One good thing preventing Identity Theft was the invention of the Debit Card. The bad thing is, a lot of people are Old School and do not even use a debit card and if they do, they do not use it enough and still write checks.
Now I know this has Nothing really to do with domain names but I know you are human (most of you anyway) and it’s likely you have paper checks that you use to pay for things.
Think about it! The damn things have Your Address on them. Many have Phone Numbers, Your Banks Name and THE BIGGEST, Your Account Number right on them at the bottom.
Even if you use a personal check to pay bills, you do not know who process the check, opens the envelope etc. What information do you need to get checks printed? You get my point. Heck, just with the information on the check is enough for some hacker..
Just an FYI, if I were you… I wouldn’t be writing any more checks!
I had my identity stolen from someone who used my debit card. They drained my entire savings account.
Debit cards now come PRE-ACTIVATED. This means that it is very easy to steal and use. Previously you needed to receive the card and call a number. Not any more. They are good to go before they are even sealed in the envelope to be sent to you. (This is at least true with 3 banks, including two major ones. I can’t speak for the rest)
How did they get my debit card? My credit union mailed it to me and I never received it. About the time it was supposed to show up I noticed my bank account empty. I filed a formal complaint with the post office, but nothing came of it.
When I reported it to my credit union they treated me like a criminal, even actually accused me of pulling a scam. I filed a police report and filled out an affidavit. The police told me that the credit union had no choice but to honor their insurance policy if I turned in an affidavit. They did, and told me it could take 3-6 months to receive my money back. I just moved to Texas and didn’t have a job; I relied on that cash.
2 angry phone calls and 24 hours later, the cash was back in my account.
Plus, some stores are now able to run debit cards without a pin OR a signature, much like how fast food does it. This effectively kills the safety features of the debit card. Not to mention that all you need to use it online is the 3 digits on the back.
So, debit cards aren’t as safe as one would think
/spill life story
**Jamie Says**
Glad you got your money back! I agree, Debit Cards are not the safest either, but safer then Checks IMO. Cash is about the safest (as long as it’s real). I guess no matter what form of money or ways to pay are invented, scam artiest will figure out a way to make it not safe.
December 30th, 2008