Beware Of This Debit Card Scam - Has This Happened To You?

This debit card withdrawal theft occurred two weeks ago. After grocery shopping with my granddaughter, I went to a self checkout register to pay. It wasn't until later that evening when I checked my bank account, I realized that $760 was withdrawn from it use the debit card I had used at the store. How could that be?

I checked my wallet and that debit card was missing. Panic ensued!

Immediately I called the bank and filed a report about this incident. They confirmed that the card was used with the PIN number. I was asked several related questions like did I have the PIN number written down somewhere, which I didn't. But I remembered an incident that occurred at the register that probably was part of this theft and reported it to the bank.

The Incident At The Self Checkout Register

Just after I had concluded the transaction and before I pulled the card out, a kindly looking older lady with an Eastern European accent tapped me on my shoulder on the other side of the register. When I turned to see who it was, she thrust a $20 bill in front of me and said I must have dropped it. Since I never carry cash I said it wasn't mine. She insisted I check my wallet just in case. So I did and confirmed it wasn't mine.

She then chatted to her friend in an Eastern European language that sounded Russian and they wandered away. I turned and pulled out my receipt, loaded the cart and walked to the car to drive home.

Later I surmised that the second lady must have watched me enter the PIN number, noted it and later pulled out my card. All of this could have occurred while her friend had distracted me.

I thought I had removed my card but didn't think anything of it. When I visited the store the next time I realized that the receipt only gets scrolled out AFTER the card is removed. So, when I picked up my receipt, the card was already stolen.

The Withdrawals

The bank ATM where the withdrawal was made was in the same parking lot as that store. These scammers first tried to withdraw $900 and that was rejected according to the bank representative who I spoke to.

Immediately after that failure, $500 was successfully withdrawn followed by $260. They must have checked the balance after that failed attempt and by then saw how much was left. So they took it all, while I was loading the car and before I drove off the lot.

The Investigation

The bank closed the card and said a replacement would be sent. I was told it would take 7 - 10 business days to complete their investigation. Meanwhile, they provisionally credited my account for the stolen amount.

I returned to the store the next day to speak to their security officers to report this theft. They said I couldn't do that. This was the job for the police. I was advised to file a police report and they would send a detective to investigate this incident. I am still awaiting an answer.

Yesterday I received a letter from the bank that said they concluded that I withdraw the money and that the case was closed.

WHAT!

I found several things wrong with that. First, when the thief tried to withdraw more than was in the account, they should have put a temporary hold on the card until they checked to see if that was me. Second, wouldn't their ATM Camera recorded who the individual was that used that machine? Third, the time stamp, if cross-referenced with the store cameras should have shown that the theft occur ed while I was still around that facility.

It is my belief that their investigation has fallen short.

LegalShield To The Rescue

I am a member of LegalShield. They have come through for me countless times to get me my money back, or stop others from taking money away from me. As well as represent me in court to make sure I wasn't taken advantage of.

Soon after I received that rejection letter from the bank instead of calling them back, I called LegalShield. I will let my attorneys take care of this.

An attorney will be calling be back later today for me to provide all the details together with supporting documentation. They will communicate with the bank, the store and whoever else they need to, so that I will get my money back.

The documents I have are the store receipt, the bank statements, the communication with the bank and the police report.

When this is resolved I will get provide an update.

Have You Had A Similar Experience

The police told me that the type of theft I went through was very common. I will be following up with them to see how their investigation is proceeding, Assuming their detective had the time to get to my case. I am not holding my breath.

Post Script

I had planned on using this money to invest in the new PPC Program that Kyle is conducting. Sadly I will have to wait before I can start ad campaigns. In the meantime I will attend the classes, learn the process and apply them after I get my money back.

And if I don't? I'll save up and get with this program when I do have the funds.

Cheers.

Edwin