The use of ATM cards, also known as Debit
cards is one thing that should not be taking
lightly. If thieves or fraudsters get access to
your account due to wrong usage of ATM
card, you could really lose a lot. With credit
cards, users who spot fraudulent charges
on their bill can simply decline the charges
and not pay the bill. On the other hand,
debit cards take money directly from your
checking account, rather than from an
intermediary such as a credit card
company.
Where are some places that are especially
risky?
1. Online
“You don’t use a debit card online,” says
Susan Tiffany, director of consumer
periodicals for the Credit Union National
Association. Since the debit card links
directly to a checking account, “you have
potential vulnerability there,” she says.
Especially on websites that have doubtful
security.
Her reasoning: If you have problems with a
purchase or the card number gets hijacked,
a debit card is “vulnerable because it
happens to be linked to an account,” says
Linda Foley, founder of the Identity Theft
Resource Center. She also includes phone
orders in this category.
2. Restaurants
“To me, it’s dangerous,” says Gary
Foreman, editor of the frugality minded
website The Dollar Stretcher. “You have so
many people around.” So watch the
restaurants where you pay.
“Anecdotally, the cases that I’m hearing of
credit or debit information being stolen, as
often as not, it’s in a restaurant,” he says.
The danger: Restaurants are one of the few
places where you have to let cards leave
your sight when you use them. But others
think that avoiding such situations is not
workable.
3. Checkouts or ATMs that look ‘off’
Criminals are getting better with skimmers
and planting them in places you’d never
suspect — like ATM machines on bank
property, says Foley.
So take a good look at the machine or card
reader the next time you use an ATM, she
advises. Does the machine fit together well
or does something look off, different or like
it doesn’t quite belong? Says Foley, “Make
sure it doesn’t look like it’s been tampered
with.”
4. Buy now, take delivery later
Buying now but taking delivery days or
weeks from now? A credit card offers
dispute rights that a debit card typically
does not.
“It may be an outfit you’re familiar with and
trust, but something might go wrong,” says
Breyault, “and you need protection.”
5. Lonely ATMs
You run the risk of skimmers. While
skimmers can be found on bank ATMs,
they’re less likely because there are often
security cameras in place.
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