Mary

WATCH THOSE DEBIT CARDS! I use to have the kind with the<BR> Visa logo and when my wallet was stollen, the thieves went to town! It took me<BR> so long and such a hassle to sort through it all. The money is immediately<BR> withdrawn from your account and you could be wiped out before you even<BR> know your card is gone. You can find yourself with a "0" balance in your<BR> checking account, like I did! I changed my card and now DO NOT have the<BR> Visa logo and my ATM works perfectly everywhere....only difference is that<BR> now a 4 digit PIN is required so if my card were ever stollen again, the thieves<BR> couldn't use it because they wouldn't know the PIN. What a terrible way to<BR> learn my lesson....just want others to be aware that if it has the<BR> Visa/Mastercard logo, it only takes a swipe....no PIN required! Make sure you<BR> get one that requires a PIN and doesn't have the Visa/Mastercard logo!!<BR>

Susan

I wasn't even aware that there were ATM cards without PINs. What a bad experience for you, Mary.<BR><BR>I've read that many people use their year of birth or birthdate as their PIN number. If their wallet is stolen, the thief has access to all their ID and could easily try a few numbers to see if any of them work. So it's a good idea to pick a number that a thief couldn't easily guess. <BR><BR>Mary, I guess it could have been a whole lot worse. A friend of mine had her wallet stolen and Revenue Canada came after her for taxes owing. Apparently someone had stolen her identity. Now that's a real problem.

Timo

I saw the show on TV about the women who lost many thousands of $ to thieves going on a quick shopping spree in a matter of hours. Got rid of mine as fast as you could say "Maple Leaf" . My bank actually gave me grief trying to say the were great and convenient, Yeh, right! There's something in it for these banks to try and continue these. Very seldom did any merchant ever ask for additional Identification when I had a debit card. Usually, it never left my hands....the "swipe and run" that Mary described with merchandise in hand. Timo

John

Here is the website that spells out the dangers of the Visa/Mastercard Debit cards:<BR>http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/2001/07/30.html

traveller

Reposted from the USA note on ATM's.<BR><BR>Message: There is a new scam involving ATM cards (not VISA) here in Alberta. Apparently, through the video cameras at various gas stations, the crooked staff have the camera trained on the ATM machine. From there, they are able to dicipher the PIN #. They are slick and crafty and apparently can see from your hand movements, what your PIN is. And they are able to now recreate the ATM card from the proprietor's copy. Apparently a lot of people have been bilked out of tons of money. The staff only stay at a job for a few days and then move on.<BR><BR>The recommendation is to always cover your hand when entering your PIN #.<BR><BR>A couple of years ago, I had about $1500 disappear from my Royal Bank account through ATM withdrawals. I took issue with it with the bank as I knew I hadn't made the withdrawals. I never withdraw more than $100 at a time and I had three withdrawals of $500. My protests went without reconciliation. They said that their cards are infallible. That it must have been my children who "stole" this money off of me (even though no one knows my PIN but me). Guess they have been proven wrong now. <BR><BR>So, do be careful even with your ATM's. <BR><BR>