Stolen Debit Card Account Information - Who to Contact?

[Thunderseven]

A friend of mine informed me today that his debit card information was stolen and used, totally wiping out his checking account, including his overdraft protection.  The bank jumped all over it a made his money right and cancelled his card, but who else should he notify?  Since it was a MC debit card, should he inform the CRA's just to play it safe?  What about ChexSystems?

[Anonymous]

1. File a police report

2. File a complaint with the FTC at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/filing-a-report.html

3. Call Transunion to place a fraud alert: 1-800-680-7289 (Transunion will place an alert on EQ and EX as well)

4. Subscribe to True Credit or other credit monitoring service to monitor any unauthorized activityon the report

[Anonymous]

Ok, the same thing just happened to me two weeks ago.  And I didn't do any of that.  BoA put the money right back in my account and removed all fees (non-atm fee, overdraft fee, etc), cancelled the debit card and sent me a new one.  I had to file an affidavit that their Fraud Dept sent me, but that was it. 

It really was no big deal, but no other creditor was impacted.  In your case, ff a check bounced, or an online transaction was late because of the missing funds,you may have to get more pro-active than I was... good luck.

[Anonymous]

Same thing happend to me last year. The thing is not only will you file a police report, but a detective might investigate who used your card and charge the perp. for credit abuse (depends on the size of the police dept). Some instances, the police will refer you to the FBI. The detective also told me I would need to follow the steps to have leverage and proof  that I was a victim of ID theft in case out of the blue, a creditor or collection agency says I owe money in the future. Therefore my filed copies with the FTC, police, and CRA would help in court or such matter. Better to be safe than sorry.

[Anonymous]

My sons card info was stolen at school in June. I immediately called my bank to lock it, then went to the bank to fill out the paperwork for fraud charges & the bank called the police to come there so I could file the police report. The bank did put the money back but the bank also has a deductible to pay for fraud charges which they get back of there is a prosecution. We lucky knew who took my sons info and she was arrested at school on the first day of school this year..Took that long to get the records from the merchant (verizon wireless) and were still awaiting her trial.  If your debit card is ran as a POS with a signature vs a swipe with pin you have more protection.

[Anonymous]

Wow, she stole the card info and made a purchase at verizon wireless? Geez, how stupid can people get?

[Anonymous]

Yeah paid her phone bill by phone & bought some downloads. I almost didn't go through with the charges but after speaking to her mother (a professor @ local University) who said she had done the same thing to her with her cc. "WE" her mother & I decided it was in her best interest. Especially since she continued even weeks later to attempt too use his card that had already cancelled of course. It was a mess & a lesson learned for both the student & my son!

Scarey thing is she worked at a restaurant where she had access to customers cards who gave them to her to pay their bill! Cash is king, cash is the safest way to go!

Message Edited by Bran9192 on 12-02-2008 08:41 PM