Consumer Tips - Debit Card Fraud
To ensure that you are not a victim of debit card fraud, follow these steps:
- Never disclose your Personal Identification Number (PIN) to anyone including friends, family, financial institution employees or law enforcement agencies.
- Keep your debit card in a safe place and never lend it to anyone. If you suspect that someone knows your PIN, change it immediately or contact your financial institution to cancel the card.
- Hide the keypad with your hand when you enter your PIN.
- Memorize your PIN. Avoid writing down your PIN. If you must do so, make sure that it is well disguised, for example, by re-arranging the numerals or substituting other numerals or symbols, by keeping it within a record of other information and storing it separately from your debit card.
- When selecting a PIN do not use obvious information. You could be liable if you use your name, address, telephone number, date of birth or social insurance number.
- If your card is lost, stolen, or retained by the ABM, or you find out that there has been an unauthorized transaction, notify your financial institution immediately.
- If you have made a purchase that does not appear on your monthly statement, change your PIN immediately and notify your financial institution as the information on your card may have been stolen at a bogus machine.
To obtain more information on how to protect yourself against debit card fraud, please visit www.consumer.ic.gc.ca/debitfraud.
