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SALT LAKE CITY -- If you still have some Christmas shopping to do, police have a new warning: Just paying for those gifts with a bank card could make you a victim of fraud -- even if your card isn't lost or stolen.
It's a new form of identity theft that's becoming more common.
- Monitor bank accounts daily
- Use cash whenever possible
- Learn about your bank's fraud protection services
- Report identify theft to local police
"It's to the point now that they don't have to have your card," Sgt. Troy Arnold with the Sandy City Police Department said. "They can get them from grocery stores, they can get them from restaurants."
With just one swipe, your bank account and financial information could end up in the hands of thieves.
Even the most cautious consumer can be a victim. Just ask Arnold, whose bank recently caught and stopped a $400 fraudulent transaction.
"I got a call from my bank that said somebody was using my card over in New York City," he said. "I knew I had my card because I had used it an hour and a half earlier finishing up my own Christmas shopping."
With the right technology, thieves can now capture a credit or debit card number, reproduce the card and use it almost anywhere in the world.
That's what happened to Rob Harrison.
Last week, someone used his debit card and pin number at a Burlington Coat Factory in Fresno, Calif. Within 30 minutes, the thief made six transactions totaling more than $600.
The whole time, Harrison's debit card was in his pocket.
"I think it's scary and sad in the sense of how simple it is to do," Harrison said.
The stories don't stop there. Raina Williams got a call from her bank this week after someone went on a shopping spree with her debit card across the country.
Just between Walmart, Marshalls and McDonalds, the charges totaled $750.
Like Harrison's bank, hers too is investigating.
"It's especially frustrating at Christmas, but someone is having Christmas on us," Williams said.
Police say the best way to protect yourself is to monitor bank accounts every day and use cash as much as possible. Also, talk to your bank and find out what type of fraud protection it offers.
If you're a victim, report identity theft to your local police -- even if your card is being used out of state.
E-mail: syi@ksl.com
