AARP President Dave Aitken will host a game of AARP Scam Bingo on Tuesday, August 15 at the Slippery Rock Senior Center.Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
Those of you who only use debit cards might want to think twice. To minimize the risk of fraud, experts suggest monitoring your bank statements and possibly choosing credit cards over debit cards.
Debit card fraud often targets merchant websites, mobile apps and companies such as Paypal and Amazon, said a NexTier Bank representative.
They said they should be careful about using debit cards in three situations: gas stations and non-bank ATMs, when making large purchases, and when purchasing goods online.
Credit cards are safer in such cases because they act like loans, offer dispute rights and prevent potential fraudsters from gaining direct access to your money, bank officials say. said.
“Keep in mind that when you use a debit card, the money is taken directly from your checking account,” said David Kalinoski, AARP’s deputy state director for community assistance in Harrisburg.
Kalinoski said debit card fraud can affect anyone regardless of age, but older people are more vulnerable.
“Scammers go where the money is,” says Kalinoski. “People over the age of 50 are targeted because they have more wealth and assets.”
“I always tell people, ‘Never use a debit card,'” said AARP president Dave Aitken. “Debit cards allow people to deposit money directly into your bank account… Now, if that’s your only option, you’re somewhere else and don’t have a credit card and I don’t even have cash as a last resort, I could use a debit card, but be aware that it can be very vulnerable to attacks on your bank account.”
A couple at the Butler Senior Center on Austin Avenue said they nearly lost $25,000 to a Microsoft scam targeting their bank accounts.
“I thought he was doing business with a computer company called Microsoft, but he was out of Hong Kong,” his wife said. “The red flags went up when they said, ‘Could you go pick up your cards and gift cards at Target?'”
The Butler Township couple, who asked not to be identified, said they had been in contact with the scammers for a year after taking out computer fraud insurance. They reported the scam to the police as soon as they realized they were dealing with a fraudster.
The scam was ultimately unsuccessful and the bank froze the funds, but the couple’s bank account was accessed by the scammers, who transferred $25,000 from their deposits to their checking account.
“They used us for a year, so they got all the information and were able to transfer $25,000,” his wife said.
Visiting the Butler Senior Center, Butler Pat Bauer checks his bank statements for fraud and debit card fraud, and receives a notification on his mobile phone whenever his debit card is used. said.
“Trace your account,” Sergeant Sherrill Cranmer of the Penn Township Police Department said.
People who have frequent visitors or home health care workers in their homes should also make sure their cards are physically secure, she said.
“The best advice is to keep track of where your cards are,” says Cranmer.
Cranmer said debit card fraud cases reported to police often involve compromised cards. In such cases, the police do not have the ability to investigate further. He suggested that people contact their financiers and banks as soon as they notice unusual purchases on their bank statements.
Kalinoski, who has faced debit card fraud, advises seniors to stay on top of their finances by monitoring their bank statements and reporting any discrepancies to their financial institution as soon as possible. He said we should be skeptical of nuisance calls and individuals who ask for payment through non-traditional payment methods such as gift cards or cryptocurrencies.
West Sunbury’s Rose McDonald accepted her prize while playing AARP Cheating Bingo at the Slippery Rock Senior Center on Tuesday morning, August 15th.Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock’s Ella Maxwell will be playing AARP Scam Bingo at the Slippery Rock Senior Center on Tuesday morning, August 15th.Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock’s Sandy Trainor raises her hand during AARP rigged bingo at the Slippery Rock Senior Center on Tuesday morning, August 15.Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock’s Frank Semerod and Sandy Dye will play AARP Cheating Bingo at the Slippery Rock Senior Center on Tuesday morning, August 15th.Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
AARP’s Dave Aitken (center) will run an AARP rigged bingo game at the Slippery Rock Senior Center on Tuesday morning, August 15.Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
