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Feb 09, 2006 -- Debit card fraud about to strike you

As you probably know, Clark despises fake Visa and MasterCard debit cards. But there is one customer who should use this product. If you cannot control yourself with a credit card, you should get a debit card and only a debit card. The risk is that anyone can use your card and empty your bank account as long as they know your PIN. It’s not that hard, believe it or not. It happened to 3 million people last year. The average person had $900 debited from his or her checking account. Most of us can’t afford to have that much taken out at one time, yet there is no requirement that Visa or MasterCard cover you when a criminal steals your money. So, essentially you’re fighting to get your own money back. Fraud related to debit cards now accounts for 88 percent of their chargebacks, according to credit unions. Credit cards account for only 12 percent these days. If you don’t need to use a debit card and the only reason you use it is to withdraw money, just get a simple ATM care. Some banks refuse to issue just an ATM card because they make so much off the debit cards. If that’s the case, give that bank the boot!

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What others are saying

  • ATM cards
    Does anyone know which banks still issues ATM cards?

    Thanks.
  • debit cards
    I have never used a debit card or even an ATM. My older son uses ATM only and watches his acct.on line. Our younger son tried a new acct at RBC but they only do debit like you said.
    They claim no risk but when asked they admit you only have 36 hrs to call in a lost card. I wish we had nicer banks. The fact that they charge off a high NSF check first when many other checks would have cleared so they get lots of $$$ in NSF fees is awful. We have never bounced a check and our 23 yr old has not but when Clark said that it just reeks of a pretty good definition of greed.
    Thanks Clark
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