Identity theft -- the illegal theft of another person's identity for personal or financial gain -- is often difficult to detect. In some cases, a person can have his identity stolen surreptitiously and not notice that a crime has been committed until the act is a full bloom. However, in the case of the theft of a debit card, several clear signs of theft will exist that a person can look out for.
Debit Cards
Debit cards are cards that provide access to a person's checking account held with a credit union or bank. Although debit cards have a security feature that requires a person to enter a personal identification number if he wishes to use the card to take out cash, debit cards can also be used as credit cards, making them a valuable target for identity thieves.
Detecting Theft
One of the key signs that a card has been stolen is that it is missing. Although this may sound obvious, if a person is not in the habit of using his debit card, then it may be some time before he realizes that the card is gone. In addition, a person may be able to detect a theft by checking his bank statement and noticing unauthorized charges on the account.
Reporting Theft
If a person believes that a theft might have occurred, he should contact his bank. The bank, without closing the checking account, will review recent charges on the card. In addition, the bank will likely cancel the person's current card and send him a new one. In the meantime, a freeze will be placed on the account that prevents money from being taken out of it.
Liabilities
A person can only be held liable for up to $25 in damages on a stolen debit card if he reports the theft to his bank. However, the person who did steal the card may face a number of civil and criminal penalties. To prevent additional thefts, the card holder should attempt to determine how his card or card number was stolen and then take measures to better secure the card.
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