I went to get some ecripts filled yesterday and was going to get some money from the money machine. My receipt came back with a couple of dollars balance, WOW, I tried it 2 more times and got the same results. There should have been a few hundred in it but I was broke that fast. GRRRRRRRRRR Talk bout the urge to kill someone, I had it. I came home and got on the phone to my bamk and checked everything out. I was in the hospital the 2 days that my account was drained and put a stop on the cards and will get new ones. Whoever it was should be easy to catch because al of it was used in one area. I wonder what has happened to the ID rule to verify identity . THey had no card but got my number somehow so the ones takking it weren't very particular but just wanted a sale. The bank said I should get some of the money back in a few wekks, LOL but what about for now?? Seems I am up that creek without a boat.

Jim, I'm so sorry to hear about your situation. There are unfortunately a lot of slimey people in the world. Unfortunately it is the rare exception when people check for a signature or ID. I have written in my signature line on my VISA "ask for ID". I can't tell you how many sales people never even flip the card over to check for any signature. Good luck in getting things taking care of. You certainly don't need this on top of everything else. Like mom used to say "when it rains, it pours".

Jim,
I don't think you are not liable.

Federal law limits Credit Card liability to $50 when your Card has actually been stolen and you have no liability when stolen numbers are used.

The liability for the fraud is on the Merchant and the bank should process a chargeback and restore your funds as soon as you sign an affidavit confirming that the charges are indeed fraudulent.

Credit card liability is limited, but that does not always hold for debit cards.

We went through this a year ago after my husband's wallet was pickpocketed. If you haven't done so already, contact your bank's fraud unit and ask the people there if they recommend filing a police report as well; if they do, then do so ASAP. (The fraud unit at our bank required that.)

If you have not done so, immediately contact one of the three main credit bureaus -- Experian, TransUnion or Equifax -- and ask for a fraud alert to be put on your file. (Contacting one will trigger notifications to the other two.) The bank may also offer you free credit monitoring of your account for a year or so.

A section of the Federal Trade Commission website is devoted to identity theft, listing the steps you need to take and the contact information for the credit bureaus. Be warned: There's a fair bit of paperwork involved in following all the recommended steps, but most of it can be done online through the links on the FTC Identity Theft site.

FYI,
Debit card liability is also limited by Federal Law and isn't really any different than a Credit card when stolen numbers were used (without your PIN) and you have promptly notify the bank.

Actually there are significant legal differences between credit cards and debit cards. According to the US Dept of Justice's Office of Victim crime fact sheet.
credit cards fall under the Fair Credit Billing Act which provides
* If reported within 60 days, maximum liability for the unauthorized use of the credit card is $50
* If reported before fraudulent use, cannot be held responsible for any unauthorized charges
Contrast that to a debit card which falls under Electronic Funds Transfer Act

*
Limited time to report loss or unauthorized use of card
*
If debit card is reported missing before it is used, cannot be held responsible for any unauthorized charges or withdrawals
*
If reported within 2 business days, cannot be held responsible for more than $50
*
If reported after two business days but before 60 days, the most you could lose is $500

For most of us, the $450 difference is a big deal. Plus with a debit card, In case of fraudulent charges/losses, consumer often has to fight with bank to have funds replaced while you don't have to pay a disputed credit card account.

I had every thing done yesterday after I was checking my card on the net. police report and all. I even naiked the one that did it by good guess work on my part. She tried to lie until I mentioned that most places have cameras and bluffed her by saying the cameras showed her in them. She is supposed to repay me the 3rd when she gets her check and if not, hell with her. She can sit behind the little round bars called a cell. Her dad called me a few minutes ago all upset about his little girl , LOL No feelings from me tho.

Jim

Not only a survivor, but a veritable Sherlock Holmes. Congratulations. You are a saint to give her until the third to repay you. My cold lawyer heart would make the bank recredit my account immediately if the father or daughter did not bring over cash tonight- hey it sounds cheaper than the bail bond they are facing if you bring charges.
Just be sure not to let the bank off the hook here as it would be better for you to have your account recredited right now and she can pay the bank. The bank is supposed to investigate and credit your account within 10 days of your notification of fraud. As I was Pming with DonB, it seems to me that you should get the full amount back considering the public relations aspect of "legally robbing" a cancer patient undergoing treatment if they do not. I refuse to have a debit card and only use credit cards.

Dang, I hate it when I miss a technicality. DonB is 100% correct that if your debit card is not stolen or lost, just your "numbers", the liability protections are the same as with credit cards. DonB was nice enough to school me in private. I should have just made my objection about debit cards on the fact that the money stays in my bank account with credit card fraud as well as read EZJim's post as carefully and correctly as DonB did.
Charm