Your card may have been compromised – now what?

You have just received a call from C.U. Member Assistance (Call Centre) letting you know your debit card may have been
compromised, your card limit for withdrawals and purchases has been decreased and you either must come in to the branch to replace your card or a replacement card can be mailed to you. We know replacing your C.U. Debit Card is a hassle, but with
debit card skimming and other forms of fraud on the rise protecting our members is our priority.

What happened?

Each day The Credit Union reviews reports that list member debit card usage at locations that either have been compromised or are under suspicion of skimming. It does not mean any of the cards on the list have actually been compromised, rather it alerts us to the possibility. Once we receive the list and identify possible skimming activity, we act fast to avoid our members becoming a victim of debit card fraud.

The most common way criminals gain access to your identity is through debit and credit card transactions. There are a number of ways access to your information can be gained and new methods continue to evolve. Often, criminals replace PIN pads with their own or put a false front on machines to copy card information. This is called skimming – where your information is skimmed from the magnetic strip on your card. Sometimes, criminals work with employees by promising them a piece of the action or it may even be employees themselves.

What to watch for

At a store:
• You are asked to swipe your card in more than one machine or you are asked to swipe your card multiple times
• The cashier takes your card and completes the transaction out of view
• The cashier swipes your card at a different terminal than the one you used

How to protect yourself

• Keep all debit cards and credit cards safe, never leave them laying around
• Use your hand or body to shield your pin during every transaction
• Do not write your PIN down
• Do not share your PIN with anyone
• Use a random PIN number, one that someone would not guess
• Check your statements regularly and alert your financial institution immediately if something suspicious appears
• If an ATM machine looks suspicious do not use it
• If a cashier asks you to do something that seems irregular, do not hand over your card orask for it back and do not enter your PIN into the machine
• If you think there is any chance your information has been skimmed contact your financial institution right away.