Just wanted to mention that my adult niece recently had her identity stolen. She has narrowed it down to a gas station in early February. She feels strongly that the machine that she slid her card through was bogus. Throughout February, her savings account was slowly withdrawn from for the purchase of various electronics, games, etc. They got her address and were able to make these purchases online and have the purchases delivered to her porch where they were taken while she was at work.

I didn't want to freak people out, but do be careful where you use your debit card. Use it with discretion, and don't use it where questionable people are working with little supervision from the manager of the establishment. I realize that's hard to do, but just something to ponder, you know?

Fortunately her accounts were insured, and the police are working on getting this figured out for her, but what a nightmare...and she's getting married in a few months, in the middle of a move, and just did NOT need this happening to her.

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"Dance like no one is watching."

Consider doing your banking online and thus gaining visual access of your accounts 24/7, if you're a debit card user...

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"Dance like no one is watching."

My brother recently had a problem with someone spending his money, I guess they managed to duplicate his card or something because while he was on the phone with the bank (fraud department?) someone used it at a store!

I've heard about this on the news. Your best bet when going to a place you're not familiar with (gas station) is to go inside and slide it yourself through the card machine. The outside ones on the pumps apparently are easy to put one of those machines on. We check our accounts daily (usually at least once in the morning and once in the evening). You can also call your local branch of your bank and ask them to alert you when there is account activity that is out of the ordinary. Ours calls my cell phone when we are vacationing as there are numerous expenditures at out of the area locations.
It's getting so a person can't trust anyone. It makes me sick. If these people (thieves) used their ingenuity and energy to do something good for the world they would make more money and they could be recognized for good instead of evil.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I have heard of this scenario with those bogus machines at gas stations. I guess you should never use debit card, only credit (so they are not provided with the pin number that you punch in). I just wonder how the management /owners of the gas station could be completely unaware of this. Yes, this makes you not want to use your card at all.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

First of all, that is not having your identity stolen, but someone using your card. Having identity stolen is way bigger. Secondly, my bank will refund any charges I do not authorize.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

"First of all, that is not having your identity stolen, but someone using your card."

I agree with you in a broader sense because I know some people can be robbed of everything and have loans and credit cards taken out in their name, using your SS#, etc., but if someone is impersonating you by using your name and your address for deliveries in order to purchase things with your money, what else would you call it?

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"Dance like no one is watching."

It is called credit card theft, I guess. I see stolen identity as what you mentioned. They take your life.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon