Ring of thieves skimmed $5.5M from Albertans!

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

A good friend of my had $400 stolen from his account a few weeks ago, withdrawn somewhere in Ontario. I had no idea so many people were hit.

Yeah, my case was a withdrawl from a bank machine in Toronto. It was easy to prove fraud at least since I was nowhere near Toronto at the time.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Top Shelf

Yeah at first it kinda pissed me off that they would not tell us where it occurred. I can kinda of understand that the store it happened at would not be very popular anymore. But still, I would have liked to know where it happened.

If you have online banking you should be able to narrow down the location.

[ken0042]

A few issues with changing the PIN every 2 or 3 weeks:

- As mentioned, trying to remember the new PIN.
- The hassle of changing your PIN. Last time I checked it would involve a trip to my branch.
- Because I've had my current PIN for a while, not only can I punch it in quickly, but I can also punch it in using more than 1 finger; making it harder to guess my number.

The bottom line IMHO is the lack of security on the bank's part. They talk about a PIN pad being swapped out- well why don't the bank issued PIN pads have some very long serial number that gets cross referenced at the bank along with 128 bit encryption? Make it harder for the theives; not harder for your customers.

[4X4]

They told me (more or less) where it happened. It didn't mean much though, because I wasn't from there. Things must've changed in the last couple years.

[Hack&Lube]

Why do people even use debit at stores? Aside from withdrawing cash (and I always inspect to make sure there's nothing odd about the machine), I would never think of using debit at retail.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Why do people even use debit at stores? Aside from withdrawing cash (and I always inspect to make sure there's nothing odd about the machine), I would never think of using debit at retail.

Why? is it really any different then using a credit card? How often does anyone check the signature and if they do, and it's different have they ever said anything? or at the self serve checkouts where no one checks them, or at the gas station where they don't even ask for your signature or any verification when you use pay at the pump, debit cards are no less secure then other forms of plastic.

And as for carrying cash, why would someone be so stupid to do that, you lose/get your wallet stolen there is no getting the cash back, on plastic it might take awhile but eventually you get your money back if you are the victim of fraud.

[ken0042]

I use debit as I find it easier to keep track of how much I spend and where. It's easy to see you have bad spending habbits when you bank statement reads:

Pub
Pub
Liquor store
Pub
Pizza
Pub
Pub
Pub
Speakeasy
Pub
Pizza

[ah123]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Why? is it really any different then using a credit card?

If your credit card gets skimmed, you still have the money in your account...if your debit card gets skimmed, the money is gone till the bank decides that it was fraud...

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Why? is it really any different then using a credit card? How often does anyone check the signature and if they do, and it's different have they ever said anything? or at the self serve checkouts where no one checks them, or at the gas station where they don't even ask for your signature or any verification when you use pay at the pump, debit cards are no less secure then other forms of plastic.

And as for carrying cash, why would someone be so stupid to do that, you lose/get your wallet stolen there is no getting the cash back, on plastic it might take awhile but eventually you get your money back if you are the victim of fraud.

Debit and credit are very similar in terms of security, but I believe that credit can save you at least 5% or more on every single purchase based on fees, charges, and lack of reward programs. So my motivation for using credit/cash is for monetary gain and convienience, not for security.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by worth

::goes and checks bank account balance::

I just did the exact same thing...thankfully it's all still there..

[troutman]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I use debit as I find it easier to keep track of how much I spend and where. It's easy to see you have bad spending habbits when you bank statement reads:

Pub
Pub
Liquor store
Pub
Pizza
Pub
Pub
Pub
Speakeasy
Pub
Pizza

Not enough pub.

[Flames09]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Why? is it really any different then using a credit card? How often does anyone check the signature and if they do, and it's different have they ever said anything? or at the self serve checkouts where no one checks them, or at the gas station where they don't even ask for your signature or any verification when you use pay at the pump, debit cards are no less secure then other forms of plastic.

And as for carrying cash, why would someone be so stupid to do that, you lose/get your wallet stolen there is no getting the cash back, on plastic it might take awhile but eventually you get your money back if you are the victim of fraud.

I know when I use to work in retail I use to check signatures on credit cards all the time and what use to piss me off is stupid people who use to get mad at me for asking for ID. On most selfcheckout machines the clerk at the front gets a message on the screen of some sort to check ID for credit cards for purchases over $100, and usually the security won't let you as the customer get through to actually paying until the clerk clears you.. so they are idiots.

[Bobblehead]

Just off the top of my head, I need to remember
Computer password,
network domain password,
work security system password,
Database passwords (x7),
VNC passwords,
wireless passwords,
VPN password,
server room pin
Bank card pin (x3)
Bank website password (x2)
A bunch of other internet site passwords of various different requirements

And remember, you aren't supposed to write them down and you are supposed to change them regularly. Also, you shouldn't use the same one in more than one place.

I wondered if I was starting to forget things because I was aging. I may just be running out of room to remember passwords.

[LouCypher]

I am relieved I just happened to change my card about a week ago, still the cautious type about where I do swipe my card but this goes to show you can never be to safe nowadays. Securing ones own funds will one day be tied to something much more personal and difficult to duplicate I'm sure.

[MRCboicgy]

Happened to me, my account was frozen and when I called they told me that mine was found in the scam, but hadn't made it to "withdrawal" yet. So they had my # just hadn't taken the cash out when they were busted. I have an idea of which place it was in connaught as I know 5 other people who had the same happen at the same time and we were able to find a common locale...I won't post it on here as I'm sure the mods don't want any legal issues on something that can't be proved...yet.

[Julio]

Debit cards suck for retail purchases...cash for small stuff, credit cards (esp if you don't have a balance, and get something out of using the cards) for larger purchases.