2.5.3 Protect yourself from debit card fraud

What can you do to protect yourself from debit card fraud?

Here are some tips:

• Always protect your personal identification number (PIN): use your shoulder or your hand to shield your PIN when entering it into the keypad.
• Never tell anyone your PIN—including family, friends, financial institution employees or law enforcement agencies.
• Keep your debit card in a safe place and don't lend it. If someone knows your PIN, change it immediately or cancel the card.
• Memorize your PIN. If you must write it down, disguise it. For example, re-arrange the numbers, substitute other numerals or symbols or keep it with other information. Keep it separate from your card.
• When selecting a PIN, don't use obvious information. You could be responsible if you use your name, address, telephone number, date of birth or social insurance number.
• If your card is lost, stolen or stuck in an automated teller machine (ATM), or if you find that there has been an unauthorized transaction, notify your financial institution immediately.
• Watch out for anyone (or a camera) that might be able to see your PIN.
• Swipe the card yourself, or watch if you give it to a clerk to swipe.
• If you have made a purchase that does not show up on your monthly statement, notify your financial institution. The card reader used for the purchase may have been a fake machine designed to steal your PIN.

For more information about debit card frauds and other scams, check out these resources:

• The Your Financial Toolkit module on Fraud protection
• The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada's page on Debit card fraud
• The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre