Bank of America. And before I go any further, I have to say that B of A has been great and very helpful. Someone has used my ATM card info to make purchases totaling 450.00, and B of A recognized that those charges were unusual for me. They have tracked my travels and watched my purchases, and as soon as these fraudulent charges were made they stopped them, but a purchase from Boot Barn went through. The bank is working to track the bad person who did this, and I will help them all I can by filing criminal charges if they discover the identity of the person. Meanwhile, because my ATM card has been cancelled and I can't get a new one until I get to another state (B of A has only one banking center in Colorado, in Denver and I'm on the other side of the state) I had to go to another bank in Glenwood Springs, and while on the phone with B of A they authorized that bank to let me withdraw cash to last until I get to a B of A center. So right now I pay everything in cash. This has been a great inconvenience for me, but it's working out. B of A warned against using your ATM card at the gas pump - go inside and let the clerk swipe your card. Another warning - use the RV park's wi-fi but not for connecting to your bank - I pay all my bills online, but from now on I will only use my personal hot spot for that. I really hope they can identify this person who has violated my life and my privacy, and man, would I love to speak to that person face-to-face!
Be safe everyone, and guard your info!

Not fun, Judi! I am glad they allowed you to get some cash.

The two times my B of A credit card (which I only use for fuel) was compromised, I had been at a gas station where the clerk had to swipe the card! Once was a small town station in Vermont and the other at a newly opened station in Quartzsite. The Quartzsite station still doesn't have pay at the pump working so I refuse to buy there - even though it is the cheapest.

Hope you are enjoying your trip otherwise!

Thanks Judi, A good warning for us all to remember! Lyn

Another good reminder why my hubby and I refuse to get a debit card, though our credit union keeps offering us one.
Velda

What rotten luck, Judi! I'm so glad Bank of America is being helpful. It's really upsetting to have something like that happen.

Is your bank card chipped? My 30-something globetrotting friends have been warning me about technology that allows thieves to pick up info from chipped cards at a distance of several feet. It works on any chipped data card, including driver's licenses and passports (if they have the data chip). You can get a sleeve to protect the card from electronic pickpocketing; Amazon, among others, sells them. A cheap precaution, I think!

Staples and Office Max sell the sleeves for the cards too. I keep mine in sleeves.

Bank of Amer thinks it occurred at a gas pump. There are little devices that bad people can stick in the card slot and then send out your information. This makes sense for what happened to me, because of the timing of my getting diesel and the fraudulent charges. My card does not have a chip. I'm also suspecting a man working at an RV park in Baker, Oregon. I stopped there, paid for a night, then when I tried to hook up my surge protector gave me the message "reverse polarity" so I didn't hook up. When I went to the office the guy said it's fine don't worry about it. He said he had no other 30 amp sites, and when I asked for my money back (on my ATM card) because I was leaving he got pissed off. I was ever so polite but he wasn't happy. Regardless, B of A said they are going to find the person.

My cards are in sleeves and I'll only use a regular credit card for purchases at gas stations and many other places. I don't use ATM's except in a real emergency and don't use check cards except at a few places (grocery stores/WalMart - where I might want money back - instead of using an ATM). Just me.

Years ago, when managing a motel a man's cc was refused and it simply said to call. I did and he talked to his cc company to find out that when he had used his card that morning, someone must have gotten his #'s, etc and had done a bunch of charges. Luckily for him, being a cc, he was libel for nothing - and they overnighted a new card to him to our location the next day.

I'm so glad BofA has been so good through this - and that with their help you have enough cash to get through this! And that you aren't letting it ruin your vacation!

Another reason to NOT use a debit card at a gas station is that many of them put a hold on your account for more than the actual gas charge until the charge clears your bank. This will screw up your balances.

You can use tinfoil to protect your cards in a pinch.

The chipped cards are the safe ones. Its the ones with the strip on the back that can be compromised by a card "reader".

BEWARE OF WALMART AND DEBIT CARDS: I just found out that Walmart has changed its policy on debit cards. If you use it for an amount less than $50 it will no longer ask for your security code UNLESS you request money back. SO if you lose your card someone can buy up to $50 worth of merchandise and not have to input a security code. They could just keep buying stuff for less than $50 all day long and then return for cash.

As for park or restaurant wifi, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use public wifi to pay bills or access your bank. Frankly, I NEVER use public wifi for anything.

I guess in this electronic age we live in, we will all be a victim of one sort or another at one time or another. If you haven't had to face this yet, you are just lucky. Chase's fraud dept. called me one morning and said my card had been compromised and they had refused payment for a purchase -- in China! The card was in its secured case and hadn't been used for awhile. The fraud guys said the charge had been made halfway around the world in a matter of minutes. I think most banks are pretty good about jumping on it right away. Since it's so prevalent, they are well prepared. Says something about our society, doesn't it?

I would hate to be left in the position of not being able to get money, etc., which is why I have more than one credit card. When traveling, a second card (which is rarely used) would be stashed someplace in the rig. Could be the same with ATM cards if you have more than one account. If a purse or wallet is stolen there at least would be some sort of backup. Credit card theft is so common and there are many ways for the bad guys to do it. They don't even need to have the sophisticated electronic devices. Just giving the card number to some stores may allow purchases up to a certain level. I used my Visa at an auto parts store recently and they never asked for ID. When I questioned them I was told they don't ask for ID if it's under $200. A thief could go from store to store and/or sell the card number to another thief. Many gas stations hold your credit card while you pump the gas. Do you know if that clerk is writing down your numbers? Or Xeroxing your card? Same thing with restaurants. I had a boss who took clients to lunch at a well known chain and later had $2500 worth of toys charged to his American Express card at Toys Are Us. The bank numbers on the bottom of your checks can be used to create bogus accounts.

We just have to do the best we can to protect ourselves. I'm glad I can remember a time when you could forget your wallet on a picnic table and some other camper would put in in your tent for you. No one would ever dream of removing money from it. Quite a few years ago I dropped my ATM card in the Walmart parking lot around Christmas time and didn't realize it. Someone found it and walked back to the store's customer service to turn it in. I sure miss those days.

Pooker

So, everybody in the world knew about chipped cards but me? I feel as old as the dodo bird -- and they're extinct!

It's another way the world has changed, I guess. All the kids have had money electronically stolen at one time or another, and they take it so calmly. The banks clear up the mess in a day or two. I'd be frothing at the mouth! It's a good thing I like cash, eh? Also, it's sometimes very amusing to watch people's faces when I offer cash -- I've occasionally had businesses request a card instead, because "We really aren't set up for cash"! Ha!

Here is a question from another old dodo (LOUISE, you are not alone) Is an ATM card the same as a DEBT card? I have two credit cards and one debt card. I never use the debt card except to get cash from B of A. When traveling I use one cc exclusively for gas. I keep all cards in one of those metal containers that were so popular on TV ads awhile ago. It is very handy. Thanks for this thread,. lyn

SoCalGalcas wrote:Here is a question from another old dodo (LOUISE, you are not alone) Is an ATM card the same as a DEBT card? I have two credit cards and one debt card. I never use the debt card except to get cash from B of A. When traveling I use one cc exclusively for gas. I keep all cards in one of those metal containers that were so popular on TV ads awhile ago. It is very handy. Thanks for this thread,. lyn

You two are Not old dodo's ~ just think that you are link fine wine, the longer aged the better.

As for your question, ATM & Debit cards (to me are interchangeable). I have both a debit card and a regular charge card. The debit card uses money in your checking account (or could be savings depending on your set-up & bank). If asked tho, I always say use it as a credit card instead of a debit card. That way I'm not giving out my pin, and if anything needs to be returned, and if there is a fight about getting money back, the credit card usage will fight the store just like a real credit card would.

Clear as mud? Sometimes I don't explain things well.

Such a hassle... glad B of A is helping...
The first year I was here in Normal I made several purchase in one day... Discover card called me... they knew that was out of order for me... there are some credit card and banks that are on top of things...
Thanks for this reminder Judi and I also hope they catch the thief...

The other weekend when I was at the Louisville dog shows Daisy's Momma Lyn bought a good pair of grooming scissors from one of the vendors. She got a call within the hour from her bank asking if she had made the purchase because of the amount (over $100) and a name they did not recognize as the vendor. Sometimes the system does work.

And I also always travel with at least three credit cards (only one of which I generally use) and my bank credit/debit card which I can use at Walmarts for cash. Of the credit cards I keep two in the wallet and keep the third as a back up in the rig.