More Identity Theft Crimes! Are you more willing to carry cash than use a card?
By jashley1
@jashley1 (746)
United States
July 18, 2008 3:53pm CST
I just saw on the news a major ID theft crime being ran out of a prison involving Wells Fargo last night and it made me think twice about using my Debit cards anymore. I mean - I use that card for EVERYTHING! I don't ever carry cash on me! I just swipe swipe swipe that card wherever I go! With ID theft on the rise still, and the thought of how awful it would be to be a victim of that crime, I'm thinking about just using regular old cash for everything.
How about you? Any thoughts?
4 responses
@jstaubin (423)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I am using cash now. I was not always a cash carrier but I have had my identity stollen 3 times and finally I just got sick of it. So now the only type of bank account I have is a savings account. that way they can't get into it and spend my hard earned dollars.
@krayzietam (832)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I think I am going to need to use cash as well. I am just like you. I use my debit card for everything. I can't tell the last time I had some real cash on me and I guess it isn't good but it is so much easier. Sigh. I guess everything comes with a price. Unfortunately, there are even thefts at ATMs now because I heard about a piece of paper that people use so that your debit card gets stuck in the machine. Then someone just happens to be "passing" by in order to offer you help. In some way they get a chance to steal your pin or something like that. So, you can get scammed by trying to just get your cash out! Its amazing the things people will do just to take your money!
@punkin1803 (526)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Oh my! I havent heard about this! So i mean how does this scam work if i may ask. I like yiu use my debit card all the time. Swipe swipe is all i do everytime i purchase something. I just really dont like the idea all that much of carrying cash on me. But like you now after hearing this, i think that i will think twice about the debit card thing from now on. Thats scary!!
@jashley1 (746)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Hello.
What was on the news was this - that some guy had been planning the execution of identity theft over the phone with the people working under him. I guess that Wells Fargo branches within local supermarkets would leave out the pin pads overnight after the branch closed but the supermarket was still open. The people would then swap out the pin pads and then later swap them again, having retrieved tons of people's card information. They then withdrew the money somehow and had like half a million dollars I believe. It was crazy. So just be weary if you use a bank within a market!
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I don't know if using your card less will lessen your risk but you should be careful where you get your cash from. I heard that the ATMs at gas stations and stores aren't as secure as far as protecting your account information is concerned as the ones at the bank so I've stopped using them. We're all at risk of identity theft on so many levels so it's always a good idea to keep on top of what you have in the bank and also your credit information.
